- fractures, other than to fingers, thumbs and toes;
- amputation of an arm, hand, finger, thumb, leg, foot or toe;
- permanent loss of sight or reduction of sight;
- crush injuries leading to internal organ damage;
- serious burns (covering more than 10% of the body, or damaging the eyes, respiratory system or other vital organs);
- scalpings (separation of skin from the head) which require hospital treatment;
- unconsciousness caused by head injury or asphyxia;
- any other injury arising from working in an enclosed space, which leads to hypothermia, heat-induced illness or requires resuscitation or admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours.
- carpal tunnel syndrome;
- severe cramp of the hand or forearm;
- occupational dermatitis;
- hand-arm vibration syndrome;
- occupational asthma;
- tendonitis or tenosynovitis of the hand or forearm;
- any occupational cancer;
- any disease attributed to an occupational exposure to a biological agent.
When an employee is injured by a sharp known to be contaminated with a blood-borne virus (BBV), this is reportable as a dangerous occurrence. When the employee receives a sharps injury and a BBV acquired by this route sero-converts, this is reportable as a disease. If the sharp is not contaminated with a BBV, or the source of the sharps injury cannot be traced, it is not reportable, unless the injury itself causes an over-seven-day injury. If the employee develops a disease attributable to the injury, then it must be reported [3]. See also Occupational Exposure Management (including Sharps).
Recording and reporting to the HSE must be made by the ‘responsible person’ [6]: for incidents involving members of staff the responsible person is the employer; for incidents involving self-employed persons working on the premises, or members of the public affected by work carried out on the premises which results in death or removal to a hospital for treatment, the responsible person is the person in control of the premises at the time of the incident.
All incidents must be reported to the HSE using the appropriate online form [7].
NB: the telephone service (0345 300 9923) is for reporting deaths and specified injuries only.
- Deaths, specified injuries and injuries to non-workers requiring hospital treatment should be reported without delay.
- Over-seven-day* injuries must be reported within 15* days of the incident occurring.
- Work-related diseases should be reported as soon as a doctor’s notification has been received.
- Dangerous occurrences should be reported immediately.
Recording of incidents covered by RIDDOR is important for ongoing monitoring, risk management and inspection. Records of all reportable injuries, diseases or dangerous occurrences must be entered into a data protection compliant accident book (BI510). The HSE will also send a copy of the record held within their database following receipt of a report. In addition, records of any occupational accident that resulted in the worker being absent for more than three consecutive days (not counting the day of the accident but including any weekends or other rest days) must be kept but need not be reported unless extending to seven days.
*Since April 2012 reporting of over-three-day injuries was increased to over-seven-day injuries, and the reporting deadline increased from 10 to 15 days from the day of the accident.
Put in place a system for reporting and investigating accidents and injuries in the workplace. This should comply with the terms of RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013) [1].
- death or specified injury related to work;
- injury resulting in absence from work for more than seven consecutive days;
- injury to a member of the public that results in transfer to hospital from the scene of the accident;
- work-related disease – ill health as a result of occupational exposure (e.g. hepatitis; occupational asthma or dermatitis which has been confirmed by a GMP);
- dangerous occurrence (as specified within Schedule 2 of the Regulations) where injury does not occur but could have done.
Ensure that staff report all incidents as soon as possible to a senior member of the dental team.
Enter details of all incidents into your practice accident book (ensure this is data protection compliant), and keep records for at least 3 years. A suitable accident book is published by the HSE (ISBN 9780 71766 4580) [8].
Investigate incidents (even if they are not reportable) and, if necessary, make changes to procedures or structures to reduce the risk of recurrence (i.e. significant event analysis; see Risk Management and Significant Event Analysis).
Train staff on how to deal with incidents.
Sources of information
- The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013
- Reporting Accidents and Incidents at Work: a brief guide to the RIDDOR Regulations 2013
- Reporting injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences in health and social care. Guidance for Employers. Health and Safety Executive (2013)
- RIDDOR – Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences 2013 [website]. Health and Safety Executive
- Types of reportable incidents [webpage]. Health and Safety Executive
- Who should report? [webpage]. Health and Safety Executive
- How to make a RIDDOR report. Ways to report an incident at work [webpage]. Health and Safety Executive
- Accident Book (form BI510). Health and Safety Executive (2012)
- Health and Safety – General
- RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013)
