Workplace safety regulations can sometimes feel complex, especially when it comes to reporting injuries under RIDDOR (the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations). One common area of confusion is: what exactly counts as a reportable injury? This is particularly tricky when incidents involve members of the public rather than employees.

Let’s break it down using a case study: Imagine a shop on the high-street that’s taken all the right steps (no pun intended) to be accessible. They’ve installed an access ramp next to a set of steps, fully compliant with safety standards and clearly marked for customers. Despite this, a visitor takes a misstep on the ramp, falls badly, and ends up with a fractured leg.

The customer is taken to hospital by ambulance, where the injury is confirmed. The big question for the store manager is: Does this incident need to be reported under RIDDOR?

RIDDOR requires employers and those in control of premises to report certain serious workplace incidents and injuries. While many people think RIDDOR only applies to employees, the rules also cover members of the public or visitors if they suffer a reportable injury due to a work-related incident on the premises.

A reportable injury must be:

• Work-related (i.e., linked to the premises or the business activity)
• One of the specific injury types listed under RIDDOR, such as fractures (except to fingers, thumbs, or toes), amputations, or hospitalisations
• Serious enough to require medical treatment or hospitalisation

In our case study, both the fractured leg and the hospital treatment meet the criteria. Even though the ramp was compliant and the visitor’s fall was due to a misstep rather than a fault in the store’s setup, the injury still happened on the business premises during their visit.

Reporting these incidents helps the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local authorities spot potential risks, investigate patterns, and ultimately improve safety standards to prevent future accidents. Failure to report when required can lead to enforcement action, including fines and reputational damage.