Reporting accidents, incidents, and near misses is a legal obligation and a vital part of preventing future harm. RIDDOR requires employers to report certain work-related injuries, diseases, and dangerous occurrences to the HSE. Under-reporting hides the true scale of risk on site and prevents lessons from being learned. Every operative has a duty to report incidents and near misses so that they can be investigated and prevented from happening again.
Key Hazards
Repeat incidents occurring because root causes were never identified
Legal penalties for failing to report RIDDOR-notifiable events to the HSE
Missed opportunities to prevent serious injuries through early intervention
Blame culture discouraging workers from reporting near misses honestly
Control Measures
Report all accidents, incidents, and near misses to your supervisor as soon as they occur.
Record the details accurately including date, time, location, people involved, and what happened.
Ensure RIDDOR-reportable events are notified to the HSE within the required timescales.
Preserve the incident scene and do not disturb evidence until an investigation has been completed.
Cooperate fully with incident investigations and provide honest witness statements when asked.
Attend toolbox talks and briefings on lessons learned from incidents on this and other sites.
Use the near miss reporting system actively — every near miss is a warning of a future injury.
Support a just reporting culture where people are encouraged to report without fear of blame.
Review incident trends to identify recurring hazards and implement preventive actions.
Remember
All accidents, incidents, and near misses must be reported regardless of how minor they seem.
RIDDOR requires reporting of deaths, specified injuries, and over-seven-day incapacitation events.
Near miss reports are the most valuable tool for preventing future serious incidents on site.
Preserve the scene after an incident and do not move anything until told it is safe to do so.
A culture of open reporting protects everyone by helping the site learn from what went wrong.
Failing to report a RIDDOR-notifiable event is a criminal offence with serious penalties.
Applicable Legislation: Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) · Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 · Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999