RIDDOR decisions are easier with real examples. Below are 20 common workplace scenarios, whether each one is reportable under RIDDOR 2013, and why. For your own incident, use the free RIDDOR checker.
Injuries to workers
| Scenario | Reportable? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A warehouse worker falls from a ladder and breaks their arm | Yes, within 10 days | A fracture other than to a finger, thumb or toe is a specified injury. |
| An office worker traps a finger in a door and breaks it, and is back at work the next day | No, record it | Finger fractures are not specified injuries, and they were not off for more than 7 days. |
| A care assistant strains their back lifting and is off work for 10 days | Yes, within 15 days | They were unable to do their normal work for more than 7 consecutive days. |
| A shop worker trips over a box and is off for 5 days | No, record it | An over-3-day injury must be recorded but not reported. |
| A cleaner cuts their hand, goes to A&E for stitches and is back the next day | No, record it | For workers, hospital treatment alone does not make an injury reportable. |
| A worker is knocked unconscious by a falling box | Yes, without delay | Loss of consciousness caused by a head injury is a specified injury. |
| A chef burns their hand on a pan, has first aid and carries on working | No, record it | Burns are only specified injuries if they cover more than 10% of the body or damage the eyes, breathing or vital organs. |
| A kitchen porter is scalded over 15% of their body | Yes, without delay | Serious burns covering more than 10% of the body are a specified injury. |
| A self-employed contractor falls from scaffolding at your site and breaks a leg | Yes, without delay | A specified injury. For a self-employed person, the person in control of the premises reports it. For a contractor’s employee, their employer reports. |
| A worker has an accident on a Monday and returns to normal work the Wednesday of the following week | Yes, within 15 days | Counting from the day after the accident and including the weekend, that is more than 7 consecutive days. |
Injuries to members of the public, visitors and pupils
| Scenario | Reportable? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A customer slips on a wet floor that had no warning sign, and is taken by ambulance to hospital for treatment | Yes, without delay | A non-worker taken directly from the scene to hospital for treatment, from an accident arising from a work activity (the condition of the premises). |
| A customer faints because of a medical condition and is taken to hospital | No | The incident did not arise out of or in connection with a work activity. |
| A visitor bumps their head and is taken to hospital for a check-up only | No | Examinations and diagnostic tests alone do not count as treatment. |
| A pupil breaks their wrist falling over during normal playground play | No | Injuries from normal play are not reportable unless caused by the condition of the premises or equipment, or how the activity was organised or supervised. |
| A pupil is hurt by a faulty piece of PE equipment and taken to hospital for treatment | Yes, without delay | The accident arose from the condition of equipment, and the pupil was taken directly to hospital for treatment. |
Dangerous occurrences, diseases and other cases
| Scenario | Reportable? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A mobile crane’s jib collapses on site, and nobody is hurt | Yes, without delay | The collapse or failure of load-bearing parts of lifting equipment is a dangerous occurrence. |
| A digger touches an overhead power line, and nobody is hurt | Yes, without delay | Plant contacting an uninsulated overhead line over 200 volts is a dangerous occurrence. |
| A worker who uses vibrating tools is diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome | Yes, when diagnosed | Carpal tunnel syndrome is a reportable disease where the work involves regular use of percussive or vibrating tools. |
| An employee dies of a heart attack at their desk, with no work-related cause | No | Deaths from natural causes are not reportable because they do not result from a work-related accident. |
| A delivery driver is injured in a crash on a public road | Usually no | Road traffic accidents are generally reported to the police, not under RIDDOR, unless they involve loading or unloading, or work alongside the road. |
Common RIDDOR mistakes
- Forgetting to count weekends and rest days when working out over-7-day injuries.
- Reporting over-3-day injuries, which only need recording.
- Missing injuries to members of the public who were taken straight to hospital.
- Assuming a worker’s hospital visit means an injury is reportable.
- Not keeping a record of the decision when an incident is not reportable.
Next steps
If an incident is reportable, see how to complete RIDDOR form F2508 and RIDDOR reporting timescales. Whatever the answer, record the incident in your accident book. Accident Book runs a RIDDOR check on every incident and tracks the deadline for you.
Frequently asked questions
Is a broken finger RIDDOR reportable?+
Not on its own. Fractures to fingers, thumbs and toes are not specified injuries. It becomes reportable if the worker cannot do their normal work for more than 7 consecutive days.
Is a slip in a shop RIDDOR reportable?+
It is reportable if the customer was taken directly from the scene to hospital for treatment and the slip arose from a work activity, such as a wet floor. If the worker slipped, it depends on the injury and time off work.
Are road traffic accidents RIDDOR reportable?+
Generally not, as they are reported to the police. Exceptions include incidents while loading or unloading a vehicle, or work being done alongside the road, such as roadworks.