Some fires and explosions are reportable to the Health and Safety Executive under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases, and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR ’95). These regulations specify who is responsible for reporting and impose certain timescales within which the reports have to be made post-incident.
On 1 October 2013 the RIDDOR 2013 regulations come into force. The political driver is to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, and many categories of reporting have been cut back. But is that truly the case with respect to fires and explosions?
Burns
In fact, under the new regulations there’s an additional category of major injury which is reportable, in comparison with RIDDOR ’95. The category is:
Any burn injury (including scalding) which:
- covers more than 10% of the whole body’s total surface area; or
- causes significant damage to the eyes, respiratory system or other vital organs
This is new, because under RIDDOR ’95, burn injuries to employees would only be reportable in some specific circumstances, e.g., involving a hospital stay over 24 hours, certain electrical burns, and where the injury incapacitated the employee for seven or more days.
It’s worth noting that the “over seven days lost” category of injury accident remains unchanged under RIDDOR 2013.
Dangerous occurrences
Fires and explosions were reportable under the 1995 regulations in a number of categories of “dangerous occurrence” (DO). DOs are the reporting responsibility of the organisation controlling the premises (unchanged under RIDDOR 2013). Timescales for reporting are unchanged — i.e. these incidents should still be reported “by the quickest practicable means” and then followed up with a written report within 10 days of the incident. In practice, those who are online will generally submit the report at www.riddor.gov.uk as soon as possible, thus fulfilling all of the reporting rules in one hit.
General fires
Fires and explosions which result in the stoppage of plant or suspension of normal work in a premises for more than 24 hours, are reportable. There are some subtle changes of words, but essentially this requirement is the same as it was under RIDDOR ’95. (Note that for off-shore workplaces the stoppage/ suspension does not need to be for 24 hours for the event to be reportable — this is also an unchanged requirement within the 2013 regulations.)
Electrical short circuits
The requirements for reporting electrical incidents causing fire or explosion is also unchanged. This category includes incidents of:
Any explosion or fire caused by an electrical short circuit or overload (including those resulting from accidental damage to the electrical plant) which either:
- results in the stoppage of the plant involved for more than 24 hours; or
- causes a significant risk of death.
Release of flammable liquids and gases
Sudden uncontrolled releases of flammable liquids and gases are also reportable in the same way as they were previously.
Mines, quarries, transport systems, and offshore
For these specialist sectors, RIDDOR 2013 includes very similar reporting requirements for fires, explosions, releases of hydrocarbons, etc., as were covered within RIDDOR ’95.
Conclusion
Overall, the reporting requirements for “dangerous occurrences” haven’t changed much though there is some rearrangement of words on the pages. For those fire and safety professionals who are involved in the reporting of injuries to the authorities, there are more significant changes to be taken into account.
Those using databases to record categories of incident will need to carry out a review before 1 October to ensure that they’re up to date. Policies which describe RIDDOR reporting arrangements within organisations should also be reviewed.
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