The RIDDOR public consultation: What it means for you

The way businesses report workplace accidents may be set to change. From 7 April to 30 June 2026, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is conducting a public consultation on the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR).

The consultation invites stakeholders to share opinions on proposed reforms that promise to clarify key definitions, broaden the scope of reportable diseases, and simplify the online RIDDOR reporting form.

This isn't the first time RIDDOR has been reviewed since its 1985 introduction. Despite major overhauls in 1995 and 2013, the current iteration continues to draw criticism for confusing terminology and time-consuming reporting tools.

The current consultation aims to address ongoing issues and align with modern ways of working - for example, supporting the needs of emerging sectors and renewable energy/net-zero technologies and acknowledging the increased use of specialist doctors and physical therapists to treat occupational health concerns. It also seeks to reduce widespread under- and over-reporting, which can lead to unnecessary administrative pressures - and unwanted HSE scrutiny.

While the reforms could bring welcome clarity for duty holders, they may also increase the odds of unintentional non-compliance. Here's what the next wave of RIDDOR requirements might mean for you.

A refresher on current RIDDOR requirements

RIDDOR places a legal duty on employers or people in control of premises to report certain serious workplace accidents, occupational diseases, and near misses. The regulations specify a precise set of reportable incidents, as defined by the HSE. These include:

• The death of any person arising from a work-related accident.
• Specified injuries to workers, such as a scalping or fracture (excluding fingers, thumbs, and toes) that have been confirmed by a doctor.
• Injuries to workers that prevent them from performing their regular work duties for more than seven days. Or injuries that result in a long absence and become reportable as an over-seven-day injury.
• Injuries to non-workers where the injured person is taken directly to hospital from the scene for treatment.
• Diagnoses of specific diseases. For example, dermatitis and occupational asthma.
• Certain near misses, such as the failure of lifting equipment or contact with overhead electrical lines.

Crucially, all reported incidents must be work related, meaning they must arise out of or be associated with how or where the work is done. For example, the same injury can be reportable or non-reportable, depending on the circumstances:

• A worker walks across a factory car park, trips over their shoelaces and sprains an ankle. They need to take 14 consecutive days off. This is not reportable as it's not work related.
• A worker walks across a factory car park, trips over packaging that has been left out and sprains an ankle. They need to take 14 consecutive days off. This is reportable as poor housekeeping practices were to blame.

What could change and why?

The five proposed updates are designed to improve understanding of RIDDOR requirements, streamline the reporting process, and gather better quality, more actionable incident data.

Proposal 1. Clarify definitions of 'work-related', 'injury' and 'routine work'

The HSE feels that some of the terminology is being interpreted differently, leading to inconsistent reporting. This could, in part, be why the HSE estimates that 8% of all RIDDORs don't need to be reported - leading to unnecessary operational expenses and increased costs for the HSE.

Proposal 2. Expand the list of occupational diseases to capture serious cases of ill-health

In 2013, the HSE reduced the number of reportable diseases from 47 to 6. As a result, several chronic work-related illnesses - such as silicosis, which kills an estimated 1,000 UK people each year - are 'missing'. Currently, the HSE might only learn of a case of silicosis from a coroner's report or employee complaints. The proposals will reintroduce nine diseases (including silicosis and asbestosis) and add four more, such as noise-induced hearing loss and occupational allergic rhinitis.

Proposal 3. Broaden the scope of accepted 'diagnosis'

To qualify under existing RIDDOR rules, a disease or specified injury must be diagnosed by a doctor registered with the General Medical Council (GMC). This is out of step with how most people interact with medical professionals, as many diseases and conditions are treated by specialised nurses, occupational health practitioners, or physiotherapists. Currently, the clinical judgements of these professionals are not reportable. The proposed changes will allow diagnoses by other types of registered health practitioners, not just GMC-registered doctors.

Proposal 4. Revise the list of dangerous occurrences to reflect modern risks

New working practices and technologies pose new job-related risks. The consultation plans to expand the list of dangerous occurrences (also known as 'near misses') in line with evolving sector safety hazards. This includes four new categories and six amendments - spanning structural collapses, falling objects, and the risks of geothermal energy and modern explosives - to strengthen the current framework.

Proposal 5. Simplify the online form to reduce under- and over-reporting

Although RIDDOR compliance is critical to a safe working environment, submitting unnecessary reports can trigger costly consequences, including inflated incident figures, increased regulatory attention, and time-intensive admin. A simplified online form aims to improve user experience, deliver clearer outcomes, and prevent erroneous reports.

Looking ahead: What the new RIDDOR could mean for your business

New RIDDOR rules would apply to all companies across all sectors. For most employers reporting under the current guidance, the changes are about improving accuracy and reducing administrative burden. For industries directly affected by regulatory amendments - such as stonemasonry, kitchen fitting, construction, and emerging technology and energy - the revamped RIDDOR framework could prompt an initial uplift in reporting rates.

While we might not see any updated regulations until 2028, employers should ready themselves for the realities - and opportunities - of new regulations. We recommend keeping these considerations on your radar:

• Better safety controls. Updated regulations could reveal that your current safety programme isn't fit for purpose. Although this might mean a short-term investment in strengthened controls, implementing suitable protection, procedures, and maintenance regimes will help keep your business consistently compliant.
• Stronger HSE focus. Reintroduced or newly added occupational diseases could become 'priority topics' for enforcement authorities, resulting in targeted campaigns and more frequent audits and onsite visits.
• Increased reporting. With a wider pool of medical professionals permitted to report under RIDDOR, more diagnoses may be made. Coupled with an extended list of reportable diseases, this could lead to a higher rate of RIDDOR submissions.
• Introduction of tech tools. The consultation document mentions plans for compliance management software to link reports directly to the HSE. If you don't already use a digital platform like Opus Compliance Cloud, talk to your consultant about the possibilities of online safety management.

Four actions to take right now

• Maintain effective safety measures. Whatever your business, continue to implement all the controls identified in your risk assessments to keep people safe and healthy.
• Bring yourself and your staff up to speed. Read up on the proposed reporting requirements, starting with the HSE overview.
• Determine whether you're at risk. Consider whether you work with any processes, substances, or equipment associated with the newly proposed occupational diseases. This might include welding activities, noisy machinery, and materials that produce silica dust. Act now to take reasonable precautions to reduce exposure. Ask your Opus Safety consultant for tailored advice.
• Share your feedback. Read the consultation and have your say on the proposed changes by 30 June 2026. You can share your insights via an online survey or by emailing the HSE.

Work with Opus through the changes

Here at Opus, we're actively reviewing the HSE proposals and will submit detailed comments in June. Our response will ensure the hundreds of businesses we support are fairly represented.

If you're not sharing your insights directly with the HSE, talk to us. We'll work on your behalf to affect the best outcome for businesses - and provide bespoke guidance on managing the risks raised in the consultation.

Get in touch to discuss gap analysis services, tech solutions, occupational health support, and consultancy partnerships to achieve consistent compliance in a changing regulatory environment. We're here to help on 0330 043 4015 and hello@opus-safety.co.uk.