RIDDOR changes come into force next week
On 1 October 2013 the updated Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) come into force.
The changes will simplify the mandatory reporting of workplace injuries for businesses, while ensuring that the data collected gives an accurate and useful picture of workplace incidents.
The current regulations were considered to be too complex, leading to incidents being reported to the HSE incorrectly, or not at all. By updating the legislation and making it easier to understand, and to comply with, the HSE hopes that reporting standards will improve.
The main changes are to simplify the reporting requirements in the following areas:
• The classification of ‘major injuries’ to workers is being replaced with a shorter list of ‘specified injuries’.
• The existing schedule detailing 47 types of industrial disease is being replaced with eight categories of reportable work-related illness.
• Fewer types of ‘dangerous occurrence’ will require reporting.
There are no significant changes to the reporting requirements for:
• Fatal accidents.
• Accidents to non-workers (members of the public).
• Accidents which result in the incapacitation of a worker for more than seven days.
If you have responsibility for an organisation’s health and safety policy, you should update the relevant sections of the policy to reflect these changes. If you require assistance with this, Aegis’s team of health and safety experts can help.