RIDDOR - Accidents at Work Involving a Member of the Public

Find out the circumstances in which accidents in a workplace involving a member of the public, or people not at work, such as hotel or care home residents, should be reported.

When Do Accidents to the Public Have to be Reported?

Reportable accidents must have occurred "arising out of or in connection with work". The criteria for reporting an accident that happens to someone who is not at work - a member of the public - must satisfy both of the following:

• The person involved is killed or taken to hospital; and

• The accident arises out of or in connection with work

Accidents Arising out of or in Connection with Work

Accidents arising out of or in connection with work must be regarded as any of the following:

• The manner of conducting an undertaking - refers to the way in which any work activity is being carried out, including how it is organised, supervised or performed

• The plant or substances used for the purposes of the undertaking - includes lifts, air conditioning plant, machinery, equipment, substances used

• The condition of the premises used by the undertaking or any part of them - includes the state of the structure or fabric of the building or outside area and state and design of the floors, paving, lighting

If you were satisfied following your own accident investigation that an accident was not attributable to any of the above, the accident is not in fact reportable under the requirements of RIDDOR.

Examples of Reportable Accidents

A full definition of "arising out of or in connection with work" and examples can be found in Sections 34 and 35 of the HSE’s publication (L73) A Guide to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995, available to order from HSE Books.

The following examples of accidents involving people who are not at work would all be regarded as arising out of or in connection with work:

• Someone shopping who was involved in an accident at an escalator in a shop, where the accident was attributable to the design or condition of the escalator.

• A patient/resident in a nursing or residential care home who tripped and fell over an obstruction such as an electrical cable lying across a floor in the home.

• A member of the public who, while visiting a factory, was overcome by fumes which escaped accidentally from a process being carried on there.