Posted By Jonathan Sandler CMIOSH The same procedure for storing the information can be refered to, how is the data accessed, that is your security issue, what then happens to the hard copy, how and where is that stored? How long do you have to store the information? You will still need to store the hard copy. Regards

Posted By Lilian McCartney Hi Bob, We've recently been looking at Document Managment systems to reduce the paperwork stored and the first question I had for all the prospective companies was legal status of electronic copies. They all assured us that this had been checked by lawyers and a scanned electronic copy including signature would be acceptable. I think it might be one of those situaitons where its wait and see for first case to come up which I know isn't much help to you. Lilian

Posted By Bob Many thanks for your comments folks, very helpful indeed. I think you're probably spot on Lilian in that we may need to wait for it to be legally tested before getting a definitive anwer. It seems the more I investigate this issue the more complex it gets, being affected by Social Security, Health & Safety and Data Protection legislation, not to mention issues such as evidential legal requirements etc. I am determined to find out more though and I would like to start by looking at the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1979 but cannot track these down on the net. Don't supppose anyone has a link they could let me have? Bob

Posted By Stuart Bower Bob, We no longer use accidents books. Our accident report form contains all the required information (and more) so I sought permission from the (then) DWP to stop using them. Hard copies of personal injury reports are filed on personal files. This they agreed (in writing, - well e-mail!). We are soon going to to adopt an electronic reporting system and as we'll be adopting the same approach will again not be using accident books. Access levels etc. will be in place to ensure confidentiality. Don't know if this helps? Stuart

Posted By John Murgatroyd Seek and ye shall find: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/ad.../bluevol/pdf/a1_5491.pdf Now....electronic accident book...what fun....make sure you don't put any part of any report or investigation into it...at all...ANY. Any party making a claim and using the electronic record is entitled to all of the record, even the accident investigation part. And if you edit the file to remove part, you then have even more problems....claims solicitors are not born stupid, and they make money out of companies doing dim things. Keep the accident book. Use the electronic storage as an addendum. There is too much temptation in management to only input the data they want, and to remove that they don't like. Written makes that hard work, and also allows the injured party to enter their own [correct] version.

Posted By John Murgatroyd Not forgetting the right of access to accident books for union safety reps, which also applies to "electronic" accident "books".