Incidences of COVID-19 in the workplace are reportable to the HSE under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR)
Riddor

This quick guide aims to summarise what businesses need to do if they are affected.

  • RIDDOR places duties on employers, the self-employed and people in control of work premises (the Responsible Person) to report certain serious workplace accidents, occupational diseases and specified dangerous occurrences including near misses
  • All incidents can be reported online
  • A telephone service is also provided for reporting fatal/specified incidents only - call the incident contact centre on 0345 300 9923 (opening hours are Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm)
  • Incidents that happen in Northern Ireland should be reported to HSE NI
  • In relation to COVID-19 businesses must only make a report under RIDDOR when:
    • An unintended incident at work has led to someone’s possible or actual exposure to COVID-19. 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 COVID-19

The following scenarios also need to be reported:

Dangerous occurrences

If something happens at work which results in (or could result in) the release or escape of COVID-19 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 COVID-19, leading to people being exposed.

Cases of disease: exposure to a biological agent

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 form. 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 the disease. COVID-19 would be classified as a biological agent under the COSHH Regulations.

Work related fatalities

If someone dies as a result of a work-related exposure to COVID-19 and this is confirmed as the likely cause of death by a registered medical practitioner, you must report this as a death due to exposure to a biological agent using the ‘case of disease’ report form. You must report workplace fatalities to HSE by the quickest practical means without delay and send a report of that fatality within 10 days of the incident.

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