Understanding RIDDOR: your responsibilities under health and safety law

Keeping your business and people safe from health and safety risks | 5 minute read

If you're responsible for health and safety in the workplace, it's essential to understand your obligations under RIDDOR – the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations. The purpose of RIDDOR is to inform the relevant enforcing authority that a work-related accident or incident has happened.

Key takeaways

1. Initially introduced in 1995 and updated in 2013, RIDDOR places a legal duty on employers, those in control of work premises, and the self-employed to report and keep records of specific workplace incidents.

2. Certain types of injuries, diseases, dangerous occurrences and any work-related fatality must be reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or the relevant local authority, depending on the nature of the incident.

3. Maintaining a robust incident reporting system not only ensures compliance but also supports your broader health and safety culture.

Why does RIDDOR matter?

Failure to comply with RIDDOR requirements can result in severe consequences, including unlimited fines, significant reputational damage, and custodial sentences of up to two years in prison for those held responsible.

£20,000

When excluding fines under £3,000, the average fine imposed on businesses in breach of RIDDOR was just under £20,000 after mitigation, before any early guilty plea reductions.

Source: Finch Consulting

10 days

A report to HSE must be received in writing within 10 days of an incident, with immediate notification in the case of serious incidents.

Source: The Health and Safety Executive

Why your liability insurer needs to know about RIDDOR-reportable incidents

It’s a standard condition of all Employers’ Liability and Public Liability insurance policies that any incident reportable under RIDDOR must be shared with your insurer immediately — even if no formal claim is made.

Early notification allows your insurer to:

Assess potential liability exposure
Preserve critical evidence at the time of the incident
Offer expert support and guidance to protect your legal position

Proactive communication with your insurer helps ensure your interests are safeguarded from the outset.

What types of incidents must be reported under RIDDOR?

Not all workplace incidents require reporting. A report under RIDDOR is only necessary when:

The incident is work-related, and
It results in a type of injury, illness, or event that is classified as reportable

Reportable injuries include:

1. Fatalities
All work-related deaths must be reported immediately.

2. Specified injuries to workers, such as:

Fractures (excluding fingers, thumbs and toes)
Amputations (of limbs or digits)
Permanent loss or reduction of sight
Crush injuries causing internal organ damage
Serious burns (covering more than 10% of the body or damaging eyes, respiratory system or vital organs)
Scalpings requiring hospital treatment
Unconsciousness due to head injury or asphyxia
Injuries in enclosed spaces causing hypothermia, heat-related illness, or requiring hospital admittance for over 24 hours

3. Over seven-day injuries
If an employee or self-employed worker is off work or unable to perform their normal duties for more than seven consecutive days (excluding the day of the accident), it must be reported.

4. Injuries to non-workers
Accidents involving members of the public or non-employees must be reported if the injured person is taken directly from the scene to hospital for treatment.

How to comply with RIDDOR regulations

To remain compliant and reduce your organisation’s legal risk:

Report incidents to the HSE without delay
Submit over-seven-day injury reports within 15 days of the incident
Maintain accurate records in your accident book for all incidents, whether reportable or not

Maintaining a robust incident reporting system not only ensures compliance but also supports your broader health and safety culture.

For official guidance, visit the HSE’s RIDDOR website where you’ll find examples of what must (and doesn’t need to) be reported.

How NFP can help

Navigating your responsibilities under RIDDOR can be complex, but NFP’s dedicated health and safety team is here to support you. We work closely with businesses to help them build and maintain effective incident reporting systems that meet regulatory requirements and reinforce a strong safety culture.

From providing tailored risk assessments and incident investigation guidance to advising on reporting obligations and recordkeeping, our consultants offer practical, hands-on support to help you remain compliant and protect your workforce. With NFP as your partner, you can be confident that your health and safety processes align with current legislation and industry best practice.

Accurate and timely reporting under RIDDOR isn’t just a legal obligation – it’s a fundamental part of maintaining a safe and transparent working environment. It helps us identify patterns, prevent future incidents, and demonstrate a genuine commitment to the wellbeing of our people. Ignoring these responsibilities puts both individuals and the business at risk.

Jonathan Williams CMIOSH
Managing Director, Health and Safety

Want to see how we can help?

Health and safety isn’t just a legal requirement, it’s about protecting your people and everyone your business touches. We’ll help you put practical, robust solutions in place to keep employees, visitors, and contractors safe.

Learn more Request a quote

This insights article is not intended to address any specific situation or to provide legal, regulatory, financial, or other advice. While care has been taken in the production of this article, NFP does not warrant, represent or guarantee the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or fitness for any purpose of the article or any part of it and can accept no liability for any loss incurred in any way by any person who may rely on it. Any recipient shall be responsible for the use to which it puts this article. This article has been compiled using information available to us up to its date of publication.

NFP contributors

Jonathan Williams CMIOSH
Managing Director, Health and Safety

References