Health and safety watchdog outlines when RIDDOR report is needed for COVID-19 cases

The Health and Safety Executive has set out when a report must be made under RIDDOR (The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013) in relation to COVID-19.

The HSE said that this was “when: 

• an unintended incident at work has led to someone’s possible or actual exposure to coronavirus. This must be reported as a dangerous occurrence.
• a worker has been diagnosed as having COVID-19 and there is reasonable evidence that it was caused by exposure at work. This must be reported as a case of disease.
• a worker dies as a result of occupational exposure to coronavirus.”

The watchdog has also set out what to report.

Dangerous occurrences 

Read about RIDDOR regulation 7, Schedule 2 – Section 10 on legislation.gov.uk 

"If something happens at work which results in (or could result in) the release or escape of coronavirus you must report this as a dangerous occurrence. An example of a dangerous occurrence would be a lab worker accidentally smashing a glass vial containing coronavirus, leading to people being exposed."

Cases of disease: exposure to a biological agent 

Read about RIDDOR regulation 9 (b) on legislation.gov.uk

"If there is reasonable evidence that someone diagnosed with COVID-19 was likely exposed because of their work you must report this as an exposure to a biological agent using the case of disease report. An example of a work-related exposure to coronavirus would be a health care professional who is diagnosed with COVID-19 after treating patients with COVID-19."

Work related fatalities

Read about RIDDOR regulation 6 (2) on legislation.gov.uk

"If someone dies as a result of a work related exposure to coronavirus and this is confirmed as the likely cause of death by a registered medical practitioner then you must report this as soon as is practical and within 10 days of the death."

Details on how to make a RIDDOR report online can be viewed here.