HS&E Operatives practice question: Accident reporting and RIDDOR (1 of 7)
A. Working environment A free question from our original HS&E Operatives practice exam. Try it, then open the answer to see why each option is right or wrong.
Several accidents happen on site over one month. Some of them must be reported to HSE under RIDDOR, the law on reporting serious accidents at work.
Which two must be reported? (Choose two.)
Choose two answers.
AA. A joiner hurts their back and is off work for 10 days in a row
BB. A bricklayer breaks a toe and is back at work the next day
CC. An electrician gets a small cut that is cleaned and covered
DD. A worker feels faint on a hot day and sits down for a while
EE. A labourer breaks an arm after falling from a trestle
Show the answer and explanation
Answers: A, E
A. Right: Right. An injury that keeps a worker off work, or off their normal duties, for more than seven days in a row must be reported within 15 days of the accident.
B. Wrong: Wrong. Broken fingers, thumbs and toes are not specified injuries. It would become reportable only if they were off normal work for more than seven days in a row.
C. Wrong: Wrong. A minor injury like this is not reportable under RIDDOR. It should still be recorded, for example in the accident book.
D. Wrong: Wrong. Loss of consciousness is reportable only when caused by a head injury or lack of oxygen. Feeling faint from heat is not, though the worker should be looked after.
E. Right: Right. A broken bone is a "specified injury" under RIDDOR, unless it is a finger, thumb or toe. It must be reported without delay.
Explanation
RIDDOR covers deaths, specified injuries such as most broken bones, injuries that keep someone off normal work for more than seven days, some diseases and dangerous occurrences. Your employer makes the report.