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RIDDOR
Reporting & Investigation
RIDDOR 2013 · HSE Compliance · Incident Investigation · Enforcement Support
Expert RIDDOR reporting guidance, accident investigation, and enforcement support. Ensure correct classification and timely notification of reportable incidents under RIDDOR 2013.
Free Health & Safety Gap Analysis
30-minute Compliance Call Valued at £750+
What Happens on Your Free Gap Analysis Call:
- 1.30-minute consultation
- 2.We review your current H&S arrangements
- 3.We identify 1-10 critical compliance gaps you're missing
Identify 1+ gaps, or you receive a £50 gift card. Only 20 consultations are available every month.
RIDDOR Reporting, Accident Investigation & Legal Compliance
When a serious workplace accident occurs, what you do next determines your legal exposure.
Under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR), employers, the self-employed, and those in control of premises have strict legal duties to report, record, and investigate specific work-related incidents. RIDDOR reports are submitted to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and form part of the national picture of workplace health and safety.
Failure to comply with RIDDOR can result in:
- HSE enforcement action — improvement and prohibition notices
- Criminal prosecution under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
- Unlimited fines for organisations and individuals
- Increased HSE scrutiny and more frequent inspections following future incidents
- Directors' personal liability for health and safety failings
Arinite provides professional accident investigation and RIDDOR reporting services, helping organisations meet their legal obligations, protect directors from personal liability, and prevent incidents from recurring.
What Is RIDDOR?
RIDDOR stands for the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013. It is the UK regulation that requires specific work-related accidents, occupational diseases, and dangerous occurrences (near misses) to be formally reported to the HSE or the relevant enforcing authority (usually the local authority for offices, shops, and leisure premises).
The HSE uses RIDDOR reports to:
- Identify serious workplace risks and emerging trends
- Detect patterns of failure across industries and sectors
- Decide when to investigate incidents or prosecute dutyholders
- Inform national workplace health and safety statistics and policy
Incorrect, late, or incomplete RIDDOR reporting — or failure to investigate properly — can significantly increase your legal exposure and the likelihood of HSE enforcement action.
Who Has Duties Under RIDDOR?
RIDDOR reporting duties apply to:
- Employers — for incidents involving their employees
- Self-employed persons — for incidents arising from their work
- Those in control of work premises — for incidents involving anyone affected by the premises (including visitors and members of the public)
This includes responsibility for incidents affecting:
- Employees and workers
- Contractors and sub-contractors
- Visitors and customers
- Members of the public affected by work activities
What Must Be Reported Under RIDDOR?
Specific categories of incidents must be reported when they arise out of, or in connection with, work. Not all workplace injuries are RIDDOR-reportable — the regulations specify exactly which incidents require a formal report.
Work-Related Deaths
All deaths to workers and non-workers must be reported to the HSE if they result from a work-related accident, including acts of physical violence to workers.
Specified Injuries (to Workers)
The following specified injuries to workers must be reported:
- Fractures — excluding fingers, thumbs, and toes
- Amputations — loss of any limb or part of a limb
- Permanent loss or reduction of sight
- Crush injuries causing internal organ damage
- Serious burns — covering more than 10% of the body or affecting the eyes, respiratory system, or vital organs
- Scalping — requiring hospital treatment
- Unconsciousness — caused by head injury or asphyxia
- Any injury requiring resuscitation or admission to hospital for more than 24 hours
Over-7-Day Incapacitation
Where an employee is incapacitated — unable to carry out their normal work duties — for more than 7 consecutive days (not counting the day of the accident). The report must be made within 15 days of the accident.
Reportable Occupational Diseases
Certain occupational diseases must be reported when diagnosed by a doctor and linked to the type of work carried out:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Severe cramp of the hand or forearm (writer's cramp)
- Occupational dermatitis
- Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS)
- Occupational asthma
- Tendonitis or tenosynovitis of the hand or forearm
- Occupational cancer (e.g. mesothelioma, bladder cancer from workplace carcinogens)
- Any disease attributable to a biological agent
Dangerous Occurrences (Near Misses)
Specified dangerous occurrences — incidents that did not result in injury but could have caused serious harm — must be reported:
- Collapse, overturning, or failure of load-bearing parts of lifts, cranes, or scaffolding
- Explosions or fires causing work stoppage for more than 24 hours
- Uncontrolled release of flammable liquids or gases
- Electrical short circuit or overload causing fire or explosion
- Accidental release of dangerous biological agents
- Collapse or partial collapse of a building or structure
Gas Incidents
Gas-related incidents resulting in death, loss of consciousness, or hospital treatment must be reported by the registered gas engineer involved. This applies to incidents involving piped natural gas and LPG.
RIDDOR Reporting Deadlines & How to Report
Strict reporting deadlines apply depending on the type and severity of the incident. Reports are submitted online via the HSE's RIDDOR reporting website or by telephone for fatal and specified injuries.
Immediate Reporting — Without Delay
Without delay (as soon as possible)
- All work-related deaths
- All specified injuries to workers
These must be reported immediately — usually by telephone to the HSE Incident Contact Centre (0345 300 9923) followed by a written online report within 10 days.
15-Day Reporting
Within 15 days of the incident
- Over-7-day incapacitation injuries
- Dangerous occurrences
15-Day Reporting (Diseases)
Within 15 days of diagnosis
- Reportable occupational diseases — when a doctor notifies you of the diagnosis and it is linked to work
Late or missed RIDDOR reporting is itself an offence and increases the likelihood of HSE enforcement action.
Why Accident Investigation Is Critical
RIDDOR reporting is only one part of your legal duty following a workplace incident.
A thorough, documented accident investigation is essential to:
- Demonstrate compliance with the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
- Identify root causes — not just immediate causes
- Prevent recurrence through corrective and preventive actions
- Defend against HSE enforcement action, criminal prosecution, and civil claims
- Protect directors and senior managers from personal liability
The HSE frequently criticises inadequate investigations during prosecutions. A well-documented investigation demonstrates that you took your health and safety duties seriously.
Accident Investigation & RIDDOR Services from Arinite
Arinite provides professional, legally defensible accident investigations and RIDDOR compliance support, aligned with HSE expectations.
Root Cause Analysis
Identification of root causes and underlying management failures — not just immediate triggers
Use of recognised investigation methodologies (e.g. 5 Whys, fault tree analysis, bow-tie method)
RIDDOR Report Preparation & Submission
Accurate, complete RIDDOR report preparation and submission
Correct classification and categorisation of incidents
Protection against misreporting and under-reporting
Witness Interviews & Statements
Structured, impartial witness interviews
Sensitivity, confidentiality, and legal compliance maintained throughout
Written statements prepared for potential HSE or legal use
Evidence Collection & Preservation
Photographs, measurements, CCTV, and contemporaneous records
Proper preservation and documentation of critical evidence
Scene management and contamination prevention
Corrective & Preventive Action Plans
Practical, prioritised actions to address root causes
Clear responsibilities, timescales, and completion criteria
Follow-up monitoring and verification of effectiveness
Investigation Training for Managers
Training for managers and supervisors in accident investigation techniques
Effective investigation methodology and defensible report writing
Understanding HSE expectations and legal requirements
Ongoing RIDDOR Compliance Support
Arinite provides end-to-end RIDDOR compliance support — not just reactive incident response.
Legal Compliance
Full alignment with RIDDOR 2013 and associated guidance
Reduced prosecution and enforcement risk through proper documentation
Record Keeping & Reporting Systems
Accident books, incident logs, and reporting systems
Audit-ready RIDDOR documentation and records
Incident Trend Analysis
Analysis of incident data to identify trends and patterns
Proactive risk identification and continuous improvement
RIDDOR Awareness Training
RIDDOR awareness training for managers, supervisors, and appointed persons
What to report, when to report, and how to respond to incidents
HSE Liaison & Support
Professional support during HSE investigations and inspector visits
Preparation for HSE interviews under caution
Guidance on responding to improvement and prohibition notices
Proactive Accident Prevention
Safety audits, inspections, and risk assessments to reduce incident frequency
Lessons-learned programmes and safety culture improvement
Who Uses Our RIDDOR & Investigation Services?
- SMEs and micro-businesses without internal health and safety teams
- Multi-site organisations requiring consistent incident management
- High-risk industries — construction, manufacturing, logistics, and warehousing
- Directors and senior managers seeking personal protection from prosecution
- Businesses under HSE scrutiny following previous incidents or enforcement action
Why Choose Arinite for RIDDOR & Investigation Support?
- IOSH Chartered Health & Safety professionals with deep enforcement experience
- Proven experience supporting clients through HSE investigations and prosecutions
- Calm, structured incident response within 24 hours
- Legally defensible investigations aligned with HSE expectations
- Ongoing compliance support — not just a one-off response
- Available across London, the UK, and internationally
When incidents happen, experience and competence matter. Arinite has supported hundreds of businesses through workplace incidents.
Need Immediate Support After a Workplace Incident?
If you've had a serious accident, fatality, or dangerous occurrence — or you're unsure whether an incident is RIDDOR-reportable — contact Arinite immediately for expert guidance.
The Arinite Transformation™
From Reactive Firefighting to Proactive Health & Safety Compliance
REACTIVE
(Where 60% of Businesses Operate)
What It Looks Like:
No formal HSE systems in place. Everything is reactive, waiting for something to go wrong. Documentation is missing or outdated.
Why It's Dangerous:
- ✗£50K-£150K average fine when (not if) HSE inspects
- ✗Can't bid on contracts requiring HSE certification
- ✗One accident away from director prosecution
This isn't just "non-compliant." It's criminally negligent. Directors face personal prosecution.
REACTIVE
(Where 60% of Businesses Operate)
What It Looks Like:
No formal HSE systems in place. Everything is reactive, waiting for something to go wrong. Documentation is missing or outdated.
Why It's Dangerous:
- ✗£50K-£150K average fine when (not if) HSE inspects
- ✗Can't bid on contracts requiring HSE certification
- ✗One accident away from director prosecution
This isn't just "non-compliant." It's criminally negligent. Directors face personal prosecution.
COMPLIANCE
(Where Most Businesses Stop)
What It Looks Like:
Basic HSE documentation is in place. Minimum legal requirements met. You can pass a basic audit.
Why It's Better (But Not Enough):
- ✓Legal protection (no fines if inspected)
- ✓Can bid on contracts requiring certification
- ✓Pass basic client audits
- ✗Still reactive (problems arise, then you respond)
- ✗Compliance maintained by one person (bottleneck)
- ✗Systems don't run themselves
Compliance is where most consultants get you, then leave. You're legal, but you're not optimised.
COMPLIANCE
(Where Most Businesses Stop)
What It Looks Like:
Basic HSE documentation is in place. Minimum legal requirements met. You can pass a basic audit.
Why It's Better (But Not Enough):
- ✓Legal protection (no fines if inspected)
- ✓Can bid on contracts requiring certification
- ✓Pass basic client audits
- ✗Still reactive (problems arise, then you respond)
- ✗Compliance maintained by one person (bottleneck)
- ✗Systems don't run themselves
Compliance is where most consultants get you, then leave. You're legal, but you're not optimised.
PROACTIVE
(Where Arinite Clients Operate)
What It Looks Like:
Systems run proactively (prevent problems before they occur). Compliance is distributed (not dependent on one person). HSE becomes a competitive advantage, not a cost centre.
Why It's Transformational:
- ✓Win more contracts (HSE certification opens doors)
- ✓Save 20+ hours/week (systems run themselves)
- ✓Peace of mind (sleep soundly, without the fear of prosecution)
- ✓Focus on your core business while we handle compliance
That's why 95%+ of clients renew year after year.
PROACTIVE
(Where Arinite Clients Operate)
What It Looks Like:
Systems run proactively (prevent problems before they occur). Compliance is distributed (not dependent on one person). HSE becomes a competitive advantage, not a cost centre.
Why It's Transformational:
- ✓Win more contracts (HSE certification opens doors)
- ✓Save 20+ hours/week (systems run themselves)
- ✓Peace of mind (sleep soundly, without the fear of prosecution)
- ✓Focus on your core business while we handle compliance
That's why 95%+ of clients renew year after year.
The Arinite Difference:
Other consultants get you to Stage 2 (Compliant) and disappear.
We get you to Stage 3 (Proactive) and keep you there.
That's why we call it transformation, not just compliance.
"We work with you to deliver peace of mind. We tailor our service provision to your business to provide proactive, pragmatic health and safety advice and that helps reduce costs by ensuring compliance with relevant health and safety legislation."
Robert Winsloe
Managing Director
From Hidden Gaps to Compliance
Our proven 3-step system has helped over 1,000 businesses eliminate enforcement risk, pass inspections, and protect directors from personal liability.
No guesswork. No generic templates. No box-ticking.
Free Health and Safety Gap Analysis Call
Identify what's missing before an inspector does.
A focused 30-minute health and safety assessment to expose weaknesses in your current arrangements.
What you get:
→ You leave knowing exactly where you're exposed and what to do about it.
Health and Safety Audit
Turn risk into documented compliance, fast.
We conduct a comprehensive health and safety audit of your workplace and ensure everything inspectors expect to see is in place. This covers risk assessments, workplace safety inspections, health and safety policy documentation, and every gap identified in Step 1.
What's included:
→ You move from exposed to defensible with evidence to prove it.
Outsource Your Health & Safety - The Arinite Partnership
We become your health and safety department. Your competent person. Your compliance team.
No chasing updates. No need to worry about changes in health and safety laws. No need to wonder if you've missed something. You focus on your core day-to-day business, Arinite handle the rest.
What we take ownership of:
→ Compliance handled. Risk controlled. Directors protected.
Why This Works
Most enforcement actions arise from systems being assumed rather than proven.
We don't advise. We don't hand over templates.
We build, implement, and maintain end-to-end health and safety compliance, and when we identify an action item, we proactively pursue and resolve it. That's the difference.
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Free Health & Safety Gap Analysis
30-minute Compliance Call Valued at £750+
What Happens on Your Free Gap Analysis Call:
- 1.30-minute consultation
- 2.We review your current H&S arrangements
- 3.We identify 1-10 critical compliance gaps you're missing
Identify 1+ gaps, or you receive a £50 gift card. Only 20 consultations are available every month.
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