Recently the IOSH magazine reported that the GB Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is stepping up efforts to challenge work-related ill health, overhaul RIDDOR reporting and review its Fee for Intervention (FFI) scheme.

RIDDOR stands for Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations. It is the legal framework under which employers (and those in control of work premises) are required to report certain types of work-related incidents to the regulator—this includes injuries, occupational diseases, dangerous near-misses, and other serious or potentially serious incidents.

The purpose of RIDDOR is to ensure that the enforcing authorities (HSE or local authorities) are aware of incidents so that investigations and learning can happen, trends can be identified, and preventive measures put in place. The law sets out what is reportable, when and how it must be reported.

Concerning the rising concerns around ill health, HSE has updated its RIDDOR guidance, to provide greater clarity and make compliance easier. For example, the guidance has been improved around defining what constitutes a ‘work-related’ accident, when an occupational disease needs to be reported or is not reportable and other guidelines outlined under RIDDOR.

At the HSE AGM, chief executive, Sarah Albon explained that more than 13,000 inspections and 96% prosecutions conviction rate, the HSE is focusing on a smarter, risk-based regulation to protect both people and productivity and make Britain one of the healthiest countries in the world to work in as well as one of the safest.

For businesses, this means more responsibility to properly assess ill health risks, maintain accurate records, train staff in recognising symptoms, review health surveillance, and ensure reporting systems are robust. Employers should take these changes seriously to avoid non-compliance, legal exposure, and, importantly, to protect worker health and wellbeing.