What is RIDDOR? UK Reporting Requirements Explained

RIDDOR stands for the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013. It places a legal duty on employers and others in control of work premises to report certain serious workplace incidents to the Health and Safety Executive. Knowing what is reportable, and within what timescale, is essential, because failing to report a RIDDOR incident is itself an offence. This guide explains what RIDDOR covers and how to report.

What is RIDDOR?

RIDDOR is the set of regulations that requires responsible persons to report and keep records of specific work related incidents. The aim is to give the HSE and local authorities the information they need to identify where and how risks arise, to investigate serious incidents, and to act to prevent future harm. It applies to employers, the self employed, and people who control work premises.

Importantly, not every workplace accident is reportable under RIDDOR. The regulations capture the more serious outcomes and specific categories of event. Understanding the difference between an accident you simply record in your accident book and one you must report to the HSE is the key to getting RIDDOR right.

What must be reported under RIDDOR

The main categories of reportable events are:

• Deaths: any work related death must be reported.

• Specified injuries: serious injuries including fractures other than to fingers, thumbs and toes, amputations, serious burns, crush injuries to the head or torso, loss of sight, and injuries from working in an enclosed space.

• Over seven day injuries: where a worker is incapacitated for more than seven consecutive days, not counting the day of the accident.

• Injuries to members of the public: where a person not at work is injured and taken directly to hospital for treatment.

• Occupational diseases: certain diagnosed conditions linked to work, such as occupational dermatitis, asthma, and hand arm vibration syndrome.

• Dangerous occurrences: specified near miss events with the potential to cause significant harm, such as the collapse of scaffolding or the failure of lifting equipment.

Over seven day and over three day injuries

A common point of confusion is the distinction between reporting and recording. An over seven day injury, where a worker cannot perform their normal duties for more than seven consecutive days because of a work accident, must be reported to the HSE. Separately, if a worker is incapacitated for more than three consecutive days, the injury must be recorded, for example in an accident book, even though it does not need to be reported. Keeping both clear helps you meet both duties.

Who is responsible for reporting

The duty to report falls on the responsible person, which is usually the employer of an injured worker, the self employed person, or the person in control of the premises where the incident happened. Workers themselves do not make RIDDOR reports; they should report incidents to their employer, who then decides whether a RIDDOR report is required and makes it. This is why having a clear internal reporting process is so important.

How to report a RIDDOR incident

Most RIDDOR reports are made online through the HSE website, using the appropriate form for the type of incident. Fatal and specified injuries, and dangerous occurrences, can also be reported by telephone to the HSE in certain urgent cases. Whichever route is used, you should gather the key facts first: what happened, when and where, who was involved, the nature of the injury or event, and what the person was doing at the time.

RIDDOR reporting timescales

Timescales matter and differ by incident type. Deaths and specified injuries must be reported without delay, with a formal report following within ten days. Over seven day injuries must be reported within fifteen days of the accident. Occupational diseases must be reported as soon as the responsible person receives a diagnosis. Missing these deadlines is a breach in itself, so a quick internal process for flagging potentially reportable incidents is valuable.

Keeping records

RIDDOR also requires you to keep records of any reportable injury, disease or dangerous occurrence, including the date and method of reporting, the details of the incident, and any action taken. Records must be kept for at least three years. Good record keeping not only meets this duty but also helps you spot patterns, demonstrate compliance, and respond confidently if the HSE makes contact.

Why getting RIDDOR right matters

Beyond the legal duty, RIDDOR data helps you understand the most serious risks in your workplace and act on them. Under reporting hides problems and can lead to enforcement action if discovered, while a clear, consistent process shows that you take incidents seriously. Screening every incident against the RIDDOR criteria, and recording the decision, protects both your workers and your business.

Frequently asked questions

• What does RIDDOR stand for: The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013.

• Is every accident reportable under RIDDOR: No. Only deaths, specified injuries, over seven day injuries, certain injuries to the public, listed occupational diseases and dangerous occurrences are reportable.

• What is an over seven day injury: An injury that stops a worker performing their normal duties for more than seven consecutive days, not counting the day of the accident. It must be reported within 15 days.

• Who reports a RIDDOR incident: The responsible person, usually the employer or the person in control of the premises, not the injured worker.

• How long must RIDDOR records be kept: Records of reportable incidents must be kept for at least three years.

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