Why Do Injuries Need To Be Reported, And What Is Riddor?

If you’ve ever suffered a serious injury at work, you might have heard your employer mention RIDDOR. But what is RIDDOR, and why do we need it?

RIDDOR is a piece of legislation that determines what injuries and illnesses need to be reported to Great Britain’s workplace health and safety watchdog, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). In this guide, we’ll be discussing what RIDDOR is, and when it is used.

We’ll also talk about some of the reportable incidences outlined in RIDDOR, including certain industrial diseases, injuries, and workplace illnesses. Finally, we’ll discuss how often injuries are reported under RIDDOR.

Contact Us

If you’ve suffered an injury serious enough that it had to be reported under RIDDOR, we suggest you get in touch with our advisory team. They can help you find out if you could be eligible to make a personal injury compensation claim. Get started by:

Browse Our Guide

  1. What Is RIDDOR?
  2. Why Do Injuries Need To Be Reported?
  3. What Types Of Workplace Accidents Need To Be Reported?
  4. How Often Are Work-Related Accidents Reported Under RIDDOR?
  5. Learn About How To Claim For Workplace Accidents

An injured employee filling out an accident report

What Is RIDDOR?

The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) is a piece of legislation that was introduced in 2013, and outlines what injuries, illnesses, and near misses need to be reported to the HSE.

Not all workplace injuries need to be reported under RIDDOR. You only need to make a RIDDOR report if:

  • The accident is work-related
  • The injury is classed as reportable

Only “responsible persons” can make a report under RIDDOR. This usually means your employer, or the person in control of the premises, like a construction site foreman. If an employee wishes to report a health and safety issue to the HSE they can do so.

Keep reading to find out what kinds of work-related injuries and incidents need to be reported under RIDDOR.

Why Do Injuries Need To Be Reported?

There are a number of reasons why it’s important to report workplace injuries.  Firstly it can help prevent future work injuries. When you report an accident, this means that new health and safety procedures may be put in place, and your employer will have a better idea about how to prevent further accidents.

Secondly, if the employer is at fault for the accident there is a sense of accountability and this can lead to a safer overall workplace.

Finally, reporting a work accident can provide you with proof of the incident if you go on to make an accident at work claim. Part of the workplace injury claims process is collecting evidence to prove your case, and complaints made to the HSE, RIDDOR reports, and accident book logs can all be used as evidence.

Contact our team today to find out if you could make a compensation claim. Or, keep reading to find out what kinds of accidents need to be reported under RIDDOR.

A stack of files sitting on a desk

What Types Of Workplace Accidents Need To Be Reported?

So now we’ve answered the question, “What is RIDDOR?” let’s talk about what kinds of accidents and incidents need to be reported. Under RIDDOR, the following major injuries are considered reportable incidents under RIDDOR:

  • Any deaths caused by work-related injuries or accidents
  • Fractures that aren’t to toes, thumbs, or fingers
  • Amputations of limbs, hands, fingers or toes
  • Injuries that cause blindness or the reduction of sight in one or both eyes
  • Serious burn injuries that cover over 10% of the body
  • Crush injuries that cause brain damage or damage to organs in the torso or other vital organs in the chest
  • Scalping requiring hospital treatment
  • A head injury or suffocation that results in lost consciousness
  • Hypothermia or heat-induced illness caused by working in an enclosed space
  • Injuries suffered in an enclosed space that causes a need for resuscitation or 24 hours in a hospital

RIDDOR also covers occupational disease, near-miss events, and serious injuries to the general public that have been caused by a work-related accident.

How Often Are Work-Related Accidents Reported Under RIDDOR?

As we’ve already mentioned, your employer is legally required to report an accident under RIDDOR in certain circumstances.

According to statistics published by the HSE, employers reported 60,645 non-fatal injuries to their employees in 2022/23. Slips, trips, and falls on the same level accounted for 32% of these injuries, making them the most commonly reported cause of injury.

Contact Us

We hope we’ve answered any questions you have about RIDDOR and reporting workplace injuries. If you’ve been injured in an accident at work and would like to find out if you could make a compensation claim, get in touch with our team by:

An employee follows health and safety legislation and discusses a reportable injury with an employee

Learn About How To Claim For Workplace Accidents

For more helpful guides on how to claim compensation for a workplace accident:

Or, for further resources:

Thank you for reading our guide. We hope we’ve successfully answered the question, “What is RIDDOR?”