Accident Reporting at Work

Employers with control over employees and work premises have a duty to notify and report the following events occurring at work :-

• Death or major injury including acts of non-consensual physical violence committed at work
• Accidents causing injuries resulting in three days off work
• Occupational diseases
• Dangerous occurrences

The duty to report applies not only in the case of accidents to employees but also to lawful visitors to the employer's premises and customers.

Reportable major injuries are :-

• Fractures other than to fingers, thumbs or toes
• Amputation
• Dislocation of the shoulder, hip, knee or spine
• Loss of sight, (temporary or permanent)
• Chemical or hot metal burn to the eye or any penetrating injury to the eye
• Injury resulting from an electric shock or electrical burn leading to unconsciousness or requiring resuscitation or admittance to Hospital for more than twenty four hours
• Any other injury leading to hyperthermia, heat induced illness or unconsciousness; or requiring resuscitation; or requiring admittance to Hospital for twenty four hours
• Unconsciousness caused by asphyxia or exposure to harmful substance or biological agent
• Acute illness requiring medical treatment, or loss of consciousness arising from absorption of any substance by inhalation, ingestion or through the skin
• Acute illness requiring medical treatment where there is reason to believe that this resulted from exposure to a biological agent or its toxins or infected material

Records of injury-causing accidents, dangerous occurrences and specified diseases must be kept by employers for at least three years and must contain :-

• The date and time of the accident or dangerous occurrence
• In an accident suffered by a person at work his/her full name, occupation and the nature of the injury.
• In the event of an accident suffered by a person not at work his or her full name, status, e.g. customer or visitor and the nature of the injury.
• The place where the accident or dangerous occurrence happened.
• A brief description of the circumstances.
• The date that the event was first reported
• The method by which the event was reported (e.g. telephone or letter).

With effect from lst April 2001 reports of accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences may be made to the Incident Contact Centre. Reporting of incidents can be made in any of the following ways :-

• Telephone - 0845 300 9923
• Internet - see http://www.riddor.gov.uk/infocontent.html
• By post to - Incident Contact Centre, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG
• By facsimile - 0845 300 9924

Contravention of any of the statutory provisions is an offence punishable by a fine.

Employers must in addition, keep an Accident Book recording accidents and ill health at work.