RIDDOR

Question 1

What is it?

Answer 1

all work places have to report any accidents causing major injury or dangerous occurrences to The Health + Safety Executive as they will carry out an investigation into have the incident occurred, to determine whether it was purely an accident or whether the practice or staff member was at fault. Advice will be given on how to avoid similar incidents in the future, but in serious cases prosecution may follow.

Question 2

Minor incidents

Answer 2

these result in not serious injury and are dealt with in-house. A written record of the minor accident must be made and kept in the accident book under Notifications of Accidents and Dangerous occurrences regulations. Examples include trips, falls resulting in no serious injury or a clean sharp injury or minor mercury spillage that can be dealt with using spillage kit

Question 3

Major incidents

Answer 3

These result in serious injury to a person or severe damage to the premises. They are classed as ‘significant events’ and are therefore notifiable incidents that must be reported to HSE

Question 4

Injuries that must be reported

Answer 4

• fracture of the skull, spine or pelvis
• fracture of the long bone of an arm or leg
• amputation of a hand or foot
• loss of sight in one eye
• hypoxia (oxygen deprivation to the brain) severe enough to produce unconsciousness
• any other injury requiring 24hr hospital admission for trt

Question 5

Diseases that must be reported

Answer 5

• Legionella
• Hep B + C
• HIV

Question 6

Dangerous occurrences that must be reported

Answer 6

• Explosion, collapse or burst of a pressure vessel (autoclave or compressor)
• Electrical short circuit or overload that causes more than 24hr stoppage of business
• explosion or fire due to gases or inflammable products that causes more than a 24hr stoppage of business
• uncontrolled release or escape of mercury vapour due to major mercury spillage
• any accident involving the inhalation, ingestion or absorption of a hazardous substance which results in hypoxia that is severe enough to require medical trt.