Accidents

Statutory accident records

Employers with 10 or more employees must keep readily accessible accident records, in either written or electronic form. These records must be kept for a minimum of three years.

Reporting of accidents

Under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulation 1995 (RIDDOR), some accidents must be reported to the HSE. Where the local authority is the employer, schools should follow their LEA's procedures, as some may require serious or significant accidents to be reported centrally for insurance or statistical purposes, or as part of their RIDDOR arrangements.

The following accidents must be reported to the HSE if they injure either the school's employees during an activity connected with work, or self-employed people (e.g. contractors) while working on the premises:

Accidents resulting in death or major injury (including as a result of violence)
Accidents (including acts of physical violence) which prevent the injured person from doing their normal work for more than three days

Accidents to pupils or visitors must be reported to the HSE if:

The person involved is killed or is taken from the site of the accident to hospital and
The accident arises out of or in connection with work

This second point includes:

Any school activity, on or off the school premises
The way a school activity has been organised and managed
The use of equipment, machinery or substances
The design or condition of the premises

For definitions of major injuries, dangerous occurrences and reportable diseases, see ‘Everyone's Guide to RIDDOR’ on the HSE website.

Source: Guidance on First Aid for Schools: A Good Practice Guide, Department for Education and Employment, 1996.

Accidents Fire Flooding Terrorism Security and personal safety Medical conditions Missing persons	Accidents Statutory accident records Employers with 10 or more employees must keep readily accessible accident records, in either written or electronic form. These records must be kept for a minimum of three years. Reporting of accidents Under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulation 1995 (RIDDOR), some accidents must be reported to the HSE. Where the local authority is the employer, schools should follow their LEA's procedures, as some may require serious or significant accidents to be reported centrally for insurance or statistical purposes, or as part of their RIDDOR arrangements. The following accidents must be reported to the HSE if they injure either the school's employees during an activity connected with work, or self-employed people (e.g. contractors) while working on the premises: Accidents resulting in death or major injury (including as a result of violence) Accidents (including acts of physical violence) which prevent the injured person from doing their normal work for more than three days Accidents to pupils or visitors must be reported to the HSE if: The person involved is killed or is taken from the site of the accident to hospital and The accident arises out of or in connection with work This second point includes: Any school activity, on or off the school premises The way a school activity has been organised and managed The use of equipment, machinery or substances The design or condition of the premises For definitions of major injuries, dangerous occurrences and reportable diseases, see ‘Everyone's Guide to RIDDOR’ on the HSE website. Source: Guidance on First Aid for Schools: A Good Practice Guide, Department for Education and Employment, 1996.	Reporting accidents Health & Safety Executive
The advice contained on this site should not be taken as an authoritative interpretation of the law. That is a matter for the courts.