9th February 2011
Consultation Opens On RIDDOR Changes
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have recently agreed a plan for the publication of consultation documents on proposed changes to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR).
Following on from his report on health and safety, Lord Young recommended that RIDDOR be amended ‘by extending to seven days the period before an injury or accident needs to be reported’. In line with commitments made in the Government’s formal response to the report – The HSE have opened a three month consultation from this month.
Under current rules when an employee is absent from work for more than three days following an incident or injury at work, employers are required to report the incident to the relevant enforcing authority – either the HSE or the local council.
The proposed amendment increases this ‘over three day’ period to over seven consecutive days. This change would align the incident reporting threshold with that for obtaining a ‘fit note’ from a GP for sickness absence, and would ensure that someone who has suffered a reportable injury has had a professional medical assessment.
The deadline for responses will be 11 April 2011. The HSE will then consider the responses, and expects to be in a position to submit recommendations to the Secretary of State by the end of May.
To find out more about RIDDOR feel free to get in touch with our team of health and safety consultants.
Competent person –
Appoint Lighthouse As Your Health & Safety Competent Person
The competent person role does not have to be fulfilled internally within every company. You can, therefore, outsource the appointment to a contractor or consultancy with the necessary qualifications and experience.
