Changes Proposed to RIDDOR

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published a consultation on amending the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR), which will increase the amount of information that must be reported to the HSE. The proposed changes are designed to help tackle work?related ill health and include:

• Expanding the list of Dangerous Occurrences to include those related to the excavation, boring or maintenance of any tunnel over 1.2 metres in diameter; the unintentional fall or dropping of any object from a building or structure under demolition or construction; and the overturning of construction plant.
• Increasing the number of occupational diseases from six to 19, including noise?induced hearing loss, asbestosis, and pneumoconiosis (including silicosis), and permitting their diagnosis by other types of registered health practitioners, not just doctors.
• Clarifying definitions, such as ‘work?related’, ‘injury’ and ‘routine work’, which have previously been identified as unclear or ambiguous.

The consultation also covers improvements to the online reporting system to tackle both under and over reporting, and the deadline to submit a response is Tuesday 30 June.