Consultation Document - CD233 - Proposed amendment to RIDDOR

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Consultation Document - CD233 - Proposed amendment to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR)

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

Colleagues,

Consultation Document - CD233 - Proposed amendment to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR)

The consultation document on the proposed review of RIDDOR has been published. It can be found at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/consult/condocs/cd233.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Health Safety and Environment Department will be making a full response prior to closing date and as it is important to ensure a good response we ask for CWU Safety Reps, Branches and Safety Forums to please ensure that their replies are sent to the Health and Safety Executive direct before 9 May 2011 at:

Ron Griffiths
Health and Safety Executive
1.3 Redgrave Court
Merton Road
Bootle
Merseyside
L20 7HS

riddor2011@hse.gsi.gov.uk

This consultation sets out the amendment to regulation 3(2) of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) proposed by Lord Young in his report "Common Sense, Common Safety". If adopted, the period of incapacitation after which an injury to a person at work must be reported to the enforcing authority, will change from over three to over seven days. It seeks views on the proposal itself and on the impacts that it would have if it became law.

LTB 909/10 issued on 19 October 2010, Lord Young's review of Health and Safety - "Common Sense - Common Safety", details the CWU and other Union’s views on this issue.

The CWU Health, Safety and Environment Department are extremely concerned that the Young report recommends a weakening of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR). Research shows that only 32% of the reportable injuries suffered by workers and 12% by the self-employed are not properly recorded with the HSE under RIDDOR and the legislation isn't effectively enforced which is why so many employers ignore it. When injuries are not properly recorded it makes it difficult to accurately assess the risks workers face and difficult for enforcers to protect them. Changing the accident reporting criteria from 3 days to 7 days will only serve to take a huge number of injuries out of the official statistics and erode standards further. Rather than recommending weakening the regulations, Lord Young should have examined how the existing rules can be strengthened and adequately enforced. RIDDOR is one of the most important sources of information for the enforcing authorities.

The TUC has produced a draft response to the HSE consultation on RIDDOR which is attached.

RIDDOR.doc

Yours Sincerely



Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety and Environment Officer