Changes Proposed to RIDDOR

The changes are intended to expand the scope of reporting requirements and improve the quality of data collected, with a stronger focus on addressing work-related ill health. Read the consultation here.

One of the key proposals is to broaden the definition of Dangerous Occurrences. This would include incidents linked to tunnelling activities—such as excavation, boring or maintenance work on tunnels exceeding 1.2 metres in diameter—as well as the unintended dropping of objects from buildings or structures during construction or demolition, and incidents involving the overturning of construction plant.

The consultation also suggests a significant expansion in the number of reportable occupational diseases, increasing from six to 19. Newly included conditions would cover issues such as noise-induced hearing loss and respiratory illnesses including asbestosis and pneumoconiosis (including silicosis). In addition, diagnoses would no longer be limited to doctors, allowing other qualified health professionals to confirm cases.

Further proposals aim to provide clearer definitions for commonly misunderstood terms such as “work-related”, “injury” and “routine work”, which have previously led to inconsistencies in reporting.

Alongside these regulatory changes, the HSE is seeking views on improvements to its online reporting system. The goal is to reduce both under-reporting and unnecessary reporting, ensuring that the data captured is more accurate and useful for monitoring workplace health and safety trends.

The consultation is open until Tuesday 30 June, and NFRC encourages members to submit their views.