With a lot of false information being circulated still on social media and online, here at Eley Consultancy Ltd we thought it might be helpful to clarify the situation regarding COVID-19 and what is actually reportable to RIDDOR.
So is COVID-19 RIDDOR reportable?
“The HSE’s guidance states that you must only make a report of COVID-19 under RIDDOR in the following three circumstances:
1. An unintended incident at work has led to someone’s possible or actual exposure to coronavirus. This must be reported as a dangerous occurrence. An example would be where a lab worker accidentally smashes a glass vial containing coronavirus, leading to people being exposed to the virus.
2. A worker has been diagnosed as having COVID-19 and there is reasonable evidence that it was caused by exposure at work. This must be reported as an exposure to a biological agent; as a case of disease. An example of a work-related exposure to coronavirus would be a health care professional who is diagnosed with COVID-19 after treating patients with COVID-19.
3. If someone dies as a result of a work-related exposure to coronavirus and this is confirmed as the likely cause of death by a registered medical practitioner, then you must report this as a death due to exposure to a biological agent using the ‘case of disease’ report form. You must report workplace fatalities to HSE by the quickest practicable means without delay and send a report of that fatality within 10 days of the incident.”
To make a report to RIDDOR, head over to: https://www.hse.gov.uk/news/riddor-reporting-coronavirus.htm