8.1. Explain the requirements of RIDDOR in relation to infection prevention and control

This guide will help you answer 8.1. Explain the requirements of RIDDOR in relation to infection prevention and control.

The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013, known as RIDDOR, is UK legislation. It sets out the legal duty for employers and certain other persons to report specific workplace incidents to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or the relevant enforcing authority.

Infection prevention and control in a health and social care setting links closely to RIDDOR. This is because infections can be classified as reportable diseases if they meet certain criteria. The aim is to monitor, investigate, and prevent future harm to workers, service users, and the public.

RIDDOR focuses on ensuring that serious incidents, including those where infections have been contracted during work activities, are recorded and reported. In health and social care, where staff deal regularly with bodily fluids, vulnerable individuals, and potentially infectious environments, RIDDOR provides a structured process for reporting.

By law, failing to report a case that meets the criteria can lead to prosecution. Reports allow health and safety bodies to take action to reduce the risk of the same incident happening again.

When RIDDOR Applies to Infections

Not all infections need to be reported. RIDDOR applies only if the infection is likely to have been contracted because of work and is one of the listed reportable diseases.

In health and social care, work-related infections are more likely to occur where tasks involve:

• Caring for individuals with known infectious diseases
• Handling clinical waste or sharp instruments
• Exposure to blood, sputum, vomit, urine, or faeces of an infected person
• Contact with environmental sources that may contain harmful bacteria or viruses

Reportable diseases linked to work can include:

• COVID-19 (if acquired due to exposure at work)
• Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C following exposure to blood or needles
• Tuberculosis, if there has been exposure in the course of caring for an infected person
• Certain gastrointestinal infections, such as those caused by E. coli O157 in food handling or care work
• Legionellosis if linked to water systems within the workplace

To be reportable, there must be evidence or strong suspicion that the infection is related to occupational exposure. For example, a care assistant developing hepatitis after a sharps injury involving infected blood would be a clear case.

Employers’ Duties Under RIDDOR

Employers have the primary responsibility for making a RIDDOR report. In health and social care, this could include care home managers, NHS trust managers, or owners of private care companies.

The main duties are to:

• Identify if an incident or disease is reportable under RIDDOR
• Collect factual and medical evidence where possible
• Submit the report online or by phone to the Health and Safety Executive within set timeframes
• Keep written records of the incident and report
• Cooperate with investigations by enforcement officers

For infections, evidence may be based on medical diagnosis, laboratory confirmation, and details of known exposure to infection risks during work.

Reports must be made without unreasonable delay. For reportable diseases, this is usually upon receipt of a written diagnosis from a doctor containing the name of the disease and confirmation that it is linked to work.

Employees’ Role in Reporting

While the legal obligation to submit the report rests with the employer, workers still play an active part in the process.

Workers should:

• Report any exposure incidents to their line manager as soon as possible
• Complete relevant incident report forms accurately
• Provide information to help with assessing if an infection is work-related
• Attend any occupational health appointments arranged following exposure
• Follow infection prevention procedures to limit the risk to others

Examples include reporting a sharps injury, accidental splash of body fluids into the eyes or mouth, or providing details of contact with a person who is later confirmed to have a serious contagious disease.

Link Between RIDDOR and Infection Control Processes

Infection prevention and control policies in health and social care settings aim to reduce the risk of infection spreading. These include hand hygiene rules, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), safe waste disposal, and environmental cleaning.

When a RIDDOR report is triggered because of an infection, it often prompts a review of these policies. Investigations can reveal issues such as:

• Insufficient PPE use or availability
• Poor adherence to hygiene protocols
• Inadequate training in infection control
• Faulty waste disposal methods
• Problems in safe handling of sharps

This process can lead to improvements in infection control systems. For example, if a health care worker contracts hepatitis following a sharps injury, the report may lead to added staff training, changes in sharps disposal equipment, or stronger PPE requirements.

Step-by-Step Guide to Meeting RIDDOR Requirements for Infections

1. Identify the Incident
   Spot the potential link between the infection and work activities. Look at exposure history, timing, and type of work tasks.
2. Seek Medical Confirmation
   Make sure the worker has seen a doctor and received a written diagnosis. The diagnosis must name the disease.
3. Assess Evidence of Work Link
   Gather supporting information such as records of exposure, witness statements, and infection control logs.
4. Report to HSE
   Use the official reporting system provided by the Health and Safety Executive. This can be done online or by telephone in urgent cases.
5. Record the Incident Internally
   Store all related documents, including the diagnosis, incident reports, investigation findings, and actions taken.
6. Review Infection Control Measures
   Take immediate steps to prevent further spread or exposure. This may involve isolating individuals, revising cleaning routines, or reinforcing PPE use.

Timeframes for Reporting

The timescales for reporting under RIDDOR are strict.

• For work-related diseases, the report should be made as soon as a doctor notifies the employer in writing that the worker is suffering from a reportable condition linked to work.
• For dangerous occurrences that could cause infection exposure (for example, accidental release of a biological agent), the report must be made without delay, usually within 10 days.

Prompt reporting ensures that relevant authorities can act quickly to protect others from harm.

Dangerous Occurrences Related to Infection

RIDDOR also covers dangerous occurrences. These are incidents which may not cause immediate harm but have the potential to. In infection control, examples include:

• Accidental release of a pathogen during laboratory testing
• Failure of air handling systems in an isolation ward leading to risk of airborne spread
• Malfunction or disposal failure in clinical waste systems
• Spillage of potentially infectious material during transportation

Such events are reportable because they may expose people to serious risk, even if no infection has yet been confirmed.

Why RIDDOR Matters for Health and Social Care Staff

RIDDOR reporting in the context of infection prevention helps protect staff, service users, and the public. It acts as an early warning system for dangerous pathogens in workplace environments.

In care settings, infections can have serious consequences for vulnerable people. Quick reporting can trigger urgent infection control interventions. Reporting also allows learning from past incidents, meaning safer practices in the future.

Keeping accurate RIDDOR records can also protect organisations in legal or insurance cases. If an infected worker seeks compensation claiming the illness was caused at work, a thorough record of events will be important evidence.

Potential Consequences of Failing to Meet RIDDOR Requirements

If an employer fails to report a case that meets the RIDDOR criteria for infection, they may face:

• Prosecution by the HSE or local authority
• Significant fines
• Damage to their professional reputation
• Increased risk of repeated incidents due to lack of investigation

Similarly, late or incomplete reporting can delay important public health responses, putting more people at risk of infection.

Good Practice in Managing Infection Reporting

To make sure RIDDOR requirements around infection are met, organisations can:

• Train staff on identifying and reporting exposure to infection
• Have clear internal procedures with named responsible persons
• Keep up-to-date lists of reportable diseases from HSE
• Maintain detailed incident logs
• Run infection control audits regularly

Organisations should work closely with occupational health teams, infection control leads, and health and safety officers to keep reporting accurate and timely.

Example Scenarios

Example 1
A nurse suffers a needle-stick injury from a needle used on a patient later diagnosed with Hepatitis C. The organisation receives written confirmation from the doctor that the nurse has contracted the disease and that it is linked to work. This is a RIDDOR-reportable case.

Example 2
A care home worker develops tuberculosis after caring for a resident known to be infected. Occupational health confirms the likely work-related exposure. This is reportable under RIDDOR as a specified disease.

Example 3
A laboratory spill releases airborne particles of a dangerous pathogen. No workers show symptoms yet, but the release poses a serious risk. This is a dangerous occurrence and must be reported under RIDDOR.

Final Thoughts

RIDDOR is a key part of ensuring safe working conditions in health and social care. When linked with infection prevention and control, it acts as a safety net. It captures incidents and diseases that may not be visible until a worker is diagnosed, and it ensures that these are addressed promptly.

By knowing what needs to be reported and how to do it, you help protect not just yourself but also colleagues, service users, and the wider public. Reporting under RIDDOR for infections is not just about following the law. It is about taking responsibility to reduce risks and improve safety in the long term.