F2508 is the HSE form used to report injuries and dangerous occurrences under RIDDOR, the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013. Reports are made online through the HSE website. This guide explains which form to use, what information to have ready and what happens next.
Which RIDDOR form do you need?
| What happened | Form |
|---|---|
| A worker or member of the public was injured | F2508 – report of an injury |
| A dangerous occurrence (a specified near miss) | F2508 – report of a dangerous occurrence |
| A reportable occupational disease was diagnosed | F2508A – report of a case of disease |
| A flammable gas incident or dangerous gas fitting | F2508G1 or F2508G2 |
Not sure whether you need to report at all? Start with what accidents are RIDDOR reportable.
Who should submit the report?
The “responsible person”. That is usually the employer of the injured person, a self-employed person, or the person in control of the premises where the incident happened, for example for injuries to members of the public.
RIDDOR reporting deadlines
- Deaths and specified injuries: report without delay, and within 10 days.
- Over-7-day injuries: within 15 days of the accident.
- Dangerous occurrences: without delay, and within 10 days.
- Occupational diseases: as soon as you receive a written diagnosis.
See RIDDOR reporting timescales explained for how to count the days.
Information to have ready before you start
The online form is designed to be completed in one go, so gather the details first:
- About you and your organisation: name, job title, organisation name, address, phone number and email.
- When and where: date and time of the incident, the address, and where on the premises it happened.
- The injured person: name, address, age, gender, occupation and their status, such as employee, self-employed, on work experience or member of the public.
- The injury: the type of injury, the part of the body affected, and whether they were taken to hospital.
- The kind of accident: for example slip or trip, fall from height, struck by a moving object or manual handling.
- What happened: a clear, factual description, including the work being done at the time.
Most of this should already be in your accident book entry. See accident book entry examples.
How to submit a RIDDOR report
- Go to the RIDDOR reporting page on the HSE website and choose the right form.
- Complete each section using the information above.
- Check your answers and submit.
- Save or print the copy of your report, including the notification reference number.
Fatal and specified injuries to workers can also be reported by telephone to the HSE Incident Contact Centre during office hours. All other reports should be made online.
After you submit
- Keep a record. You must keep a record of any reportable incident for at least three years. Keep the copy of your submitted report with the accident book entry.
- Investigate. Find out why it happened and what needs to change, and update your risk assessment.
- Expect possible contact. The HSE or your local authority may follow up, particularly for serious incidents.
Common mistakes
- Missing the 15-day deadline for over-7-day injuries, because the absence was not tracked.
- Not reporting injuries to members of the public who were taken straight to hospital.
- Reporting over-3-day injuries, which only need recording, not reporting.
- Not keeping a copy of the submitted report.
Know what to report, and when
Accident Book includes RIDDOR triage that asks the right questions when an incident is recorded, shows whether it is likely to be reportable and the deadline, and keeps a record of your decision alongside the incident.