The government takes workplace safety seriously. Several laws tackle the subject and impose harsh penalties on the parties that are proven to be negligent. People are encouraged to report deaths and injuries sustained at work to the local authorities. This can be done through online forms, the telephone, or the post. Note that the Incident Contact Centre of the HSE is only open on weekdays between 8:30am and 5pm. They can only accept report of fatalities and major incidents. Online forms, on the other hand, are available 24/7 and can be used for any type of incident that fits into the definitions.
1. It must be an accident, not just an injury.
Understand that not all injuries are reportable. You should first determine how it happened and whether the cause can be traceable. It should be due to an accident that is separate from everything else that was going on in the vicinity. It should be identifiable and not a product of guesswork. Given that it is classified as an accident, then it should be an unintended event to which you can directly attribute the development of the injury. The eruption of violence at work can be included in this definition if it was non-consensual. Common causes include falling objects, slippage on wet surface, and other hazards. Overuse injuries are not covered.
2. It must be work-related and not random.
The incident should be reported only if it occurred in connection with work. Just because something bad happened within the premises does not automatically mean that it is covered by the definition. A person must be performing a work task that results in the damage or at least contributes to it in a significant manner. The investigators will look into the way that the work was carried out to see if errors occurred. They will also check whether the equipment used for work were somehow responsible for the accident such as through malfunction. Lastly, the condition of the premises will also be placed under the lens.
3. It must be reportable under the regulations.
The RIDDOR reports London office will analyze the forms to see whether they comply with the regulations. According to these, reporting is advised when the work-related accident has resulted in the death of a person under Regulation 6, specified injuries to workers under Regulation 4, injuries that lead to incapacitation for over a week under Regulation 4, and injuries that require immediate hospital treatment under Regulation 5. Specified injuries to non-workers may also be included if these occur on hospital premises.
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