# Does this workplace accident need reporting?

Record what happened, then check the specific reporting category and deadline.

Jurisdiction: England, Wales, Scotland
Source check: 2026-11-03. Editorial status: source-checked draft; specialist sign-off pending.

## Who this covers
Responsible persons, generally employers, relevant self-employed people and those in control of premises.

## The requirement
Report work-related incidents that meet the RIDDOR criteria. Not every accident is reportable; the incident type and circumstances determine the requirement.

## Practical steps
- Deal with immediate safety and medical needs first.
- Establish the facts and check the relevant HSE reporting category.
- Follow the correct reporting route and deadline and retain appropriate records.

## Common mistake
An entry in an accident book is not a RIDDOR report. Do not decide reportability from the injury description alone.

## Timing
Event-triggered. Deadlines differ by category; consult the official guidance promptly.

## Questions for a provider
- Who is the responsible person for this report?
- Which reporting category applies?
- What changes will prevent a recurrence?

## Official sources
- [HSE: types of reportable incidents](https://www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/types-of-reportable-incidents.htm)

General information, not an assessment or a statement that a business is compliant.


## Prepare an escalation route before an incident occurs

### Before you commission work
Identify who gathers incident information, who makes the reporting decision and who covers their absence. Keep a route to the current official guidance readily available. If buying advisory support, check its response availability and whether incident classification is within the agreed scope.

### Follow through on the result
Keep a factual chronology, the decision made and any report reference together. Distinguish internal investigation from any external reporting requirement. Review what the event reveals about your controls, and track the resulting actions separately from the administrative task of submitting a report. Do not wait for a routine adviser appointment when a reporting deadline may apply.

## Buying the right work
- Record the facts and preserve relevant information.
- Check the category and deadline in HSE’s guidance.
- Agree who in the organisation makes and follows up the report.

## What you can do yourself
Put a clear internal reporting and escalation process in place. Keep an accurate account of what happened; do not turn uncertainty into a definitive classification.

## When to get help
Seek competent advice promptly if you are unsure whether an incident is reportable. Do not let the process of buying advice delay urgent action or a reporting deadline.

## Records to keep
- The event, date, people involved and factual information.
- The basis for the reporting decision.
- Any report reference and resulting preventive action.

## Is every workplace injury reportable?
No. HSE identifies specific categories. Work-relatedness and the type of injury or event matter.

Source check for this expanded guide: 2026-11-03. Specialist sign-off pending.