Accidents and RIDDOR

What is an accident?

An accident can be defined as an unplanned event in a series of events that leads to:

• injury or ill health of people;
• damage or loss to property, plant, materials; or
• damage to the environment or a business opportunity.

Accidents in the workplace cause injury and distress to the casualty, and a financial loss to the organisation.  The severity of the outcome of an accident often depends on chance if the organisation has failed to identify hazards and control measures. For example, if a person slips on a spillage in the kitchen, the outcome may range from spoilt clothing to a fatal injury.  Because the precise outcome of an accident cannot be predicted the only effective way to reduce accidents is to control the underlying causes - in this case the spillage.

Accidents that happen in the workplace should be investigated to find out the causes and introduce new or improved control measures to stop it happening again.

Certain workplace accidents must be reported to the Health and Safety Enforcing Authorities. These accidents can now be reported to The Incident Contact Centre or your relevant Enforcing Authority.

RIDDOR

The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 state that certain incidents have to be reported to Health and Safety Authorities.

The types of incidents that should be reported include fatal accidents to staff, contractors or members of the public. If a member of the public has an accident and is taken to hospital or if a member of staff has an accident, which results in a major injury or absence for more than three days because of the accident, then the incident must be reported.

If a doctor tells you that an employee is suffering from a reportable work related disease for example occupational dermatitis or occupational asthma then you must inform the Health and Safety Authority.

If something happens which does not result in a reportable injury, but which clearly could have done, it may be classified as a dangerous occurrence and should be reported.

Incidents can either be reported to the Incident Contact Centre or your relevant Enforcing Authority. Our inspectors follow the Health and Safety Executive's 'Enforcement Management Model' to help them decide whether to take any action after an accident has been reported.

Accidents

What can the Council advise me on?
The Regulatory Services Division can give advice and information to business on the following: 

• accidents at work
• accidents to members of the public 

What does the employer have to do if there is a death or major injury at a place of work or as a result of their work activity?

If there is an accident connected with work and either: 

• an employee or self employed person working on an employer's premises is killed or suffers a major injury (including as a result of physical violence); or 
• a member of the public is killed or taken to hospital  

then the employer must notify the Incident Contact Centre in Caerphilly straight away. The contact details are at the bottom of the page. You will be asked for details about the injured person, your business and the accident. Within 10 days you must follow this up with a completed accident report form (F2508).  This can be downloaded from the HSE website by clicking here.

What happens if an employee has an over-three-day-injury?

An over-three-day injury is one which is not major but results in the injured person being away from work - or unable to do their normal work - for more than three days (including non-workdays).

If there is an accident connected with work (including an act of physical violence) and an employee, or a self-employed person working on the premises, suffers an over-three-day-injury, the employer must send a completed accident report form (F2508) within 10 days.  This can be downloaded from the HSE website by clicking here.

What types of businesses need to report accidents?

You should contact us if your business is in Stoke-on-Trent and falls into one of the following categories: 

• Office-based 
• Retail or wholesale 
• Warehousing 
• Hotel or catering 
• Sports or leisure 
• Residential homes (excluding nursing homes)
• Places of worship  

What are classified as major injuries?

The following are classed as major injuries: 

• fracture other than to fingers, thumbs or toes 
• amputation 
• dislocation of the shoulder, hip, knee or spine 
• loss of sight (temporary or permanent) 
• chemical or hot metal burn to the eye 
• any penetrating injury to the eye 
• injury resulting from an electric shock or burn leading to unconsciousness needing resuscitation 
• admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours  
• any other injury leading to hypothermia
• heat induced illness or unconsciousness needing resuscitation
• needing admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours   
• unconsciousness caused by asphyxia or exposure to harmful substances or biological agent  

Solicitors sometimes ask us to provide a factual report or copies of photographs after our investigation. We will charge for this service. You can see a list of our current fees and charges by following the link on the right of the page.

Please contact us for more information.  Click here for our contact details.

Contact details for the Incident Centre
Incident Contact Centre
Caerphilly Business Park
Caerphilly
CF83 3GG
Telephone ; 0845 300 9924
Fax ; 0845 300 9924
e-mail ; riddor@natbrit.com
Website ; www.riddor.gov.uk