RIDDOR reporting: what an employer must report, and by when

What has to be reported, and how quickly?

RIDDOR is the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013. It applies only to accidents that arise out of or in connection with work.

Who has to make the report?

The "responsible person". For an employee, that is the employer. For a self-employed person or a member of the public, it is whoever controls the premises where the accident happened. HSE's list is "employers (in relation to workers); some self-employed people; those in control of work premises when a reportable work-related accident or event has occurred".

For agency workers, HSE says: "In many cases, the employment agency is the legal employer, and is under the same legal obligations as any other employer". Agree in advance with the agency who will report, so that an injury is neither missed nor reported twice.

What counts as a specified injury?

The list is closed. HSE gives it as:

• fractures, other than to fingers, thumbs and toes
• amputation of an arm, hand, finger, thumb, leg, foot or toe
• any injury likely to cause permanent blinding or reduction in sight in one or both eyes
• any crush injury to the head or torso causing damage to the brain or internal organs in the chest or abdomen
• serious burns, including scalding, which cover more than 10% of the body or cause significant damage to the eyes, respiratory system or other vital organs
• any scalping requiring hospital treatment
• any loss of consciousness caused by head injury or asphyxia
• any other injury arising from working in an enclosed space which leads to hypothermia or heat-induced illness, or requires resuscitation or admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours

A fracture has to be diagnosed. HSE's wording is that self-diagnosed "suspected fractures" are not reportable.

How are the seven days counted?

This is the rule most often got wrong. HSE: "This 7-day period does not include the day of the accident, but does include weekends and rest days. The report must be made within 15 days of the accident."

So an employee hurt on a Monday who is still unable to do their normal work the following Tuesday has passed seven days, even if they were never rostered for the weekend. Note the test: it is being away from work or unable to do their normal work duties. Someone who comes in on light duties for eight days is reportable.

Injuries lasting more than three days but not more than seven are not reported. HSE says recording them in your accident book will be enough. Keep watching the absence: once it passes seven days the 15-day clock is already running from the date of the accident.

Which diseases and near misses are reportable?

Six occupational diseases are listed, each only where the person's work involves the relevant exposure: carpal tunnel syndrome, cramp of the hand or forearm, occupational dermatitis, hand-arm vibration syndrome, occupational asthma, and tendonitis or tenosynovitis of the hand or forearm. Occupational cancers and diseases caused by exposure to a biological agent are reportable as well. The duty starts when you receive the diagnosis.

For an office-based employer the practical point is narrow. HSE states: "Where the person's work involves typing or similar repetitive movements, carpal tunnel syndrome is not reportable under RIDDOR."

Dangerous occurrences are specific near misses listed in Schedule 2 of the Regulations. HSE's own caution is that not all of these events need to be reported, so check the list before you do.

What is not reportable?

• Stress. HSE: "For the purposes of RIDDOR reporting, an accident is considered to be something which causes physical injury." Post-traumatic stress disorder is not on the disease list either.
• Most road traffic accidents. HSE: "Most injuries resulting from vehicle movement on public roads are not reportable under RIDDOR." The exceptions involve loading or unloading, work on or alongside the road, a substance being carried, or a train.
• Precautionary hospital visits. A member of the public taken to hospital purely as a precaution, with no apparent injury, is not reportable.
• Ordinary workplace transmission of COVID-19. HSE limits reporting to deliberate work with the virus, such as in a laboratory, and incidental occupational exposure. It does not cover one employee infecting another through general transmission.
• Accidents that are not work-related. Someone who faints at their desk from an unrelated medical condition has not had a work-related accident.

Working from home does not take an accident outside the rules. HSE says: "You have the same responsibilities for home workers under RIDDOR as you do for anybody else." An incident at home may be reportable if it resulted from the work being done or from equipment you provided to do it.

How do you make a report?

1. Make the area safe and get treatment first. Reporting comes after.
2. Decide whether it is reportable using the table above. If you are unsure whether an absence will pass seven days, diarise day eight.
3. Report online using the HSE form for the type of incident. HSE: "All incidents can be reported online".
4. Telephone only for the most serious. For fatal accidents or accidents resulting in specified injuries to workers only, HSE's Incident Contact Centre is on 0345 300 9923, Monday to Friday, 8.30 am to 5 pm.
5. Download the PDF at the confirmation screen. HSE no longer emails a copy to the person reporting, so this is your only chance to keep one.
6. Add it to your record with the date and method of reporting.

Incidents in Northern Ireland are reported to the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland, not through this system.

What records must you keep, and for how long?

Regulation 12 requires a record of every reportable incident and diagnosis, and of every over-three-day injury. Each entry "must be kept for at least three years from the date on which it was made", at the place where the work is carried on or at your usual place of business.

HSE says the record must include the date and method of reporting; the date, time and place of the event; personal details of those involved; and a brief description of the nature of the event or disease. An electronic record is acceptable. Because it holds health information, limit who can read it; the HR data retention schedule shows how it sits beside your other records.

This is separate from the accident record that social security law requires where ten or more people work on the same premises. One well-kept log can satisfy both. The health and safety handbook explains how the two fit together.

What happens if you do not report?

Failing to report is a criminal offence. RIDDOR is made under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and section 33(1)(c) of that Act makes it an offence "to contravene any health and safety regulations". The maximum penalty on indictment is imprisonment for up to two years, or a fine, or both. A late report is still better than none: submit it and note why it was late.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Checked against the primary source on 5 October 2026.

• Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 - regs 3, 4, 12 and 14, and Schedules 1 and 2
• HSE: types of reportable incidents - the categories, the seven-day count and over-three-day injuries
• HSE: specified injuries to workers - the closed list and suspected fractures
• HSE: who should report - the responsible person and agency workers
• HSE: how to make a RIDDOR report - online reporting and the telephone service
• HSE: occupational diseases - the six listed diseases and the typing exception
• HSE: examples of reportable incidents - stress, PTSD and road traffic accidents
• HSE: home working - accidents - RIDDOR and home workers
• HSE: what records must I keep - the contents of the record
• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, s.33 and Schedule 3A - the offence and maximum penalty

This is general guidance for UK employers and is not legal advice. Take advice on anything contested, unusual or expensive.