Posted By Stevie Had this question put to me; Para 118 of RIDDOR guidance states: "Where the failure of an item of electrical equipment results in a fire or explosion, the failure is reportable as a dangerous occurrence if the equipment concerned is rendered unusable for over 24 hours, or if the occurrence was one with the potential to cause the death of any person." Question: Would the failure of electrical equipment without a fire or explosion but with the potential to cause death be reportable? My initial response was that it should be but after careful reading of this para I am not so sure as it reads as if the 'occurrence' and not the 'failure' would need to have the potential to cause death. Would be interested in your views. Stevie

Posted By Neil Pearson To my mind there's no room for interpretation (at least not in this regard): no fire or explosion, no duty to report.

Posted By Paul J Williams As an enforcer, but I must confess not having read the Regs in detail for a while I would say it is not reportable. Re someone being electrocuted not being reportable, as stated by a previous respondee, I would have to say that this is always reported because by definition being electrocuted means to cause death byelectric shock. Apologies if I am being pedantic. I understand what was meant ie to receive an electric shock but not suffer an injury would not be reportable but in most cases the person would suffer a burn or some degree which would make it reportable.

Posted By Martyn Hendrie My understanding is, that if there is short circuit or overload combined with fire or explosion that puts the equipment out of service for more than 24 hrs it is reportable whether or not anyone was put at risk. If there was no fire/explosion or interuption for more that 24 hrs it is NOT reportable. Irrespective of the foregoing if the short circuit or overload could have lead to a death (taking account of the circumstances relating to the incident) then IT IS REPORTABLE I have always found this a difficult one in construction where an underground cable is damaged by a machine but no one is hurt and it is fixed within 24 hrs.