When someone is hurt at work, not every incident automatically triggers a legal reporting obligation. Whether an injury must be formally reported depends on its severity, who was injured, and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
In the UK, workplace injury reporting is governed by the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013, commonly known as RIDDOR. These regulations place a legal duty on employers, the self-employed, and people in control of work premises to report specific categories of work-related incidents to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
What Are the 12 Common Workplace Injuries?
Understanding which types of injuries occur most frequently in UK workplaces helps employers and workers recognise what to watch for and how to respond. The HSE publishes annual injury statistics that consistently highlight the same categories of harm year after year.
The twelve most commonly reported workplace injuries in the UK include fractures, lacerations, crush injuries, dislocations, burns, electric shocks, sprains and strains, eye injuries, head injuries, chemical exposure injuries, injuries from falls, and injuries caused by being struck by moving objects. Not all of these automatically require RIDDOR reporting; the key factor is the nature and seriousness of the injury sustained.
| Common Workplace Injury | Typical Cause |
|---|---|
| Fractures | Falls from height, struck by objects |
| Lacerations | Hand tool use, machinery contact |
| Sprains and strains | Manual handling, repetitive tasks |
| Burns | Hot surfaces, chemical contact |
| Eye injuries | Flying debris, chemical splashes |
| Dislocations | Falls, awkward movements |
| Head injuries | Falling objects, slips and falls |
| Electric shocks | Faulty equipment, live wiring |
| Crush injuries | Vehicles, heavy machinery |
| Chemical exposure | Spillages, inadequate PPE |
| Injuries from falls | Uneven surfaces, working at height |
| Struck by moving objects | Forklift trucks, swinging loads |
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What Injuries Need to Be Reported at Work Under RIDDOR?
Not every workplace injury requires a RIDDOR report, but employers must act promptly when a reportable incident occurs. Failing to report when legally required can result in prosecution and significant financial penalties.
Under RIDDOR, the injuries that must be reported for workers include all fractures (other than fingers, thumbs, and toes), amputations, any injury likely to lead to permanent loss of sight or reduction in sight, crush injuries to the head or torso causing internal organ damage, serious burns covering more than 10% of the body or causing significant damage to the eyes, mouth, or major organs, any scalping requiring hospital treatment, unconsciousness caused by head injury or asphyxia, any other injury arising from working in an enclosed space that leads to hypothermia, heat-induced illness, or the need for resuscitation.
For members of the public or people who are not at work (such as customers or visitors), the threshold is different. If a non-worker is injured as a result of a work-related incident and is taken from the scene to a hospital for treatment, this must also be reported under RIDDOR.
What 5 Things Must Be Reported to RIDDOR?
RIDDOR covers more than just physical injuries to individuals. The regulations require reporting across five distinct categories of work-related incidents, each carrying its own specific reporting obligations and timeframes.
The five reportable categories under RIDDOR are: deaths (any work-related fatality must be reported immediately by the fastest practicable means); specified injuries to workers (a defined list of serious injuries outlined above); over-seven-day injuries to workers (where an employee is incapacitated for more than seven consecutive days, not counting the day of the accident); injuries to non-workers that result in hospital treatment; and dangerous occurrences, which are near-miss incidents with the potential for serious harm even if no one was hurt. Occupational diseases such as carpal tunnel syndrome, occupational dermatitis, and hand-arm vibration syndrome must also be reported when a medical professional confirms the diagnosis and the affected person’s work involves the relevant exposure.
| RIDDOR Reportable Category | Reporting Timeframe |
|---|---|
| Work-related fatality | Immediately by phone, then within 10 days in writing |
| Specified injuries to workers | Within 10 days |
| Over-seven-day incapacitation | Within 15 days of the accident |
| Injuries to non-workers (hospital treatment) | Within 10 days |
| Dangerous occurrences | Within 10 days |
| Occupational diseases | Upon receipt of written diagnosis |
Employers can submit RIDDOR reports online via the HSE reporting portal at hse.gov.uk/riddor. Fatal and specified injuries can also be reported by telephone on 0345 300 9923. It is also worth noting that the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, available on the UK Government legislation portal, underpins the broader legal framework within which RIDDOR operates.
How Reporting Work Injuries Under RIDDOR Protects Your Business
Understanding what injuries should be reported at work is not simply a matter of legal compliance. It reflects a workplace culture that takes employee welfare seriously and responds to incidents in a structured, accountable way.
When injuries are reported accurately and on time, employers can use that data to identify patterns, address underlying hazards, and reduce the likelihood of future incidents. The HSE uses RIDDOR data nationally to shape enforcement priorities and health and safety guidance across industries, which means your reports contribute to improvements that go far beyond your own workplace.
Failing to report a RIDDOR-notifiable injury is a criminal offence under UK law. Prosecutions can result in unlimited fines in the Crown Court, significant reputational damage, and increased scrutiny from the HSE. Keeping thorough records not only protects your business legally but demonstrates the kind of diligence that underpins a genuinely safe working environment.
What Injuries Should Be Reported at Work: Frequently Asked Questions
RIDDOR stands for the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013. It applies to employers, the self-employed, and people in control of premises where work activities take place across Great Britain.
Fractures to fingers, thumbs, and toes are specifically excluded from the list of RIDDOR specified injuries. However, the incident should still be recorded in your workplace accident book as a matter of good practice.
An over-seven-day injury is one that prevents a worker from carrying out their normal work duties for more than seven consecutive days, not counting the day the accident occurred. The employer must report this within 15 days of the accident date.
Yes, RIDDOR applies to all workers regardless of their employment status, including agency workers, contractors, and apprentices. The duty to report typically falls on the person in control of the premises where the incident occurred.
A dangerous occurrence is a near-miss incident that did not result in injury but had the potential to cause significant harm. Examples include the collapse of a scaffold, an explosion, or the unintended release of a biological agent.
Most RIDDOR reports are submitted online through the HSE reporting portal, and fatal or specified injuries can also be reported by telephone. You can find full guidance and the reporting form at hse.gov.uk/riddor.
Reportable occupational diseases include carpal tunnel syndrome, cramp of the hand or forearm from work activity, occupational dermatitis, hand-arm vibration syndrome, occupational asthma, and tendonitis or tenosynovitis of the hand or forearm. A report is required once a written diagnosis is received from a doctor confirming the condition relates to the worker’s job.
If a member of the public is injured at your premises as a result of a work-related activity and is taken from the scene to hospital for treatment, this must be reported under RIDDOR within 10 days. Injuries to non-workers are subject to a different threshold than those applying to employees.
Recording an injury means documenting it in your workplace accident book, which all employers with ten or more employees are required to maintain under the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1979. Reporting refers to the formal legal notification to the HSE required for incidents that meet RIDDOR criteria.
The legal duty to report under RIDDOR rests with the responsible person, which is generally the employer, the self-employed individual, or the person in control of the premises. Employees do not have a direct duty to report, though they should inform their employer as soon as possible after an incident.
Failing to report a notifiable incident is a criminal offence that can result in prosecution by the HSE. Penalties can include unlimited fines in the Crown Court and custodial sentences in the most serious cases.
RIDDOR currently covers physical injuries and occupational diseases rather than mental health conditions. However, if a physical injury occurs as a result of a work-related incident that also has a mental health dimension, the physical injury element may still need to be reported.
Specified injuries are a defined list of serious physical injuries that must be reported to the HSE within 10 days, replacing the previous category of major injuries introduced under the 1995 regulations. For a complete definition and the full list, the Wikipedia article on RIDDOR provides a helpful overview.
Yes, RIDDOR can apply to homeworkers if they sustain a work-related injury while carrying out their duties, though the assessment of what constitutes a work-related incident in a home setting requires careful consideration. Employers should seek specific guidance from the HSE if they are unsure whether a home working incident is reportable.