Reporting Incidents

Relevant accidents and incidents can now be reported via the RIDDOR website.

Once completed the online form is submitted directly to the RIDDOR database and you will be given a copy for your records.Fatal and major injuries only can still be reported to the Incident Contact Centre (ICC) over the telephone. Please call the ICC on 0845 300 9923 (opening hours Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm).

Full information about reporting accidents or incidents, including emergency out of hours contact details is available from the RIDDOR website.

Reporting accidents and ill health at work is a legal requirement. The information enables the enforcing authorities to identify where and how risks arise and to investigate serious accidents.
If you are an employer, are self-employed or are in control of work premises you will have duties under the RIDDOR regulations.

You only need to report the most serious incidents. For most businesses a reportable incident is a rare event.

The law requires the following work-related incidents to be reported:

• deaths
• major injuries (see Reportable major injuries section)
• over 7-day injuries - where an employee or self-employed person is away from work or unable to work normally for more than 7 consecutive days
• injuries to members of the public or people not at work where they are taken from the scene of an accident to hospital
• some work-related diseases (see Reportable Disease section)
• dangerous occurrences - where something happens that does not result in an injury, but could have done

• 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 or any penetrating injury to the eye
• injury resulting from an electric shock or electrical burn leading to unconsciousness or requiring resuscitation or admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours
• any other injury: leading to hypothermia, heat-induced illness or unconsciousness; or requiring resuscitation; or requiring admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours

• certain poisonings
• some skin diseases such as occupational dermatitis, skin cancer, chrome ulcer, oil follicultis/acne
• lung diseases including occupational asthma, farmer's lung, pneumoconiosis, asbestosis, mesothelioma
• infections such as leptospirosis, hepatitis, tuberculosis, anthrax, legionellosis and tetanus
• other conditions such as: occupational cancer, certain muscoskeletal disorders, decompression illness and hand-arm vibration syndrome