Accident reporting and workplace safety procedures

 

 

Do you have a proper system for employees to report workplace accidents? 

 

Employers have a legal responsibility to protect their employees' health and safety while at work, both on-site and in the workplace. 

 

To ensure safety, you must: 

 

- Provide appropriate health and safety training. 

- Supply Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) like hard hats, gloves, safety glasses, high-visibility clothing, and shoe covers when necessary. 

- Train employees on the safe use of machinery and work practices. 

- Regularly maintain machinery and equipment. 

- Conduct regular risk assessments. 

- Display appropriate hazard warning signs, such as ‘wet floor’ signs, and promptly clean up spillages. 

 

It is crucial to have a specific accident reporting procedure in place. 

 

 

Employees must document any injuries and the circumstances of the incident in the company accident book.  

 

This is a legally required document for all employers. The following information should be recorded: 

 

- The injured person's name and contact details. 

- The person reporting the accident's name and contact details. 

- Details of the accident: date, time, and location. 

- Details of the injuries sustained, including: 

- Type of injury (e.g., cut, burn, fall, head injury, slip, or trip). 

- Severity of the injury (e.g., hospitalisation, unconsciousness, first aid treatment). 

- How the accident happened, including: 

- Events leading up to the accident. 

- Faulty machinery or equipment involved. 

- Working conditions at the time. 

- Actions taken to assist the injured party. 

- Evidence such as CCTV footage and photographs from the scene. 

 

 

Recording incidents in the accident book is essential for both employees and employers.  

 

It helps: 

 

- Verify the details of the accident, which can be used as evidence for work accident claims. 

- Provide insights for employers to improve health and safety measures, preventing future accidents. 

 

 

RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases, and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) requires certain types of workplace accidents to be reported, including: 

 

Death: If an employee dies due to their injuries. 

 

Incapacitation from Work If an injured employee is unable to work for seven or more days.  

 

For three-day incapacitation, recording is necessary but not a RIDDOR report. 

 

Specific Injuries:A list of reportable injuries includes amputations, blindness, bone fractures (excluding fingers, thumbs, and toes), brain damage, organ damage, and serious burns covering more than 10% of the body. 

 

Occupational Illnesses: Diseases or conditions caused or worsened by the job, such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, occupational dermatitis, Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome, occupational asthma, tendonitis, tenosynovitis, occupational cancer, and diseases from biological agents. 

 

Dangerous Occurrences: Near misses with the potential to cause death or severe injury, often related to machinery malfunctions or hazardous conditions. 

 

 

Only 'responsible persons' should report under RIDDOR, including: 

 

- Employers or persons in control of premises. 

- Self-employed individuals. 

- Public members, employees, the injured person, or their representative. 

- Gas engineers or suppliers. 

- Offshore workers. 

- Individuals working in mines, quarries, pipelines, or wells. 

 

How to Submit a RIDDOR Report 

 

Reports must be submitted online via the HSE website within 10 days of the incident or within 15 days if the injured person takes more than seven days off work. The report should include: 

 

- The submission date to RIDDOR. 

- The submitter's details (name, job title, phone number). 

- Company or premises details (name, address, email). 

- The accident's location, date, and time. 

- The injured person's details (name, job title, phone number). 

- A description of the injury, illness, or incident. 

 

Failure to report an accident under RIDDOR can result in a fine of up to £20,000