If you run a business, you’ve no doubt had to deal with accidents and incidents in the workplace, but do you know how to report them effectively? A common question asked is ‘What’s the difference between accidents and incidents?’ as the two terms used as if they have the same meaning. Which is why our...
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If you run a business, you’ve no doubt had to deal with accidents and incidents in the workplace, but do you know how to report them effectively?
A common question asked is ‘What’s the difference between accidents and incidents?’ as the two terms used as if they have the same meaning. Which is why our experts have created a guide to accidents vs incidents and how you should be reporting them.
If you need immediate support with workplace health and safety, get in touch with one our experts on 0800 470 3529.
An incident is an unplanned event that doesn’t result in an injury, but does damage property, or poses a significant risk that warrants recording.
For example, if you work in a cold area like a freezer or in cold weather, and one of your employees slips on the ice but doesn’t receive any injury or harm. This should be recorded as it could pose a risk to other employees.
Accidents and incidents are often used interchangeably, but they shouldn’t be. As we’ve established, an incident doesn’t result in injury or harm to employees or anyone visiting the premises. Whereas an accident does.
You can place an incident into one of two categories:
A near miss is defined as an event that doesn’t result in harm, but has the potential to.
If there is a dangerous occurrence, then there has been a set of circumstances that has caused the issue, rather than a single event.
These circumstances have the potential to cause injury or ill health to others, and meets the criteria for the occurrence to be reported to RIDDOR.
Whereas an accident is a specific event that could result in injury, ill health or death to anyone on the premises, employee, or member of the public.
All incidents should be reported, this will help to ensure they don’t become accidents in the future.
By reporting an incident, you are able to put measures in place to mitigate or completely remove the risk. Reporting will also allow you to put a process in place for if the worst was to happen.
As an employer, or responsible person, you should ensure that no incident or accident goes unreported.
As mentioned above, the purpose of reporting an incident is to help put in counter measures to stop the incident becoming an accident.
Reporting your incidents internally will help create awareness amongst your employees, and help prevent the incidents from happening. Remember, a near miss can affect your business’s workflow, potentially leading to productivity downtime, and disruptions.
If a serious accident were to happen, you or the responsible person will be required to report it to the HSE, you can do this on their website or over the phone.
At Employer Advice, our experts have been supporting employers with their health and safety and employment law obligations for decades. So there’s a good chance that whatever issue you’re currently facing, our experts have dealt with something similar.
If you’d like more advice on reporting incidents and accidents get in touch with one of our experts on 0800 470 3529.