Posted By Alex Brown Hi, Can I ask, why is it important to keep records of all accidents and incidents? What benefit does this give to the business? Thanks! browna

Posted By LMR Also please remember that the current ambulance chasers and no win no fee brigade can and will take action for accidents up to three years ago; who will be able to remember accurately after that length of time how an accident occured? again the bigger cheque as there is nothing to demonstrate any care taken by the employer.

Posted By CFT Alex You can use the statistical analysis you create from a reactive sense, to further enhance & improve the professionalism of the company and it's overall commitment to on-going H&S achievements.The Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations and Social Security Administration Act 1992 & Riddor all require 3 years in 'most' case but not all. RA records should be kept as long as the particular process or activity, to which the assessments refer, are performed. A couple of examples; persons exposed to Hazard Group 3 microbiological agents for example is 40 years, Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 in certain instances can be up to 50 years, so one cap does not fit all. Depending on the nature of the recording and the type of incident/accident it may become beneficial in the longer term if insurers have any vested interest in the case; without the support of said records you have little to go on, and I am not making reference on this occasion to the statute of limitations with regard to making a civil claim against a body corporate. The most positive reason however IMO is disseminating the information to ensure we learn from it; without the records we have little to work with. Having audited companies in the past it has been a key area of interest for me to establish if nothing else, what they have in fact learned from the mistakes made and how they changed the process or activity to reflect the lessons learnt! Moral and legal reasons then. CFT