Accident Reporting FAQs

Reporting accidents and near misses is important because it helps to:

• Prevent future incidents by identifying hazards and weaknesses before someone is seriously harmed.
• Protect workers and others by improving safety controls and systems of work.
• Ensure legal compliance with the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR).
• Create an official record in case of insurance claims, enforcement action, or legal proceedings.
• Enable investigation and enforcement by the Health and Safety Executive where required.
• Support a positive safety culture, where risks are dealt with rather than ignored.

Near misses are especially valuable to report because they highlight serious risks before an injury or fatality occurs.

A reportable accident under RIDDOR is a workplace incident that must be formally reported to the Health and Safety Executive under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013.

These include:

• Work-related deaths
• Specified injuries (such as fractures excluding fingers, thumbs and toes, amputations, serious burns, loss of sight, or internal organ damage)
• Over-seven-day injuries to workers
• Injuries to non-workers that result in hospital treatment
• Certain occupational diseases
• Dangerous occurrences (serious near misses)
• Gas-related incidents

If an incident meets any of these criteria, it must be reported within the legal time limits.

The 7-day rule for RIDDOR means that if a worker is unable to do their normal job for more than seven consecutive days (not counting the day of the accident) because of a work-related injury, the incident must be reported to the Health and Safety Executive under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013.

The employer must submit the report within 15 days of the accident.

To report an incident under RIDDOR, you must submit the report to the Health and Safety Executive using their online RIDDOR reporting forms.

Different forms are available depending on whether you are reporting an injury, dangerous occurrence, or case of occupational disease.

For fatalities and major incidents, reports can also be made by telephone to the HSE Incident Contact Centre on 0345 300 9923.

Only incidents that meet the criteria under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 must be reported.

The employer, self-employed person, or person in control of the premises is legally responsible for submitting the report.

The key steps of accident reporting in the workplace are:

1. Make the area safe – give first aid if needed and prevent further risk.
2. Report the accident immediately – inform a manager, supervisor, or responsible person.
3. Record the details – enter the incident in the accident book or internal reporting system.
4. Check if it is RIDDOR-reportable – assess whether it meets the criteria under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013.
5. Report to the HSE if required – submit a report online or by telephone within the legal time limits.
6. Investigate the incident – identify root causes and contributing factors.
7. Take corrective action – update controls, risk assessments, and training to prevent recurrence.

These steps support legal compliance and continuous improvement in workplace safety.

How long you have to report an accident at work depends on whether it is reportable under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR).

For reportable accidents and incidents:

• Work-related deaths and specified dangerous occurrences must be reported immediately.
• Most reportable injuries must be reported within 10 days.
• Over-seven-day injuries must be reported within 15 days of the accident.

For non-reportable accidents and near misses:

• There is no legal time limit for reporting them to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
• However, they should still be reported internally as soon as possible, recorded in the accident book or internal system, and investigated where needed to prevent future incidents.

All employers still have a duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 to manage health and safety risks and keep appropriate records, even where incidents are not reportable to the HSE.

Accidents and injuries are required to be reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR).

These regulations set out which workplace incidents must be reported, who must report them, and the time limits for doing so to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

If an accident at work is not reported, what happens depends on whether it was reportable under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR):

• If it was reportable and not reported: the employer may face HSE enforcement, fines, prosecution, and insurance issues, as failure to report is a criminal offence.
• If it was not reportable: there is no direct legal penalty but failing to record and investigate it can increase the risk of repeat accidents, weaken legal defences, and indicate poor safety management.

Employers still have a general duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 to protect workers even where incidents are not HSE-reportable.

Yes, in most cases you are entitled to a copy of an accident report.

If your injury is recorded in the workplace accident book, you have the right to access the personal information held about you under the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR. This means you can request a copy from your employer.

You are not automatically given a copy, but you can ask for one, and it should be provided within a reasonable time.

The 7 key steps of an accident investigation are:

1. Make the area safe – give first aid and prevent further harm.
2. Secure the scene – preserve evidence where possible.
3. Gather information – collect witness statements, photos, CCTV, and records.
4. Establish what happened – identify the sequence of events.
5. Identify root causes – look beyond immediate causes to underlying failures.
6. Record findings – complete the accident investigation report.
7. Implement corrective actions – update controls, training, and risk assessments to prevent recurrence.

These steps align with good practice promoted by the Health and Safety Executive.

If you employ 10 or more people, you are legally required to have an accident report book to record workplace injuries. This ensures compliance with the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1979 and provides a record for investigations and potential claims.

However, even if you have less than 10 employees it is advisable to keep a record of accidents as evidence because some injuries are reportable under RIDDOR.

The most common cause of workplace accidents in the UK is slips, trips, and falls, which accounted for 31% of workplace accidents in 2023/24. These incidents account for a significant proportion of non-fatal injuries reported annually.

Slips, trips and falls are often due to wet floors, uneven surfaces, or poor housekeeping.