Accidents, injuries and dangerous occurrences

Each year approximately 20,000 injuries are reported to local authorities. In the UK an estimated 1.5 million work related injuries and two million work related illness affect businesses. Visit the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website for up to date statistical data on accidents and injuries at work.

To report accidents at work, phone the hotline: 0845 300 99 23


Work related injuries

Work-related injuries can include head injury, back injury, electrocution, sprains, hearing loss, lacerations, heat burns, chemical burns, gassing, amputations, respiratory damage, dermatitis, dislocation, eye injury, fractures, strains and cuts.

Manual handling injuries and injuries due to slips, trips and falls are the most common in the workplace. Violence at work has been identified as an increasing problem.

Reporting injuries, disease, and dangerous occurrences

The law requires the following work-related incidents to be reported:

  • deaths
  • major injuries
  • over-three-day injuries (where an employee or self-employed person has an accident and the person is away from work or unable to work normally for more than three days)
  • injuries to members of the public where they are taken to hospital
  • work related diseases
  • dangerous occurrences where something happens that does not result in a reportable injury but could have done

Visit the Riddor website for more details.

When and to whom do I need to report accidents and injuries?

If death or major injury occurs to a member of staff or a member of the public is killed or taken to hospital the accident must be reported immediately and followed up by a written report within 10 days. The written report is made on form F2508. If an employee suffers an 'over-3-day' injury it must be reported on the F2508 form within 10 days.

All accidents should be reported to the Incident Contact Centre (ICC):
tel: 0845 300 9923
website: www.riddor.gov.uk
email: riddor@natbrit.com
fax: 0845 300 9924
post: Incident Contact Centre, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG

The ICC will forward the details on to the relevant Enforcing Authority who may then contact you.

RIDDOR - Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences

The Enforcing Authorities are either the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or the Local Authority depending on the type of business or work activity. Most businesses and work activities in the borough will come under the remit of the Local Authority, The Royal Borough. These businesses include offices, shops, hotels, restaurants, clubs, pubs, leisure centres, hairdressers and launderettes etc. Slips, trips and falls cause the majority of injuries in the local authority enforced sector on the same level. The majority of fatal accidents in this sector are caused by falls from height and being struck by moving vehicles or objects.

All employers, the self-employed and those in control of premises have duties to report under RIDDOR '95 so should be aware of the requirements. It is a criminal offence not to comply with the regulations.

Investigations and lessons learnt

Employers should appropriately invistigate all accidents and near misses. They should use the lessons learnt to improve their risk management systems.

For practical guidance on this topic see HSG245 Investigating accidents and Incidents, ISBN 0 7176 2827 2. It is available from HSE's publications.

Further information

Further information about the types of accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences that require reporting can be found in the HSE publication 'RIDDOR Explained' (HSE 31). This is free and can be obtained from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury Suffolk CO10 2WA Tel: 01787 881165 or can be found on the RIDDOR website. This leaflet also contains a pro-forma of the reporting form F2508, but additional forms can be obtained from the above address.

Other references

  • Reduce Risks - Cut Costs. The real cost of accidents and ill health at work: Reduce risks - cut costs [PDF file]
  • Managing Health and Safety - 5 Steps to Successful Health and Safety Management Ind(g) 132l: Managing health and safety [PDF file]
  • A guide to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases & Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (L73)
  • Successful Health and Safety Management HS(G) 65

The above publications can all be obtained from HSE Books.

For further advice and information please contact the Health and Safety Team.