RIDDOR Consultation 2026: What's Changing and What It Means

The HSE has launched a significant consultation to overhaul RIDDOR — the rules that govern when you must report workplace injuries, diseases, and near misses. If you're responsible for health and safety in your organisation, these proposed changes could fundamentally alter your reporting duties. The consultation closes on 30 June 2026, and your input could shape UK workplace safety reporting for the next decade.

RIDDOR stands for the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013. These regulations require employers, the self-employed, and people in control of premises to report serious workplace incidents to the HSE. But the current system has flaws — ambiguous definitions, outdated lists of reportable incidents, and bureaucratic barriers that prevent proper reporting.

What RIDDOR Currently Requires

Under the current Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013, you must report specific types of workplace incidents to the HSE. This isn't optional — it's a legal duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

The current system requires you to report:

• Deaths — Any work-related fatality, including those involving members of the public
• Specified injuries — A defined list including fractures, amputations, crush injuries, and burns covering more than 10% of the body
• Over-7-day injuries — Incidents where someone can't do their normal work for more than seven consecutive days
• Occupational diseases — Conditions like occupational asthma, dermatitis, and noise-induced hearing loss when diagnosed by a GMC-registered doctor
• Dangerous occurrences — Near misses with the potential for serious harm, such as scaffold collapses or pressure vessel failures

You must report deaths and specified injuries immediately (within 24 hours), whilst over-7-day injuries must be reported within 15 days. Understanding what constitutes a reportable incident has always been challenging due to unclear definitions and outdated categories.

Why Change is Needed

The HSE's consultation document identifies several critical issues with the current RIDDOR framework. Employers struggle with ambiguous terms like "work-related" and "injury", leading to under-reporting or incorrect reporting. The list of reportable dangerous occurrences hasn't kept pace with modern workplace hazards, and the restriction limiting occupational disease reporting to GMC-registered doctors creates unnecessary barriers.

Perhaps most significantly, the current system fails to capture important near-miss events that could prevent future tragedies. Construction sites, in particular, see incidents involving plant overturning or structural collapses that don't fit neatly into existing categories but represent serious safety failures.

This matters because RIDDOR data drives national safety policy, HSE enforcement priorities, and industry-specific guidance. Poor data means poor decisions about where to focus safety resources.

Key Proposed Changes

Clearer Definitions

The consultation proposes clarifying fundamental terms that have caused confusion for decades. "Work-related" would be more precisely defined to help employers determine when incidents need reporting. "Injury" would be clarified to distinguish between immediate physical harm and longer-term health effects.

The term "routine work" would also be better defined. This matters because some dangerous occurrences are only reportable when they happen during "non-routine" activities, creating confusion about what constitutes normal operations.

Expanded Dangerous Occurrences

The HSE proposes adding several new categories of reportable dangerous occurrences:

• Overturning of construction plant — Excavators, cranes, and other mobile plant tipping over, regardless of whether anyone was injured
• Falling objects — Objects falling from height that "could cause the death of a person", even if not connected to lifting equipment
• Tunnelling incidents — Collapses or other dangerous events in tunnel construction
• Structural collapses — Including roofs, ceilings, and trench collapses that could have caused serious harm

These additions reflect real-world hazards that currently slip through RIDDOR's net but represent significant safety failures that industry needs to learn from.

Occupational Disease Changes

The consultation proposes reintroducing some occupational diseases that were removed in previous RIDDOR revisions, whilst adding new conditions that reflect modern workplace health risks. Crucially, it would expand who can formally diagnose reportable occupational diseases beyond GMC-registered doctors to include other registered health practitioners.

This change acknowledges that occupational health nurses, physiotherapists, and other qualified professionals often identify work-related conditions first. Currently, their diagnoses don't trigger RIDDOR reporting duties, creating artificial delays and barriers.

Simplified Reporting Process

The HSE also proposes streamlining the online RIDDOR reporting form. The current system can be confusing, with unclear questions and multiple pathways that don't always lead to the right outcome. A simplified form should reduce reporting errors and make the process less burdensome for businesses.

What This Means for Your Business

If these changes are implemented, your RIDDOR obligations will likely become more extensive. You may need to report incidents that currently don't qualify, particularly in construction and manufacturing sectors where plant overturning and structural issues are common risks.

The expanded definition of who can diagnose occupational diseases could also increase your reporting burden. If your occupational health provider identifies work-related conditions, you'll need robust systems to ensure these trigger appropriate RIDDOR reports.

However, clearer definitions should reduce uncertainty about when to report. Currently, many employers err on the side of caution, reporting incidents that don't actually meet RIDDOR thresholds. Better guidance should improve decision-making and reduce unnecessary administrative burden.

From a compliance perspective, you'll need to update your accident investigation procedures and ensure supervisors understand the expanded criteria. This is particularly important if you're in construction, where several proposed changes directly apply.

Impact by Industry Sector

Construction and Building

Construction companies face the biggest changes. The addition of construction plant overturning and structural collapses as reportable dangerous occurrences will significantly increase reporting requirements. Every crane tip-over or scaffold collapse will need immediate reporting, even without injuries.

This aligns with the industry's high accident rates and HSE's focus on construction safety, but it means site managers need robust incident monitoring systems.

Manufacturing and Warehousing

The expanded falling objects category could affect manufacturing and warehousing operations. Storage system failures, dropped loads, or equipment malfunctions that create falling hazards may become reportable even if they don't cause injury.

Manufacturing businesses should review their material handling procedures and ensure incident recording systems can capture near-miss events that may become reportable.

All Sectors

The occupational disease changes affect all employers. You'll need to establish clear communication channels with any occupational health providers to ensure work-related diagnoses are promptly reported. This includes company nurses, physiotherapists, and other healthcare professionals who may identify work-related conditions.

Responding to the Consultation

The HSE consultation is open until 30 June 2026, and they're actively seeking input from employers, trade associations, and safety professionals. Your response could influence the final regulations that govern UK workplace reporting for years to come.

Key areas where the HSE wants feedback include:

• Whether the proposed definitions are clear and workable in practice
• The economic impact of expanded reporting requirements
• Practical challenges in implementing the proposed changes
• Whether the new dangerous occurrence categories capture the right incidents

Trade associations in your sector may coordinate collective responses, but individual employer perspectives are valuable too. The HSE particularly wants to understand implementation challenges and costs that businesses would face.

What You Should Do Now

While the consultation continues, maintain your current RIDDOR obligations. The existing regulations remain in force until any changes are formally implemented, which won't happen before 2027 at the earliest.

However, you can start preparing:

1. Review your current procedures — Audit how you currently identify, investigate, and report RIDDOR incidents
2. Assess potential impact — Consider which proposed changes would affect your operations
3. Update training plans — Factor potential RIDDOR changes into your 2026-2027 training schedule
4. Engage with the consultation — Submit a response highlighting practical challenges your business would face
5. Monitor developments — Keep track of consultation outcomes and implementation timelines

If you're unsure about your current RIDDOR obligations, now is an excellent time to get clarity. Understanding what you must currently report provides a foundation for adapting to any future changes.

Implementation Timeline

The consultation closes on 30 June 2026, after which the HSE will analyse responses and develop final proposals. Draft regulations would then go through parliamentary procedures, including further consultation periods and legislative scrutiny.

Realistically, any changes won't take effect before 2027, with 2028 being more likely given the complexity of the proposals and the need for supporting guidance. The HSE would provide significant notice and transition arrangements to help businesses adapt.

This timeline gives you opportunity to influence the process through the consultation and prepare your organisation for eventual changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I still need to report under current RIDDOR rules while the consultation is open?

Yes, absolutely. The existing Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 remain fully in force throughout the consultation period. You must continue reporting incidents that meet current criteria. The consultation is about potential future changes, not current obligations.

When will any changes come into force?

The earliest any changes could take effect is 2027, but 2028 is more realistic. The consultation closes on 30 June 2026, followed by analysis, drafting new regulations, parliamentary procedures, and implementation planning. The HSE will provide substantial notice before any changes become law.

Will the changes apply to all UK nations?

RIDDOR applies across Great Britain (England, Wales, and Scotland). Northern Ireland has separate but broadly similar regulations. Any changes would need separate consideration by the Northern Ireland Executive, though they typically align with GB requirements.

How do I know if the consultation affects my industry?

The consultation affects all sectors, but construction faces the biggest impact due to the proposed dangerous occurrence additions. Manufacturing, warehousing, and healthcare sectors would also see significant changes. Read the full HSE consultation document to understand sector-specific implications.

Can I respond to the consultation as an individual employer?

Yes, the HSE welcomes responses from individual employers alongside trade association submissions. Your practical experience of RIDDOR compliance is valuable, particularly if you can highlight implementation challenges or costs that larger organisations might not face.

What happens if I don't currently comply with RIDDOR?

Non-compliance with current RIDDOR requirements is a criminal offence under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. If you're not currently meeting your reporting obligations, address this immediately. The consultation period doesn't affect existing legal duties, and HSE enforcement continues as normal.

Looking Ahead

The RIDDOR consultation represents the most significant proposed changes to UK workplace incident reporting in over a decade. Whether you see this as an opportunity to improve safety data quality or a burden that increases administrative costs, your voice matters in shaping the final outcome.

The proposed changes reflect a maturing understanding of workplace risks and recognition that better data drives better safety outcomes. Construction plant overturning, structural collapses, and occupational health diagnoses from qualified practitioners all provide valuable insights that current RIDDOR rules miss.

For businesses, the key is balancing compliance obligations with practical implementation challenges. The consultation period provides opportunity to influence regulations that you'll live with for the next decade or more.

Whatever changes RIDDOR brings, the duty to brief your workforce on workplace hazards remains. Regular toolbox talks ensure your team knows how to work safely and what to report. Browse all 100+ toolbox talks or save with sector-specific bundles.

Need Help?

Understanding your current RIDDOR obligations — and preparing for potential changes — can be complex. If you need help reviewing your incident reporting procedures or preparing a consultation response, get in touch. We can help you navigate both current requirements and future changes to keep your business compliant and your workforce safe.