HSE publishes details of proposed RIDDOR changes
Main changes designed to clarify and simplify the reporting requirements in a number of key areas
THE Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published details of proposed changes that will simplify the mandatory reporting of workplace injuries for businesses.
Changes to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995 will clarify and simplify the reporting requirements, while ensuring that the data collected gives an accurate and useful picture of workplace incidents.
To allow businesses time to familiarize themselves with the changes, the HSE has published information to support dutyholders with the requirements which, although on track for implementation from October 2013, remain subject to Parliamentary approval.
The information is available on the HSE website at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/october-2013-changes.htm
The main changes will be to simplify the reporting requirements in the following areas:
- The classification of ‘major injuries’ to workers to be replaced with a shorter list of ‘specified injuries’
- The existing schedule detailing 47 types of industrial disease to be replaced with eight categories of reportable work-related illness
- Fewer types of ‘dangerous occurrence’ will require reporting.
There will not be any significant changes to the reporting requirements for:
- Fatal accidents
- Accidents to non-workers (members of the public)
- Accidents resulting in a worker being unable to perform their normal range of duties for more than seven days.
According to the HSE, the changes will require fewer incidents to be reported overall and it is estimated that they will result in a net benefit to business of £5.9 million over a 10-year period.
The changes will not alter the current ways to report an incident at work and the criteria that determine whether an incident should be investigated will remain the same.
