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Consultation opens in January on RIDDOR changes, 16 December 2010

The Health and Safety Executive yesterday agreed a plan for the publication of consultation documents on proposed changes to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR).

In his report on health and safety, Lord Young recommended that RIDDOR be amended 'by extending to seven days the period before an injury or accident needs to be reported'. In line with commitments made in the Government's formal response to the report - HSE will open a three month consultation in January 2011.

Under current rules when an employee is absent from work for more than three days following an incident or injury at work, employers are required to report the incident to the relevant enforcing authority - either HSE or the local council.

The proposed amendment increases this 'over three day' period to over seven consecutive days. This change would align the incident reporting threshold with that for obtaining a 'fit note' from a GP for sickness absence, and would ensure that someone who has suffered a reportable injury has had a professional medical assessment.

Judith Hackitt, HSE Chair said;

"The Board discussed the proposals at length, and asked for some additional work to be done prior to the launch of the consultation in January.

"Whilst there will be some obvious advantages in reducing the reporting requirements on business, there will be other factors which need to be taken into account. We hope that interested parties will use the consultation exercise to provide the range of perspectives we need to consider in order for us to advise the Government appropriately."

The consultation paper will be published on www.hse.gov.uk week commencing 17 January 2011. The deadline for responses will be 11 April 2011. HSE will then consider the responses, and expects to be in a position to submit recommendations to the Secretary of State by the end of May.

Notes to editors:

1. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to prevent death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice, promoting training, new or revised regulations and codes of practice, and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. For more information about the work of HSE, visit www.hse.gov.uk
2. Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states "It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees."
3. The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) are regulations made under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA). This law requires businesses to report to regulators the more serious work related injuries and ill health as well as incidents that have the potential to cause serious harm. Certain injuries to members of the public affected by the business undertaking are reportable too.
4. Section 15 of the Health and Safety at Work Act allows the Secretary of State to make regulations. Section 50 of the Health and Safety at Work Act requires that HSE consults before submitting proposals to change regulation.

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