The
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has recently published details of proposed changes to simplify the procedure of reporting workplace injuries, in a move which can affect
health and safety procedures everywhere.
RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurances Regulations 1995) is the law which requires employers and any managers in control of work premises to report and keep records of work-related illness, injuries, fatalities and certain 'dangerous occurences' which may take place.
Changes to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 aim to clarify and simplify the reporting requirements. It also aims to ensure that all data collected is accurate and gives a useful picture of workplace incidents. There are a number of changes proposed to be implemented from October, so businesses need to start to familiarise themselves with the changes before they come into force.
The main changes involve simplifying the reporting requirements. At present it is unclear as to what 'major injuries' refers to, it has been proposed that instead of using the term 'major injuries' it should be replaced with 'specified injuries'. The specified injuries will mean that those reporting can be clearer about the injury they have suffered.
The current RIDDOR lists forty seven different types of industrial disease which is set to be replaced with eight categories or what could be considered to be reportable work-related illness. It has also been considered that there are fewer instances of 'dangerous occurance' which need reporting which mean this can be removed from the RIDDOR.
Much of the RIDDOR will remain the same and it has been highlighted that there will be no changes to reporting requirements for fatal accidents, accidents to non-workers and accidents which result in the incapitication of a worker for more than seven days.
The changes will mean that fewer incidents will be reported overall which is believed to be good for businesses, with a net benefit to business of £5.9million over a ten year period. The changes have been proposed following a public consultation which took place between the 2nd August 2012 and 28th October 2012. Changes still need to go via parliament before they are confirmed.
The changes will not alter the ways incidents are currently reported at work and the criteria used to determine whether an incident need be investigated will remain the same. This is the first changes to the RIDDOR proposed in almost twenty years so is guaranteed to have some kind of effect on health and safety.