RIDDOR is one of those workplace acronyms that everyone recognises but few can explain in full, and getting it wrong can mean a missed legal deadline or an unreported incident. If you are an employer, manager or anyone responsible for health and safety, you need to know what RIDDOR covers and what you must do when something goes wrong. This guide explains what RIDDOR is, what must be reported, and how the process works.
What is RIDDOR?
RIDDOR stands for the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations. It places a legal duty on employers, the self employed and people in control of premises to report certain serious workplace incidents to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The purpose is to help the HSE and local authorities identify where and how risks arise, so they can act to prevent future harm.
What must be reported under RIDDOR?
Not every workplace accident is reportable. RIDDOR applies to specific categories:
- Deaths arising from a work related accident.
- Specified injuries, such as fractures other than to fingers, thumbs and toes, amputations, serious burns, and injuries leading to loss of consciousness.
- Over seven day injuries, where a worker is incapacitated for more than seven consecutive days.
- Occupational diseases linked to certain work activities.
- Dangerous occurrences, which are specified near miss events with the potential to cause serious harm.
- Gas incidents in specific circumstances.
Understanding which category an incident falls into is the key skill, because it determines whether and how quickly you must report.
Who is responsible for reporting?
The duty to report falls on the responsible person, which is usually the employer, the self employed person, or whoever is in control of the premises where the incident happened. Employees do not report under RIDDOR themselves, but they should tell their employer so that the responsible person can act.
How and when to report
Most reports are made online through the HSE reporting system. Deaths and specified injuries must be reported without delay, while over seven day injuries must be reported within fifteen days of the incident. Keeping accurate records of all reportable incidents is also a legal requirement, and good records protect the business if questions arise later.
Why RIDDOR training matters
The most common RIDDOR failures are not deliberate, they happen because staff are unsure what counts as reportable or who should act. Training gives managers and safety staff the confidence to recognise a reportable event, report it correctly and on time, and keep the records the law requires. Our RIDDOR training course makes the categories and the process clear and practical.
Frequently asked questions
Is a minor injury reportable under RIDDOR?
Minor injuries are generally not reportable. RIDDOR focuses on deaths, specified injuries, over seven day injuries, certain diseases and dangerous occurrences. Minor first aid cases usually fall outside it, though they should still be recorded internally.
How quickly must a RIDDOR report be made?
Deaths and specified injuries must be reported without delay, and over seven day injuries within fifteen days of the accident.
Who reports under RIDDOR, the worker or the employer?
The responsible person, usually the employer or whoever controls the premises, makes the report. Workers should inform their employer so the report can be made.
Get RIDDOR right
Reporting incidents correctly is a legal duty and a sign of a well run operation. Give your team the knowledge to handle RIDDOR with confidence.
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