Risks are the potential consequences or likelihood of harm occurring due to exposure to hazards. Risk assessment involves evaluating the probability and severity of harm that could result from a specific hazard. It helps in prioritizing actions and implementing appropriate control measures to mitigate or eliminate the risks associated with identified hazards.

Hazards refer to potential sources or situations that have the ability to cause harm or injury in the workplace. Hazards can manifest in various forms, such as physical hazards (e.g., machinery, chemicals), biological hazards (e.g., viruses, bacteria), ergonomic hazards (e.g., repetitive tasks, poor ergonomics) Identifying and assessing hazards is crucial for understanding the potential dangers present in the work environment.

RIDDOR requires businesses and individuals to report specific work-related incidents, including accidents, injuries, diseases, and dangerous occurrences.

The regulation covers a wide range of incidents, such as fatal accidents, serious injuries, cases of work-related diseases, and dangerous occurrences that could have led to significant harm.

Incidents subject to RIDDOR must be reported promptly, usually within specified time frames, to the appropriate enforcing authority.

RIDDOR facilitates the collection of data and statistics on work-related incidents, enabling authorities to identify patterns, assess risks, and implement measures to prevent future accidents.

The ultimate goal of RIDDOR is to improve workplace safety by ensuring incidents are properly reported, investigated, and measures are taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Any work-related accidents that result in the death of a worker must be reported without delay.

If an employee or self-employed person suffers a major injury, such as fractures, amputations, burns, loss of consciousness, or any injury that requires hospitalization for more than 24 hours, it must be reported.

Work-related accidents that lead to an employee or self-employed person being unable to work for more than seven consecutive days as a result of their injury (excluding the day of the incident) must be reported.

Cases of work-related diseases, including conditions such as occupational asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome, occupational cancer, or any other illness caused or worsened by workplace activities, must be reported if they meet specific criteria.

Certain dangerous occurrences, defined as specific types of near-miss incidents, must be reported. Examples include the collapse of lifting equipment, explosion or fire causing significant damage or injury, the accidental release of a hazardous substance, and others.

Collect all necessary information about the incident, including the date, time, and location of the incident, details of the individuals involved (such as names and job titles), a description of what happened, and any relevant supporting documentation or evidence.

Identify the type of incident you need to report based on the criteria outlined in the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases, and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR). Determine if it falls under the categories of fatalities, major injuries, over-7-day injuries, work-related diseases, or dangerous occurrences.

The most common method of reporting incidents to the HSE is through their online reporting system. Visit the HSE website (www.hse.gov.uk/riddor) and access the "Report an incident" section. Follow the instructions provided and complete the necessary fields in the online form.

In certain situations, it may be appropriate to report an incident by phone. You can call the HSE's Incident Contact Centre at 0300 003 1647 to report the incident verbally. This option is available for reporting fatal and major incidents.