UK compliance reference
RIDDOR reportable incidents: the full list with examples
Under RIDDOR 2013, the reportable incidents are: deaths, specified injuries to workers, over-7-day injuries, injuries to non-workers taken to hospital, certain occupational diseases, and specified dangerous occurrences (plus certain gas incidents). This page lists each category in full with worked examples. For deadlines, who reports and record-keeping, see our RIDDOR overview guide.
Written by Thomas Featherstone, NEBOSH IGC-qualified and IOSH Managing Safely trained · Reviewed July 2026
Specified injuries to workers
These are the injuries treated as the most serious under RIDDOR. Any of them, when work-related, is reportable:
- Fractures, other than to fingers, thumbs and toes.
- Amputation of an arm, hand, finger, thumb, leg, foot or toe.
- Permanent loss of sight or reduction of sight.
- Crush injuries to the head or torso causing damage to the brain or internal organs.
- Serious burns covering more than 10% of the body, or damaging the eyes, respiratory system or other vital organs.
- Scalpings (separation of skin from the head) that require hospital treatment.
- Loss of consciousness caused by head injury or asphyxia.
- Any other injury from working in an enclosed space that leads to hypothermia or heat-induced illness, or needs resuscitation or admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours.
Over-7-day injuries
Where a worker is away from work, or cannot do their normal duties, for more than 7 consecutive days as a result of a work injury (not counting the day of the accident itself), it is reportable. An injury causing 4 to 7 days off must be recorded but is not reportable.
Injuries to non-workers
If a member of the public or other non-worker is injured in connection with the work and is taken directly from the scene to hospital for treatment of that injury, it is reportable. There is no need to establish the severity of the injury beyond the fact that they were taken to hospital for treatment.
Reportable occupational diseases
These are reportable when a doctor diagnoses them and they are linked to the work in the way described. The trigger matters as much as the diagnosis:
| Disease | Reportable where... |
|---|---|
| Carpal tunnel syndrome | Where the person's work involves regular use of percussive or vibrating tools. |
| Cramp of the hand or forearm | Where the work involves prolonged periods of repetitive movement of the fingers, hand or arm. |
| Occupational dermatitis | Where the work involves significant or regular exposure to a known skin sensitiser or irritant. |
| Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) | Where the work involves regular use of percussive or vibrating tools, or holding materials subject to percussive or vibrating processes. |
| Occupational asthma | Where the work involves significant or regular exposure to a known respiratory sensitiser. |
| Tendonitis or tenosynovitis of the hand or forearm | Where the work is physically demanding and involves frequent, repetitive movements. |
| Any occupational cancer | Attributable to occupational exposure to a known carcinogen or ionising radiation. |
| Disease from a biological agent | Any disease attributable to an occupational exposure to a biological agent. |
Dangerous occurrences
Dangerous occurrences are specified near-miss events that must be reported even if no one is hurt. Below are the main categories that apply to most workplaces. This is not the complete schedule - additional categories apply to mines, quarries, offshore work and railways - so check the full HSE list for anything unusual.
- Collapse, overturning or failure of any load-bearing part of lifting equipment.
- Failure of any closed pressure vessel or its associated pipework.
- Plant or equipment coming into contact with overhead power lines, or a discharge of electrical energy from one.
- An electrical short circuit or overload causing a fire or explosion that stops the plant involved for more than 24 hours.
- Any unintentional explosion, misfire or failure of demolition to work as intended involving explosives.
- An accident or incident that results, or could have resulted, in the release or escape of a biological agent likely to cause severe human infection or illness.
- Malfunction of breathing apparatus while in use or during testing immediately before use.
- Failure or damage to diving equipment, or an uncontrolled ascent, that endangers a diver.
- The complete or partial collapse of scaffolding more than 5 metres high, or erected over or near water where there is a risk of drowning.
- The unintended collapse of a building or structure under construction, alteration or demolition involving more than 5 tonnes of material; or a floor or wall in a place of work; or any false-work.
- An explosion or fire that stops normal work for more than 24 hours.
- The unintended release or escape of any substance that could cause a death, specified injury or other damage to health.
Is it reportable? Worked examples
- A joiner breaks their forearm on site - reportable (a fracture, not to a finger/thumb/toe).
- A worker fractures a finger in a door - not a specified injury; reportable only if it later causes over 7 days off.
- A shop assistant is signed off for 10 days after a fall - reportable (over-7-day injury).
- A delivery driver strains their back and is on light duties for 5 days - record only, not reportable.
- A customer is hit by falling stock and taken to hospital for treatment - reportable (non-worker taken to hospital).
- A groundworker is diagnosed with HAVS after years on breakers - reportable (occupational disease).
- A tower crane’s load-bearing part fails with no injuries - reportable (dangerous occurrence).
RIDDOR FAQs
Common questions
Is a broken finger reportable under RIDDOR?
Not as a specified injury - fractures to fingers, thumbs and toes are specifically excluded from the specified-injury list. It could still become reportable if it keeps the worker off or on restricted duties for more than 7 consecutive days (an over-7-day injury).
Is a needlestick injury reportable?
Only if it results in a reportable disease or infection from a biological agent, a specified injury, or an over-7-day absence. A needlestick that causes none of these is recorded, not reported. Seek medical advice on any potential exposure.
Are injuries to members of the public reportable?
Yes, if a member of the public or other non-worker is injured in connection with the work and is taken directly from the scene to hospital for treatment of that injury.
Is COVID-19 or another infection reportable under RIDDOR?
Only in the specific circumstances the regulations and current HSE guidance set out for diseases attributable to an occupational exposure to a biological agent. Check the latest HSE guidance, as the position on specific infections has changed over time.
What is the difference between recording and reporting?
Recording means keeping your own record of an incident (for example in an accident book). Reporting means notifying the HSE under RIDDOR. Many incidents must be recorded but not reported - for example an injury causing 4 to 7 days off work.
Where do I check if something is reportable?
Against the categories on this page and the current HSE guidance at hse.gov.uk/riddor. Our overview guide, linked below, covers the deadlines, who reports and how long to keep records.
Official sources
- HSE - What must be reported under RIDDOR
- HSE - RIDDOR overview and reporting
- RIDDOR 2013 (legislation.gov.uk)
This is a plain-English reference for UK SMEs, not legal advice, and does not replace the current HSE guidance or a professional judgement on a specific incident. The reportable categories can be updated - always check the latest guidance on hse.gov.uk and seek advice where you are unsure.
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