When something serious happens at work, someone in your setting has to know whether it must be reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), who makes the report and how. This RIDDOR training for nurseries explains the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 in plain terms: what counts as reportable, who the responsible person is, the ways to report and the record you must keep afterwards.
In an early years setting RIDDOR is not only about staff. Children and visitors can be involved too, so the question is always which category an incident falls into, not who it happened to.
Why RIDDOR training matters
Reporting accidents and ill health at work is a legal requirement. The information the enforcing authorities gather helps them see where and how risks arise, investigate serious accidents and advise employers on preventing injury and ill health in future. That is why the course asks you to decide now who reports in your setting, and who covers when they are away.
RIDDOR places the duty to report on the responsible person: employers, the self-employed and people in control of work premises. Only responsible persons submit reports. An employee who is injured, sees a dangerous occurrence or is told by their doctor that they have a reportable work-related disease must tell their employer or the person in control of the premises, because reporting is that person’s responsibility. Reporting and record keeping are two separate duties, and completing one does not discharge the other.
What’s in the course
- What RIDDOR isThe 2013 regulations, what they require and why reporting matters.
- Who should reportThe responsible person, and what employees, the self-employed and members of the public can do.
- What must be reportedDeaths, major injuries, over-seven-day injuries, injuries to people not at work, diseases and dangerous occurrences.
- Reportable injuries in detailThe listed major injuries, and how over-three-day and over-seven-day injuries are treated differently.
- Reportable diseases and dangerous occurrencesThe kinds of work-related disease and near miss the regulations cover.
- Ways to reportReporting online, by telephone and out of hours, and what happens once a report is submitted.
- Records and data protectionWhat your record must contain, the forms it can take, and your lawful basis for sharing personal data.
- Assessment10 questions. Pass mark 80%. Resit as many times as you need.
What you’ll learn
- Who counts as the responsible person under RIDDOR, and why only they submit reports
- The categories you must report: deaths, major injuries, over-seven-day injuries, some work-related diseases, dangerous occurrences, and injuries to people not at work who are taken from the scene to hospital
- That an over-seven-day injury means more than seven consecutive days away from work or unable to do normal duties, and must be reported within fifteen days
- Examples of major injuries, such as fractures other than to fingers, thumbs and toes, and dislocation of the shoulder, hip, knee or spine
- That over-three-day injuries must be recorded, even though they are not reported
- Why the HSE prefers online reports, even for deaths, and when the telephone can still be used
- The four things your record must contain: the date and method of reporting, the date, time and place of the event, personal details of those involved, and a brief description
- Why you have a lawful basis under data protection law to share the injured person’s details with the HSE
Who this course is for
- Nursery owners and managers who act as the responsible person
- Deputies and senior staff who cover when the manager is away
- Anyone with health and safety responsibilities in the setting
- Practitioners who want to understand what happens after an accident and what to pass on
How it works
- OnlineStudy on any device and pick up where you left off.
- Interactive moduleShort slides and knowledge checks you work through at your own pace.
- 10-question assessmentPass mark 80%. Resit as many times as you need.
- CertificateIssued when you pass. NFAQ accredited.
Training your team
The person who reports and the person who covers for them both need to know the categories, and every practitioner needs to know what to pass on after an accident, so the course suits the whole team. Choose the number of learners at checkout, with group rates from 3 learners, or get it as part of the Training Portal for £5 per learner per month. It pairs well with Health & Safety and Risk Assessment in Early Years and COSHH (Level 2).
Frequently asked questions
Who makes a RIDDOR report in a nursery?
The responsible person: the employer, a self-employed person or the person in control of the premises. Staff who are injured, or who see a dangerous occurrence, tell that person, because reporting is their responsibility.
Do accidents to children count under RIDDOR?
They can. RIDDOR covers injuries to people who are not at work, including children and visitors, where they are taken from the scene of the accident to hospital. The course resources include the HSE’s own guidance and worked nursery situations to help you decide whether a particular case is reportable.
How do I make a RIDDOR report?
Online is the method the HSE prefers, even for deaths. A telephone service is also available for fatal and specified incidents. Once an online report is submitted you can download a copy for your records.
Is reporting to the HSE the same as notifying Ofsted?
No. The lesson resources remind you that notifying Ofsted of a serious childcare incident is a separate duty that runs alongside RIDDOR.
What happens if I don’t pass the assessment?
You can resit it as many times as you need until you pass. Your certificate is issued as soon as you reach the 80% pass mark.
How long do I have to report an over-seven-day injury?
The course explains that it must be reported to the enforcing authority within fifteen days. Deaths and major injuries must be notified without delay.
