Consultation into RIDDOR changes launched by HSE
A three-month consultation into proposed changes to RIDDOR 1995
has been opened by The Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Changes to RIDDOR – the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and
Dangerous Occurrences Regulations – were suggested in Lord Young's
health and safety report which was published late last year. Lord
Young suggested raising the threshold for the time period in which
workplace injuries could be reported to seven days.
Currently, if a member of staff is away from work for a period
longer than three days following an accident, the employers are
obliged to report the injury to either HSE or the local council.
Lord Young's suggestion to change the reporting time frame would
raise this three day period to more than seven days.
If the reporting threshold was changed to seven days, it would
bring it in line with the time period for obtaining a GP 'fit note'
for sick leave. It would also make sure that a staff member who had
suffered a workplace injury that was reportable would be in line to
have a professional medical assessment.
Individuals can read the consultation paper on the
HSE website.
Responses to the proposals will be accepted until 9 May 2011.