RIDDOR is the law that requires certain work-related injuries, diseases and dangerous events to be reported to the enforcing authority, which for construction is normally HSE. The full name is the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013. Not every injury is reportable, and this guide explains the main categories HSE describes, who has to report, and how reporting differs from the internal recording of accidents and near misses.
Key takeaways
- RIDDOR requires work-related deaths, specified injuries, over-seven-day incapacitation, certain diseases and dangerous occurrences to be reported.
- The duty to report falls on the responsible person, such as the employer, a self-employed person or the person in control of the premises.
- Many minor injuries are not reportable under RIDDOR, but should still be recorded on site.
- A near miss is not normally reportable, unless it is also a listed dangerous occurrence, but it should be recorded and investigated internally (general knowledge, consistent with regulation 7 and Schedule 2).
- Reports are made to HSE, and the HSE RIDDOR pages explain how and by when.
- A RIDDOR report does not decide who is at fault. It tells the regulator what happened so that lessons can be learned.
What RIDDOR is for
The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013, usually called RIDDOR, are made under the health and safety legislation of Great Britain. You can read the text of the regulations on Legislation.gov.uk. The purpose is to give the enforcing authorities, such as HSE, information about serious incidents so they can identify where and how risks arise and investigate where appropriate.
HSE's RIDDOR reporting pages are the main practical source. They explain what must be reported, who must report and how to submit a report. For the exam, you mainly need to understand the categories, who reports and the difference between reporting and recording.
What must be reported
HSE's page on types of reportable incidents lists the categories. They are explained below in plain English. Use the HSE page for the full detail, because the lists are specific.
Deaths
A work-related death must be reported. This includes deaths of workers and deaths of people who are not at work, such as members of the public affected by the work activity.
Specified injuries to workers
These are a defined list of serious injuries. Examples HSE gives include certain fractures, amputations, loss of sight, serious burns and some injuries from working in an enclosed space. Note that not every broken bone is a specified injury, so check the exact list on the HSE page instead of guessing.
Over-seven-day incapacitation of a worker
If a worker is unable to do their normal work for more than seven days because of a work-related injury, that is reportable. HSE explains how the days are counted, so check the page for the detail. Where the period is shorter, the injury is not reportable under this heading, but should still be recorded.
Injuries to people who are not at work
Where a member of the public or another person who is not at work is injured because of a work activity and taken from the scene to hospital for treatment, it is reportable. This matters on construction sites, where the public can be near the work.
Dangerous occurrences
These are specified events that could have caused serious harm, whether or not anyone was hurt. On construction sites, the types of event listed in RIDDOR 2013 regulation 7 and Schedule 2 include things such as the collapse of a structure or scaffold, the failure of lifting equipment, an explosion, and contact between plant or equipment and overhead power lines. Because the list is detailed, use the HSE page to check whether a particular event is a listed dangerous occurrence.
Occupational diseases
Some work-related diseases are reportable when a doctor has diagnosed them in a worker whose job involves the relevant activity. Examples include certain skin conditions, hand-arm vibration syndrome, occupational asthma and some cancers. Occupational diseases are reportable once diagnosed (RIDDOR 2013 regulations 8 to 9).
Gas incidents
Some incidents involving gas supply or gas appliances are also covered by RIDDOR. They are less likely to come up in an operative exam, so check the HSE pages if gas work is part of your job.
Who reports and how
RIDDOR places the duty on the responsible person. This is usually the employer, but it can be a self-employed person or the person in control of the premises where the incident happened. On a construction site with several contractors, it is important to agree who will make a report so that nothing is missed or duplicated. If an injured worker is employed by one contractor and injured on another's work area, the arrangements should be clear from the site's procedures.
Reports go to HSE, normally online, through the route on the RIDDOR reporting pages. Different types of incident have different deadlines, and some serious events need to be notified immediately before a full report follows. Do not rely on a figure remembered from a poster or a training slide. Check the HSE page for the current timescales and process.
If you are a worker and you are injured, or see a serious event, tell your supervisor straight away and make sure that the accident is recorded. The responsible person decides whether a report is needed, but they can only do that if they hear about it.
Reporting versus recording
RIDDOR reporting is one of two separate duties. The other is keeping internal records.
| RIDDOR reporting | Internal recording | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Tells the regulator about serious incidents | Lets the site see patterns and learn from events |
| Who sees it | HSE or the enforcing authority | The employer, site management and safety staff |
| Covers | Listed categories only | Accidents, minor injuries and near misses |
| Near misses | Only if they are also a listed dangerous occurrence | Should be recorded and investigated |
A site should record every accident and should record near misses too. A near miss is the best warning you will get before someone is hurt. Recording it, finding the cause and putting a control in place costs far less than reporting an injury later. If you are not sure whether something is reportable, record it and ask the safety adviser or check the HSE page.
HSE also expects records to be kept in a form that can be found later. Your employer may have an accident book, an electronic reporting system or both. See first aid on site for how first-aid treatment fits with accident recording, and RIDDOR explained for a shorter overview of the same regulations.
Common mistakes
- Treating every injury as reportable. Most are not. RIDDOR covers a defined list.
- Treating no injury as reportable because it seemed minor. A seemingly small event can fall into a listed category, such as an injury to a member of the public who is taken to hospital.
- Assuming a near miss does not matter. It should be recorded and investigated, and some near misses are also listed dangerous occurrences.
- Not agreeing who reports. On a multi-contractor site, make sure someone owns the report.
- Delaying. Telling the supervisor late can mean a report is made late.
- Quoting remembered deadlines. Use the HSE page for the current timescales.
Practice check
These are original questions for revision. They are not official CITB questions and a score here is not an official result. This site is independent and is not affiliated with CSCS or CITB.
Question 1. A scaffold partly collapses overnight. Nobody is on site and nobody is hurt. What is the best description of the position?
- A. Nothing to report because nobody was hurt
- B. It may be a dangerous occurrence, so the site should check the HSE list and report if it applies
- C. It only needs a note in a diary
- D. Only the client can report it
Answer: B. Dangerous occurrences can be reportable even when nobody is injured. Check the HSE list of reportable events.
Question 2. Which statement about near misses is most accurate?
- A. They must always be reported to HSE
- B. They should be ignored
- C. They are normally recorded and investigated on site, and reported only if they are also a listed dangerous occurrence
- D. They are only for the client to record
Answer: C. Near misses are an early warning and should be recorded and investigated internally. They are reportable under RIDDOR only if they fall into a listed category.
For more practice, try the free practice questions.
FAQ
What does RIDDOR stand for?
RIDDOR stands for the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013. It requires certain work-related incidents to be reported to the enforcing authority, which for construction is normally HSE.
Who has to make a RIDDOR report?
The responsible person has to report. That is usually the employer, but it can be a self-employed person or the person in control of the premises. On a site with several contractors, agree in advance who will make the report.
Is a near miss reportable under RIDDOR?
Not as such. A near miss should be recorded and investigated on site, but it is reportable only if it is also a listed dangerous occurrence. Check the HSE types of reportable incidents page.
How long do I have to make a RIDDOR report?
The timescale depends on the type of incident, and some serious events need to be notified without delay. Check the HSE RIDDOR pages for the current deadlines instead of relying on a remembered figure.
Sources
- HSE: RIDDOR reporting
- HSE: Types of reportable incidents
- Legislation.gov.uk: Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013
Independent guide, not affiliated with, authorised by, approved by or endorsed by CSCS or CITB. Last updated 2026-10-08.