Any accident which occurs at work should be recorded in the Accident Book ref BI 510.
More serious accidents, dangerous occurrences or cases of disease also have to be reported to the enforcing authority (the HSE for manufacturing). See managing occupational health and safety responsibilites for details of the enforcement powers of regulators.
As well as fatal accidents and major injuries this includes reporting when:
- the injury results in lost time of three days or more, not including the day of the accident (use form F2508);
- the injury has to be treated at hospital (use form F2508);
- a reportable disease is included in a prescribed list in RIDDOR* (use form F2508a); and
- a type of dangerous occurrence is included in a prescribed list in RIDDOR* (use form F2508).
* For a summarised version, see EEF's Health and Safety Summary Sheet A18 — Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985.
These ‘accidents’ also include injuries from workplace violence.
You can download and print the F2508 and F2508a reporting forms, complete and post to the HSE. Alternatively, you can report electronically to the HSE at the Incident Contact Centre or phone on 0845 300 9923.
It is also good practice to advise your employers’ liability insurer of any serious incidents whether or not they are reportable under RIDDOR.