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When must a workplace accident be reported?
Under what circumstances must a workplace accident be reported?
Notification of accidents
An employee must report, orally or in writing, any injury incurred in the course of his work which renders him incapable to work for four consecutive days or more. The accident will then be recorded in the accident book (maintaining an accident book is a legal requirement if an employer has 10 employees or more).
To permit proper independent investigation, accidents must be reported to the Health and Safety Executive (or in some cases the local authority) if:
- the accident results in an absence from work of an employee of more than three days;
- an accident results in death or major injury;
- a 'notifiable dangerous occurrence' takes place;
- an employee dies within one year of being injured in an accident resulting from a notifiable dangerous occurrence;
- any suffering by an employee of a specific work-related disease
- incidents relating to a gas release
Accidents can be reported directly or by use of the Incident Contact Centre website (http://www.riddor.gov.uk)
If you are severely injured or suffer serious illness while at work you should check with the Health and Safety Executive that the circumstances of your injury or illness has been reported as the inspection carried out by the HSE can assist your claim for damages.
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