RIDDOR stands for the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013. It is the UK law that requires employers, self-employed people and people in control of work premises to report certain serious workplace incidents to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and to keep a record of them.
This guide explains what RIDDOR means in plain English, what must be reported, who reports it, the deadlines, and what happens if you don't report. To check a specific incident, use our free RIDDOR checker.
What does RIDDOR stand for?
RIDDOR is short for:
- Reporting of
- Injuries,
- Diseases and
- Dangerous
- Occurrences
- Regulations
The current version is RIDDOR 2013, which came into force on 1 October 2013 and replaced RIDDOR 1995. You can read the full text on legislation.gov.uk(opens in a new tab).
What is RIDDOR in health and safety?
In health and safety, RIDDOR is the system for telling the regulator about the most serious work-related incidents. Reports go to the HSE (or the local authority, depending on the type of workplace, though you submit them all through the HSE). The HSE uses them to spot trends, decide where to inspect and investigate serious incidents.
RIDDOR is not the same as your accident book. Your accident book records every workplace accident, however minor. RIDDOR only covers specific, serious categories. Most accidents go in the accident book and never need a RIDDOR report. See accident book vs RIDDOR.
What is the purpose of RIDDOR?
RIDDOR exists so that serious incidents are investigated and lessons are learned. Reports allow the HSE and local authorities to:
- identify where and how risks arise;
- investigate serious accidents and dangerous occurrences;
- target inspections and advice at the industries and activities causing harm;
- publish national statistics on workplace injuries and ill health.
For employers, RIDDOR is also a legal duty. Not reporting a reportable incident is a criminal offence.
What must be reported under RIDDOR?
RIDDOR applies to incidents that arise out of or in connection with work. The main categories are often summarised as five things:
- Deaths. All deaths of workers and non-workers caused by a work-related accident, except suicides.
- Specified injuries to workers. These include:
- fractures, other than to fingers, thumbs and toes;
- amputation of an arm, hand, finger, thumb, leg, foot or toe;
- any injury likely to lead to permanent loss of sight or reduction in sight;
- crush injuries to the head or torso causing damage to the brain or internal organs;
- serious burns, covering more than 10% of the body or damaging the eyes, respiratory system or other vital organs;
- scalpings needing hospital treatment;
- loss of consciousness caused by a head injury or asphyxia;
- any injury from working in an enclosed space that leads to hypothermia or heat-induced illness, or needs resuscitation or admission to hospital for more than 24 hours.
- Over-7-day injuries. An injury that stops a worker doing their normal work for more than 7 consecutive days, not counting the day of the accident but including weekends and rest days.
- Occupational diseases. Diagnosed cases of carpal tunnel syndrome, severe cramp of the hand or forearm, occupational dermatitis, hand-arm vibration syndrome, occupational asthma, tendonitis or tenosynovitis of the hand or forearm, any occupational cancer, and any disease caused by occupational exposure to a biological agent.
- Dangerous occurrences. Specified near-miss events with the potential to cause serious harm, such as the collapse or failure of lifting equipment, contact with overhead power lines, explosions or fires, or the accidental release of a biological agent, even if no one is hurt.
Two further categories also apply:
- Injuries to non-workers, such as customers, visitors or pupils, if they are taken directly from the scene to hospital for treatment. Being taken to hospital purely as a precaution, with no treatment given, is not reportable.
- Gas incidents, reported by gas suppliers and Gas Safe registered engineers.
For worked examples, see 20 RIDDOR examples and what accidents are RIDDOR reportable.
What is not reportable under RIDDOR?
- Over-3-day injuries (more than 3 but no more than 7 days off normal work). These must be recorded but not reported.
- Fractures to fingers, thumbs or toes, unless they lead to more than 7 days off normal work.
- Injuries that aren't caused by a work-related accident, for example a worker who faints because of a medical condition with no work cause.
- Non-workers taken to hospital as a precaution with no treatment, or who go to hospital later on their own.
- Most road traffic accidents on public roads, except some involving work such as roadworks or loading and unloading.
- Near misses, unless they are one of the listed dangerous occurrences.
Even when an incident is not reportable, record it in your accident book.
Who should submit a RIDDOR report?
The responsible person must report. That is usually:
- the employer, for injuries and diseases to their employees;
- the self-employed person, for their own injuries and diseases (someone else, such as the person in control of the premises, may report if they are unable to);
- the person in control of the premises, for incidents involving members of the public, and for dangerous occurrences.
Injured employees don't report to the HSE themselves. If you are an employee, tell your employer and make sure the accident is recorded.
When must a RIDDOR report be made?
| Type of incident | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Death, specified injury or dangerous occurrence | Without delay, and a report within 10 days |
| Over-7-day injury to a worker | Within 15 days of the accident |
| Non-worker taken to hospital for treatment | Without delay, and a report within 10 days |
| Occupational disease | As soon as you receive a written diagnosis |
More detail, including how to count the days: RIDDOR reporting timescales explained.
How do you report under RIDDOR?
Most reports are made online using the forms on the HSE RIDDOR reporting page(opens in a new tab). Fatal and specified injuries can also be reported by phone to the HSE Incident Contact Centre. The online injury form is the F2508; see how to complete the F2508.
Keep a copy of every report. You must keep records of RIDDOR-reportable incidents, and of over-3-day injuries, for at least 3 years.
Where does RIDDOR apply?
RIDDOR 2013 applies in Great Britain: England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own regulations, RIDDOR (Northern Ireland) 1997, and reports go to HSENI rather than the HSE.
What happens if you don't report under RIDDOR?
Failing to report a reportable incident is a criminal offence. The HSE or local authority can prosecute, and courts can impose unlimited fines. A missed report also tends to come to light later, for example through a personal injury claim or an inspection, which makes the original incident look worse. See RIDDOR reporting: the complete UK guide.
What is the most common cause of RIDDOR reports?
According to HSE statistics, slips, trips and falls on the same level are consistently the most common cause of non-fatal injuries to employees, followed by handling, lifting or carrying. Falls from height are among the leading causes of fatal injuries.
Why is RIDDOR important for employers?
- It is a legal duty, with criminal penalties for not reporting.
- It forces a proper look at the most serious incidents, which helps stop them happening again.
- A correct, on-time report shows the HSE, insurers and courts that you take safety seriously.
How to make sure you never miss a RIDDOR report
Most missed reports happen because a minor-looking accident turns into more than 7 days off work, and nobody notices the 15-day deadline. Recording every accident promptly and reviewing open incidents fixes this.
Accident Book asks the RIDDOR questions when an incident is reviewed, flags incidents that are likely to be reportable or need watching, and emails admins when the RIDDOR status changes. It does not submit reports to the HSE for you; you still report through the HSE website.