RIDDOR
February 1998
GUIDANCE ON MAKING A REPORT UNDER THE REPORTING OF
INJURIES, DISEASES, AND DANGEROUS OCCURRENCES
REGULATIONS (RIDDOR) 1995
INTRODUCTION
R1.
The Reporting of Injuries Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations
(RIDDOR) 1995 require certain accidents, dangerous occurrences and work related ill
health to be reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
R2.
The requirement applies not only to employees of the Trust and School but in certain
circumstances also non-employees such as patients, students, visitors and self
employed workers.
R3.
A report of a work related death, major injury (listed under R6.1 - R6.9) or a
dangerous occurrence must be made as soon as possible by telephone (normal
working hours) and then followed up within 10 days by completing RIDDOR form
F2508. A note should be kept of details of the telephone call. A report of an over 3
day injury, requiring 4 or more days away from normal duties should also be made
within 10 days. See R14 for details of form.
R4.
Guidance is given in the Royal Free Occupational Health Guidelines for Managers.
The Safety Advisers may also be contacted for advice on extension 8034/8035 or
telephone 0171 830 2520/2521.
PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING THE RIDDOR REPORT
R5.
The reporting requirements relate to the following types of incident.
Type of Incident
To Be Reported By
A Death, major injury
and over 3 day injury
Head of Department/Senior Manager
B Dangerous Occurrence Building
Senior Projects/Works Manager
C Dangerous Occurrence Fire
Fire Officer
D Dangerous Occurrence Biological Agent
Head of Department/Senior Manager
in consultation with Biological Safety
Officer or Infection Control Officer
or OH Consultant
E Dangerous Occurrence Breathing Apparatus
Head of Department/Senior Manager
in consultation with Safety Adviser.
F Work related ill health
OHSU doctor
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CLASSIFICATION OF TYPES OF INJURIES
R6.
In addition to death, the following classes of injuries are reportable as a result of a
work related accident.
Major Injuries
R6.1 Any fracture except fingers, thumbs or toes.
R6.2
Any amputation.
R6.3
Dislocation of the shoulder, hip, knee or spine.
R6.4
Loss of sight (temporary or permanent).
R6.5
Chemical or hot metal burn to the eye or any
penetrating injury to the eye.
R6.6
Any injury resulting from an electric shock or
electric burn leading to unconsciousness or requiring resuscitation or
admission to hospital for more than 24 hours.
R6.7
Any other injury leading to hypothermia, heat induced illness or to
unconsciousness, requiring resuscitation or admittance to hospital for more
than 24 hours.
R6.8
Loss of consciousness caused by asphyxia or exposure to harmful chemical
or biological agent(1).
R6.9
Acute illness requiring medical treatment or loss of consciousness as a result
of absorption of a chemical or biological agent by inhalation, ingestion or
through the skin. Also acute illness as a result of exposure to a biological
agent, its toxins or infected material.
Over 3 Day Injury
R6.10 This includes being off work for more than 3 days or being incapacitated to
such an extent that normal duties cannot be performed. This does not include
the day of the accident but weekend days should be counted where the person
would have been off work or on modified duties had they been normal
working days.
A - REPORTING A DEATH, MAJOR INJURY OR OVER 3 DAY INJURY
R7.
R8.
Different reporting criteria apply to making reports for employees and non-employees.
These are detailed in R8 to R11.
Employees
The following should also be regarded as employees for the purposes of RIDDOR:
agency staff, volunteers and postgraduate students who are employed. If any
employee dies as a result of an accident or suffers any of the injuries listed in point
R6, then the accident is reportable under RIDDOR. Death associated with an accident
is also reportable if it occurs for up to one year following the accident. This report is
required irrespective of whether a RIDDOR report was made at the time of the
accident.
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R9.
R10.
R11.
Violence to an employee is now included in the definition of an accident. To be
reportable under RIDDOR, the injury must be of the severity of one of the classes
listed in R6. Violence to non-employees (other than volunteers and postgraduate
students) is not reportable.
Non-employees
Non employees include the following: patients, visitors, contractors and
undergraduate students. A report needs to be made if as a result of an accident any of
the following occur:
i
death
ii
an injury to a non employee who is at a site other than the Royal Free Hospital
and needs to be taken to any A&E Department.
iii
an injury to a non employee who is already at the Royal Free Hospital (or
School of Medicine) and who has one of the injuries listed under R 6.1 to
R 6.9.
A self employed person working under the direction of a Trust or School manager
should be treated like an employee for the purposes of RIDDOR. Contractors are
responsible for making a report for their own employees. This includes contract staff
who may be permanently based on site. Where a report is made by a contractor, the
Safety Adviser must also receive a copy of the report.
B, C, D, E - REPORTING A DANGEROUS OCCURRENCE
R12.
Most dangerous occurrences relate to problems with building structures. Where these
occur, the report will be made by one of the Projects or Works Directors or Senior
Managers. There are three exceptions: fire, release of a biological agent and failure
of breathing apparatus
Fire which causes stoppage or suspension of normal work in the area where it occurs
will be reported by the Fire Officer. Copies of the RIDDOR report will also be
forwarded to the Directors of Projects and Operations.
Accidental releases of biological agents are reportable where the agent is classed in
either Hazard Groups 3 or 4(2). The report should be made after consultation with the
Biological Safety Officer or the Infection Control Officer. The Occupational Health
Consultant will report staff related exposure.
Breathing apparatus: Failure of breathing apparatus when in use should be reported
by the manager concerned, in consultation with the Safety Adviser.
F - REPORTING A CASE OF DISEASE
R13.
This requirement applies only to employees (including volunteers and both
undergraduate and postgraduate students). RIDDOR requires the reporting of any
occupational disease listed in Schedule 3 of the Regulations and arising out of
specified activities. Those where there is a potential risk in the Trust or School
include:
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•
Conditions caused by exposure to ionising radiation.
•
Certain work related upper limb disorders, eg cramp of hand or forearm,
inflammation of the tendons associated with repetitive movements etc.
•
Certain infections, eg hepatitis, legionellosis,
•
Poisoning by certain substances, eg acrylamide, arsenic, benzene, beryllium,
cadmium, carbon mercury etc.
•
Occupational dermatitis
•
Occupational asthma
tuberculosis etc.
All possible cases of occupational disease must be referred to the OHSU who will be
responsible for reporting to the HSE. This includes cases of work related illness where the
diagnosis has been made by the employee's General Practitioner. Further guidance is given in
the Occupational Health Guidelines for Managers.
Report Forms F2508
R14.
Trust. F2508 forms are available from the Directors/General Managers office of all
clinical Divisions, the Directorates of Finance, Operations and Projects/Works. The
forms for other Directorates are available from the Safety Advisor.
School F2508 forms are obtainable from the Secretary's office.
R15.
Reports on form F2508 should be forwarded to:
Health and Safety Executive
St Dunstan’s House
201-211 Borough High Street
London SE1 1GZ
Tel:
0171 556 2100
Fax: 0171 556 2153
Copies of all reports must also be forwarded to the Safety Adviser in OHSU.
References
(1)
Biological agent includes any bacterium, virus or fungus.
(2)
Categorisation of biological agents according to hazard and categories of
containment, ACDP, 4th Edition, 1995.
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