RIDDOR Updated Guidance 2024

Here at Acorn we know that staff having accidents can be one of the most distressing things that can happen in the workplace. In addition to any pain and suffering, there can be confusion on who to tell, how quickly, what to say etc. Our Acorn Consultants have a wealth of experience in accident and incident investigation and reporting and can support you in such situations.

We have found in the past that there have been some customers who have, or would have, needlessly made RIDDOR reports to the HSE. The HSE’s interests are focussed on actual work related accidents, which we understand has quite a narrow definition. As a result, your regrettable incident may not be reportable if does not fit within that description.

In addition, HSE has updated its guidance on RIDDOR.

There are no changes to legal requirements, but the guidance will help you understand it all better

The main changes to the guidance include:

•     more direct links to guidance on the various types of reportable incidents
•     improved guidance on who should and should not report
•     improved guidance on what is meant by a ‘work-related’ accident. For example,
  • Injuries themselves, for example ‘feeling a sharp pain’, are not accidents. There must be an identifiable external incident that causes the injury, for example a falling object striking someone.
  • Gradual, cumulative exposures to hazards, which eventually cause injury (such as repetitive lifting), are not ‘accidents’
  • An accident taking place at work premises does not, in itself, mean that it is work related – the work activity itself must cause the accident, if any of the following played a role:

• how the work was carried out, organised, supervised or performed,
• any machinery, plant, substances or equipment used
• the condition of the workplace where the accident happened, including the state of the structure or fabric of a building or outside area at the workplace
•   information on when an occupational disease is not reportable
•   increased clarity on when an ‘over-7-day’ absence should be reported

There are also some  changes to the online forms including:

•    the questions have been reordered,
•    guidance has been improved throughout the forms to make them easier to use

For the full guidance click here

We will be reviewing our forms, and our draft policies and annual reviews of policies to see if any improvements can be made. Whilst we think changes will be unlikely, we nevertheless urge you to do the same.