Every subcontractor working on a UK construction site has a legal and contractual duty to report accidents, incidents, and near misses to the principal contractor. Failure to report undermines the site safety management system and can result in repeat incidents that could have been prevented. This talk explains what must be reported, when, and to whom, so that every subcontractor understands their obligations.
Key Hazards
Repeat incidents caused by unreported near misses and hazards
Non-compliance with RIDDOR reporting leading to HSE prosecution
Loss of critical investigation data from delayed incident reporting
Deteriorating safety culture when incidents are concealed or minimised
Control Measures
Report all accidents, incidents, near misses, and dangerous occurrences to the site manager immediately.
Complete the principal contractor's incident report form within the timescale specified in the site rules.
Ensure your own company internal reporting procedure is also followed for all reportable events.
Identify and report RIDDOR-reportable events to the HSE within the required statutory timescale.
Preserve the incident scene and any evidence until advised it can be released.
Cooperate fully with the principal contractor's incident investigation process.
Encourage your workforce to report near misses and unsafe conditions without fear of blame.
Include incident reporting duties in your subcontractor site induction for all operatives.
Attend safety review meetings when requested and share lessons learned from your investigations.
Remember
Report all accidents, incidents, and near misses to the site manager immediately
RIDDOR-reportable events must be reported to the HSE within the statutory timescale
Preserve the scene and cooperate fully with the principal contractor's investigation
Encourage near miss reporting openly among your workforce without any blame
Follow both the site reporting procedure and your own company's internal process
Applicable Legislation: RIDDOR 2013 · Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 · CDM 2015 · MHSWR 1999