1.7 RIDDOR 2013: Reporting Over-7-Day Injuries, Specified Injuries, Occupational Diseases & Dangerous Occurrences
Key Takeaways
- RIDDOR 2013 places statutory reporting duties on employers, self-employed persons, and persons in control of work premises
- Fatalities and Specified Injuries must be reported to the HSE immediately and formally submitted via Form F2508 within 10 days
- Over-7-day incapacitation injuries must be reported formally to the HSE within 15 days of the accident occurring
- Reportable Dangerous Occurrences (near-misses) include scaffold collapses over 5m, crane failures, and overhead powerline contacts
- All RIDDOR reportable records and accident book entries must be retained by the duty holder for at least 3 years
Introduction to RIDDOR 2013
The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR 2013) place statutory duties on employers, self-employed individuals, and persons in control of work premises ("responsible persons") to report specified workplace accidents, occupational diseases, and high-risk near-miss incidents to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Reporting provides enforcing authorities with vital intelligence to target site inspections, identify dangerous trends, and investigate serious incidents across the UK construction industry.
Statutory Incident Categories & Reporting Timeframes
RIDDOR 2013 establishes five distinct categories of reportable events, each governed by strict reporting criteria and statutory deadlines.
1. Fatalities
All deaths arising out of or in connection with work must be reported immediately to the HSE Incident Contact Centre (ICC) by telephone or online. A formal written report on Form F2508 must be submitted within 10 calendar days.
2. Specified Injuries to Workers (Regulation 4)
Specified injuries occurring to workers must be notified to the HSE without delay (immediately) and followed by a formal Form F2508 report within 10 calendar days.
Under RIDDOR 2013 Regulation 4(1), Specified Injuries are defined strictly as:
- Fractures, other than to fingers, thumbs, and toes.
- Amputations of an arm, hand, finger, thumb, leg, foot, or toe.
- Any injury likely to lead to permanent loss of sight or reduction in sight.
- Any crush injury to the head or torso causing damage to the brain or internal organs.
- Serious burns (covering more than 10% of the body surface, or causing severe damage to the eyes, respiratory system, or vital organs).
- Any scalding requiring hospital treatment.
- Loss of consciousness caused by head injury or asphyxia.
- Any injury arising from working in an enclosed space leading to hypothermia or heat-induced illness, or requiring resuscitation or hospital admission for more than 24 hours.
Critical SMSTS Distinction: Excluded Fractures
Fractures to fingers, thumbs, and toes are explicitly EXCLUDED from the list of Specified Injuries. (However, if a fractured finger causes incapacitation for over 7 days, it becomes reportable as an over-7-day injury).
3. Over-7-Day Incapacitation Injuries (Regulation 4(2))
An accident must be reported under RIDDOR when an employee or self-employed worker is incapacitated and unable to perform their normal work duties for more than 7 consecutive days as a result of an occupational injury.
Counting and Reporting Rules:
- The day of the accident is EXCLUDED when counting days.
- Weekend days, rest days, and statutory holidays ARE INCLUDED in the 7 consecutive days.
- Statutory Reporting Deadline: The formal Form F2508 report must be submitted to the HSE within 15 calendar days of the accident occurring.
Over-3-Day Injuries vs. Over-7-Day Injuries
Under UK law, an injury that results in a worker being incapacitated for more than 3 consecutive days must be recorded in the employer's internal Accident Book (Form BI 510). However, over-3-day injuries do not need to be formally reported to the HSE under RIDDOR unless incapacitation extends past 7 consecutive days.
4. Non-Workers (Members of the Public)
Injuries to non-workers (site visitors, delivery drivers, members of the public) occurring as a result of a work-related accident must be reported to the HSE if the injured person is taken directly from the scene of the accident to a hospital for treatment of that injury.
5. Reportable Occupational Diseases (Regulations 8 & 9)
Employers and self-employed persons must report diagnoses of specified occupational diseases on Form F2508A within 10 days of receiving a formal written medical diagnosis from a doctor linking the condition to specific construction activities:
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Associated with handheld vibrating power tools.
- Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS): Associated with long-term use of breakers, drills, and compactors.
- Occupational Asthma: Caused by exposure to timber dust, isocyanates, or resin vapors.
- Tendonitis or Tenosynovitis: Of the hand or forearm caused by repetitive manual work.
- Occupational Dermatitis: Caused by contact with wet cement, epoxy resins, or solvents.
- Asbestos-Related Diseases: Asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer from silica/asbestos exposure.
6. Dangerous Occurrences (Near-Misses) (Schedule 2)
Dangerous Occurrences are specified high-potential near-miss events where no actual personal injury occurred, but where the incident presented extreme risk. They must be reported to the HSE on Form F2508 within 10 calendar days.
Key construction Dangerous Occurrences listed in Schedule 2 include:
- Lifting Equipment Failure: Overturning, collapse, or failure of load-bearing parts of cranes, derricks, hoists, excavators, or Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs).
- Scaffold Collapse: Complete or partial collapse of any scaffolding standing over 5 meters in height.
- Overhead Electric Powerlines: Any plant, crane, excavator, or structure coming into contact with, or causing electrical discharge from, overhead electric lines.
- Pressure Systems Failure: Explosion or collapse of closed vessel systems or pipelines.
- Unplanned Structural Collapse: Collapse of temporary shoring, trench walls, building frames, or falsework standing over 5 meters in height.
Statutory Record-Keeping Requirements
Under Regulation 12 of RIDDOR 2013, the duty holder must retain records of all reportable incidents, specified injuries, occupational diseases, dangerous occurrences, and over-3-day injuries for at least 3 years from the date the entry was made.
Records must include: date and time of incident, personal details of injured person, location, nature of injury/disease, brief description of circumstances, and date notified to HSE.
RIDDOR 2013 Reporting Summary Matrix
| Incident Category | Trigger Condition | Reporting Deadline | Statutory HSE Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fatality | Work-related death | Immediate phone call; F2508 within 10 days | Form F2508 |
| Specified Injury | Serious injury list (e.g., fractured femur, amputation) | Immediate notification; F2508 within 10 days | Form F2508 |
| Over-7-Day Injury | Worker incapacitated >7 consecutive days | Within 15 days of accident | Form F2508 |
| Over-3-Day Injury | Worker incapacitated >3 consecutive days | Internal record only (BI 510); No HSE report | Accident Book (BI 510) |
| Non-Worker Injury | Taken directly to hospital for treatment | F2508 within 10 days | Form F2508 |
| Occupational Disease | Written medical diagnosis of work-related disease | Within 10 days of diagnosis | Form F2508A |
| Dangerous Occurrence | Schedule 2 near-miss (e.g., scaffold collapse >5m) | Within 10 days of occurrence | Form F2508 |
Which injury to a construction operative is explicitly classified as a 'Specified Injury' under RIDDOR 2013, requiring formal notification within 10 days?
What is the statutory HSE reporting timeframe for an accident that results in a worker being incapacitated from performing normal work duties for more than 7 consecutive days?
Which near-miss incident is statutorily classified as a reportable 'Dangerous Occurrence' under Schedule 2 of RIDDOR 2013?
How long must an employer retain statutory records of all RIDDOR reportable injuries, occupational diseases, and dangerous occurrences?