Legal recording and reporting requirements

Under the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1979, regulation 25, employers must keep a record of accidents at premises where more than ten people are employed. Anyone injured at work is required to inform the employer and record information on the accident in an accident book, including a statement on how the accidertt happened. 

The employer is required to investigate the cause and enter this in the accident book if they discover anything that differs from the entry made by the employee. The purpose of this record is to ensure that irtformation is available if a claim is made for compensation. 

RIDDOR requires employers and those in control of a site, to report certain more serious accidents and incidents to the HSE or other enforcing authority and to keep a record. There are no exemptions for small organizations. Whoever is in control of a site must report accidents to the self-employed and members of the public. A full summary of the Regulations is given in Chapter 20. 

If a principal contractor has been appointed, contractors should promptly provide them with details of accidents, diseases or dangerous occurrences which are reportable under RIDDOR. 

The responsible person must notify the enforcing authority without delay by the quickest practicable means, for example, telephone. They will need to give brief details about the organization, the injured person(s) and the circumstances of the accident and, within ten days, the responsible person must also send a completed accident report form, F2508. 

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