Posted By Martin Taylor Heres another one to check out opinions on. An employee has been suffering with a knee complaint for sometime - visibly hobbling at work. Apparently planning to visit own GP next day because of the condition. Works as an assembly op - on feet and walking - antifatigue matting provided. On Monday night knee collapses whilst at work and op is taken to hospital - no apparent immediate work cause of the accident - walking at the assembly line. Should we consider this a work related accident (and hence RIDDOR) ? Thoughts and opinions welcome please. Martin

Posted By Dave Wilson If he was at work and working inside the scope of his employment and the 3 day, visit to hosp etc applies then it is reportable. Rermember this is not a 'blame' thing but a reportable incident. Any subsequent investigation will get tpo the facts.

Posted By Terry Reading Martin I would have to disagree with Dave. Unless the knee condition was a work caused condition - or the treatment he was taken to hospital for was sustained in the fall - then this is NOT reportable. If you need to report because of the injury sustained when he fell then Dave is right, put in the circumstances and the HSE will just file it. Look at it like this. If a person has a pre-existing condition, for example caused by a sporting accident or a medical condition, then this was not an accident caused at work and that is the aim of RIDDOR. I was challenged by a collegue who tried to tell me that we had to make a report when someone had a heart attack sitting at their desk. To settle the point we rang the local HSE and they confirmed that I was right. If it is not a work related incident they are not interested and it falls outside of the scope of the Regulations. Hope this helps. T

Posted By Stuart Nagle Martin. Thanks for defining the problems. I do not think this is work related and therefore not reportable under RIDDOR. I would suggest however that if the person was known to have an injury that has been agrivated by the employer failing to take into account his injury (he is required to stand all day to work) he may decide to make a claim against the employer and may have a case if the employer failed to take into account his injury and continued to make him stand for 8 hour shifts.... getting workers back to work rather than having them off sick is laudable, and this person should perhaps have been put on light duties (if possible) as part of his rehabilitation in the workplace rather than be stuck back on the production line for standing for 8 hours!! You may want to investigate what options are available to help him recover in the workplace rather than have him off sick as home... Regards.... Stuart

Posted By Bill Fisher Stuart Good point regarding "return to work". This as you know is high on the current agenda. In fact if they speak with their Insurance Company they may well be supported. Bill