CITB Managers Accident Investigation and RIDDOR 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under RIDDOR 2013, which of the following injuries must be reported to the HSE?
- Any bruise or minor cut
- A broken arm (fracture of a bone above the wrist or ankle), an amputation, and any injury resulting in more than 7 days' incapacitation from normal work (Correct answer)
- Any injury requiring a visit to A&E
- Any injury regardless of severity
Correct answer: A broken arm (fracture of a bone above the wrist or ankle), an amputation, and any injury resulting in more than 7 days' incapacitation from normal work
RIDDOR 2013 requires reporting of: specified injuries (including fractures other than to fingers, toes, and thumbs; amputations; permanent eye loss; crush injuries; burns covering more than 10% of the body); 'over-7-day' incapacitating injuries; occupational diseases; and dangerous occurrences.
Question 2: What is a 'dangerous occurrence' under RIDDOR 2013?
- Any incident that could have caused injury
- Specified near-miss events (listed in Schedule 2 of RIDDOR) such as the collapse of a scaffold, the failure of a closed vessel, and the unintended collapse of a building under construction (Correct answer)
- Any incident reported to the site safety officer
- Any incident where property is damaged
Correct answer: Specified near-miss events (listed in Schedule 2 of RIDDOR) such as the collapse of a scaffold, the failure of a closed vessel, and the unintended collapse of a building under construction
Dangerous occurrences are specified near-miss events listed in Schedule 2 of RIDDOR 2013. They must be reported immediately to the HSE even though no one was injured. Examples include: scaffold collapse, explosion of a closed vessel, electrical short circuit causing fire, and unintended collapse of a building under construction.
Question 3: How long does an employer have to report an over-7-day incapacitating injury under RIDDOR 2013?
- Immediately by phone
- Within 15 days of the accident (Correct answer)
- Within 3 days of the accident
- Within 7 days of the accident
Correct answer: Within 15 days of the accident
Over-7-day incapacitating injuries must be reported within 15 days of the date of the accident. The 7-day period refers to the number of days the worker is incapacitated, not the time to report. Specified injuries must be reported within 10 days (or immediately if fatal or major).
Question 4: The purpose of an accident investigation on a construction site is primarily to:
- Identify who is to blame so disciplinary action can be taken
- Identify the root causes of the accident and implement measures to prevent recurrence — not to apportion blame (Correct answer)
- Satisfy RIDDOR reporting requirements
- Satisfy the insurer's requirements
Correct answer: Identify the root causes of the accident and implement measures to prevent recurrence — not to apportion blame
The primary purpose of accident investigation is prevention — identifying root causes (immediate, underlying, and root causes) and implementing effective corrective measures. A blame culture discourages honest reporting and undermines the investigative process.
Question 5: RIDDOR 2013 records must be kept for how long?
- 1 year
- 3 years from the date of the entry (Correct answer)
- 5 years
- 10 years
Correct answer: 3 years from the date of the entry
RIDDOR records must be retained for 3 years from the date of the event. For injuries to young persons (under 18), records must be kept until the person reaches 21, and for occupational diseases potentially for longer periods.
Question 6: Which of the following is a 'specified injury' under RIDDOR 2013?
- A sprained ankle
- An amputation of a finger above the first joint (Correct answer)
- A bruised knee
- Hearing loss from a single incident
Correct answer: An amputation of a finger above the first joint
RIDDOR 2013 Regulation 4 specifies injuries including: fractures (other than finger, toe, and thumb); amputation; permanent loss of sight or sight reduction; crush injury of the head or torso; burns to over 10% of the body; and any injury from which the person is likely to die.
CITB Managers Accident Investigation and RIDDOR 1
Under RIDDOR 2013, which of the following injuries must be reported to the HSE?