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Reporting Dangerous Occurrences

Relevant Statutes:

  • Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurences Regulations 1995 [RIDDOR]

Reporting Injuries

In the event of deaths(see RIDDOR - Deaths), major injuries, lost time injuries and dangerous occurrences the OSD have to be notified by the quickest practicable means (e.g. phone) and reported within 10 days using an OIR/9B. However there are occasions when the injury/illness will not be immediately apparent in which case notification and reporting should be carried out as soon as the injury or condition has been confirmed.

Major injuries are defined as

  • Fractures excluding fingers, thumbs or toes
  • Any amputation
  • Dislocation of the shoulder, hip, knee, or spine
  • Temporary or permanent loss of sight
  • Burns or any penetrating injury to the eye
  • Electric shock/burn leading to unconsciousness/resuscitation or admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours.
  • Any injury requiring; admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours, or resuscitation, or unconsciousness, or hypothermia.
  • Loss of consciousness due to asphyxia or exposure to a harmful substance.
  • Inhalation or skin exposure to a substance leading to acute illness or loss of consciousness

If in doubt contact the HSE

Over-3-day injuries.

These only need reporting if they have not been reported under the 'major injury' requirements above.

An OIR/9B is required to be sent to the OSD if the injured person is incapacitated for more than 3 consecutive days not counting the day of the accident. The term consecutive days should include any non-working days.
'Incapacitated' means not fit for normal duties thus a man reporting for work but having to do light duties because of an injury would not, for the purpose of calculating the number of days, be considered to be working.

Reporting Dangerous Occurrences

These do not have to be reported if they have been reported under the categories above. There is a comprehensive list given in RIDDOR and on the 01R9/B including an identifying number for each type of occurrence which is required on the report (OIR/9B) Generally a dangerous occurrence covers incidents that had the potential to cause the death of, major injury (see above) or damage to health of any person or which results in key equipment/plant being shut down for more than 24 hours.

More specific examples from RIDDOR together with their identifying numbers include:

1. The failure of any load bearing part of lifting equipment including freight containers (3)
2. Failure of any closed pressure system/vessel/pipeline where failure had the potential to kill
5. Electrical short circuit or overload causing fire or explosion
6. Unintentional explosion or ignition of explosives.
9. Failure of breathing apparatus
10. Anything that puts a diver at risk
11. Collapse of scaffolding over 5 metres high or over water
13. Incidents in relation to a well
14. Incidents in relation to a pipeline or pipeline works
73. release of petroleum hydrocarbon on or form the installation
74. Fire or explosion
75. Release or escape of a dangerous substance (other than hydrocarbon)
76. Collapse of an installation or its plant
77. Failure of equipment required to keep a floating installation on station., dropped objects onto installation or attendant vessel or into the water., or damage caused by adverse weather
78. Collision (or 79 potential for collision) with vessel or aircraft
80. Subsidence or local collapse of the seabed near the installation
81. Loss of stability or buoyancy of a floating installation
82. Evacuation (not otherwise reportable) in the interests of safety
83. Persons falling more than 2 meters into the water

The responsible person with the duty to report varies with circumstances as follows:

Circumstances Responsible Person
a. On an Installation Owner (mobile), Operator (fixed).
b. During a diving operation Diving contractor.
An injury not covered by a. or b. above occurring during an activity in connection with:
i. an offshore installation
ii. a well or pipeline works
iii. pipeline works		 Employer of employee or person in control of place where self-employed person involved.
Dangerous occurrence at a pipeline Pipeline owner
Dangerous occurrence at a well Well operator or concession owner
Where an employee dies within 1 year as a result of injuries suffered at an accident at work. The employer

Recommended further reading:

  • Everyone's guide to RIDDOR '95 - HSE 31 (ISBN 07176 1077 2free)
  • Offshore RIDDOR '95 - HSE 33.
  • Operations Notice 29 Application offshore of RIDDOR 95
  • Operations Notice 30 Arrangements for reporting under RIDDOR 95
  • The OIM's Manual: Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organisation.
  • OFFSHORE - SAFETY REPORTING
    Complaints relating to safety issues on offshore installations.
    rev.ed., HSE, 1999. (ON 22)
    Available on subscription from HSE Books. Published June 1999
    Overview of the process by which safety concerns should be reported to management on offshore installations.
  • RIDDOR explained : Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations rev.ed., HSE, 1999. (HSE31 (rev.1))
    Single copies free from HSE Books Also available in packs of 10 on ISBN 0717624412 Published 7.6.99
    This leaflet is aimed at employers and the self-employed in all industries. It gives guidance on the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR). It discusses what RIDDOR is, when people need to make reports and why, what the self-employed need to do, who to report to and what records to keep. It lists definitions of reportable injuries, dangerous occurrences and diseases and contains a copy of the injuries report form F2508.

ronnie.mcdonald@mac.com