What is RIDDOR in Health and Social Care?

RIDDOR, which stands for the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, is an important piece of legislation within the health and social care sector.

Enacted to ensure workplace safety, it mandates the reporting and recording of specific incidents to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or other relevant authorities. RIDDOR applies in Great Britain; see the HSE RIDDOR guidance for the current rules and online reporting.

Types of reportable incidents

• Work-related accidents: Only some work-related accidents are reportable: deaths, specified injuries to workers (such as most fractures, but not those to fingers, thumbs or toes), injuries that stop a worker doing their normal work for more than seven consecutive days, and some injuries to people who are not workers. See the HSE guide to types of reportable incidents.
• Diseases: Only certain diagnosed occupational diseases are reportable. This includes diseases where there is reasonable evidence that exposure to a biological agent at work was the likely cause; infections in the community, such as colds or flu, are generally not reportable. See the HSE list of reportable occupational diseases.
• Dangerous Occurrences: Specific, listed events that could risk harm to others. Not every equipment failure or gas leak is reportable, so check the HSE guide to types of reportable incidents.

Who must report

• Employers: They are primarily responsible for reporting incidents.
• Self-employed individuals: some self-employed people also have RIDDOR duties. See RIDDOR explained.
• Responsible persons: Reports are made by the ‘responsible person’, such as an employer (for their workers), some self-employed people or those in control of work premises. Follow your organisation’s procedure to find out who reports. See RIDDOR explained.

How do you report?

• Online Reporting: The HSE provides an online portal for easy reporting.
• Phone Reporting: Reporting online is the easiest route. For fatal accidents and specified injuries to workers only, HSE also offers a telephone route. See when to report under RIDDOR.

Only certain diagnosed diseases linked to work exposure are reportable, including diseases caused by occupational exposure to a biological agent. See the HSE list of reportable occupational diseases.

Timeline for reporting

• Immediate Notification: Deaths, specified injuries to workers, dangerous occurrences and some injuries to non-workers must be notified without delay. See when to report under RIDDOR.
• Within 15 Days: Work-related accidents that stop a worker doing their normal work for more than seven consecutive days (not counting the day of the accident) must be notified within 15 days of the accident.
• Occupational Diseases: These must be reported as soon as diagnosed.

Implications and Compliance

• Legal Obligation: Failure to comply with RIDDOR regulations can result in penalties, including fines and legal action.
• Workplace Safety: Reporting helps in identifying risks and implementing measures to prevent future accidents.
• Health Monitoring: Continuously monitoring and reviewing RIDDOR reports assists in managing health risks among staff and service users.

Documentation and Records for RIDDOR

Detailed records of any reportable incidents should be maintained, including the nature of the incident, the parties involved, and the corrective actions taken.

Common Examples in Health and Social Care

• Manual Handling Incident: A care worker sustains a back injury while assisting a patient with mobility tasks. If this injury results in more than seven days of absence from work, it must be reported.
• Infection: A disease is reportable only where there is reasonable evidence that occupational exposure to a biological agent was the likely cause. See the HSE guide to types of reportable incidents.
• Equipment Failure: The malfunction of a lift or hoist in a care home is not automatically a reportable dangerous occurrence, because only specific listed events are. Check the HSE guidance on RIDDOR in health and social care.

Example RIDDOR Situations in Health and Social Care Settings

Here are some specific examples of situations within the health and social care sector where you would need to report an incident under RIDDOR:

Fracture

Example: A nurse sustains a fractured arm after slipping on a wet floor in a care home.

Action: A fracture to a worker (other than to a finger, thumb or toe) is a specified injury, which must be notified without delay. See HSE guidance on specified injuries.

Amputation

Example: A maintenance worker loses a finger while operating machinery in a hospital laundry.

Action: Amputation of a finger is a specified injury, which must be notified without delay.

Over Seven Days Incapacitation of a Worker

Example: A care assistant injures their back when lifting a patient, resulting in more than seven consecutive days off work.

Action: Notify the enforcing authority within 15 days of the accident. The seven days do not include the day of the accident. See when to report under RIDDOR.

Work-Related Illnesses

Example: A nurse is diagnosed by a doctor with occupational asthma, and their work involves significant or regular exposure to a known respiratory sensitiser. Asthma is not reportable otherwise. See HSE reportable diseases.

Action: As soon as the diagnosis is made, it should be reported under RIDDOR.

Exposure to Hazardous Substances

Example: A healthcare worker is diagnosed with an infection after an accidental needlestick injury at work. It is reportable where there is reasonable evidence that the exposure at work was the likely cause. See the HSE guide to types of reportable incidents.

Action: Report the incident as an occupational disease as soon as the diagnosis is confirmed.

Dangerous Occurrences

Example: A gas leak in a hospital kitchen causes a minor explosion, even though no one is injured. Whether this is reportable depends on whether it is a listed dangerous occurrence. See the HSE guide to types of reportable incidents.

Action: If it is a listed dangerous occurrence, notify it without delay. Either way, review it internally to prevent a repeat.

Near Misses

Example: A malfunctioning hoist in a care home nearly results in a fall, but the patient is caught in time and no injury occurs.

Action: A near miss is not reportable under RIDDOR unless it is also a listed dangerous occurrence. It is good practice to report significant near misses internally for review and further preventative action. See the HSE guide to types of reportable incidents.

Occupational Diseases in Employees

Example: A member of clinical staff is diagnosed with occupational dermatitis, and their work involves significant or regular exposure to a known skin sensitiser or irritant, such as latex. See HSE reportable diseases.

Action: This should be reported to the HSE once the diagnosis is made.

Reporting Mechanisms

• Telephone reporting is an alternative to online reporting for fatal accidents and specified injuries to workers only (see when to report under RIDDOR).
• Online reporting via the HSE website for all reportable incidents.
• Incident records: Maintain detailed records internally for any incidents reported.

Why Reporting is Important

• Ensuring workplace safety by identifying patterns and root causes of incidents.
• Fulfilling legal obligations to avoid penalties and ensure compliance with health and safety regulations.
• Promoting a culture of safety and responsibility within health and social care environments.
• Helping in risk assessment and implementation of corrective/preventative actions to mitigate future risks.

Final Thoughts

RIDDOR plays an important role in safeguarding health and social care workers and service users by ensuring that serious incidents, dangerous occurrences, and occupational diseases are systematically reported and addressed.

Adhering to these reporting requirements not only fulfils legal obligations but also creates a safer and more secure working environment for everyone involved.