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Fisher38453  
#1 Posted : 08 July 2011 09:22:05(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
Fisher38453

Hi,

If someone has an accident at work and comes back to work for the full day the following day, then goes off work for 2 weeks the day after claiming the reason to be the injury caused by the accident, would this be reported as an over 3 day accident?

I'm assuming it would be but I have so far been unable to find this stated in the legislation. Could anyone help me locate the section within the legislation stating this please?

Thanks
Kate  
#2 Posted : 08 July 2011 09:30:40(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Kate

You're right (assuming the absence is due to the injury), and it's in the guidance document on the HSE website (which can find under "report an accident").
Fisher38453  
#3 Posted : 08 July 2011 10:29:47(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
Fisher38453


Thanks.

Do we have to report the accident if we do not feel the injury is genuine? There are serious doubts that the injury warrants any time off. The individual continued to work for the rest of the day following the accident, then the full day following, doing manual work and operating machinery.

We have also had previous problems with this individual for some time.

Cheers
MaxPayne  
#4 Posted : 08 July 2011 10:32:24(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
MaxPayne

Quick answer is yes.
HSSnail  
#5 Posted : 08 July 2011 10:40:16(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
HSSnail

Fisher

You say you have "serious doubts" that the injury warrants the time off, but can you prove that if the HSE calls?

If you are certain the injury/time off is not work related then you don't need to report, but you say that the staff member was involved in manual work following the accident. Could this work have exacerbated the injury so resulting in the time off?

If you are having problems with an employee than get HR to deal with it as you would any other issue, but I don't think not reporting a RIDDOR through "serious doubts" and not firm evidence is dangerous ground.

Brian
Fletcher  
#6 Posted : 08 July 2011 10:41:07(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Fletcher

I agree with Max that you still need to report.
However your accident investigation and your return to work process may reveal that this is somebody swinging the lead and you can deal accordingly.
Mr.Flibble  
#7 Posted : 08 July 2011 10:56:05(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Mr.Flibble

I've had a few issues with this before, however we have reported it as a RIDDOR, then put a PI on to people who then found them shopping, mini cabbing etc even though the have been "signed off by their docter" claiming they can barely move etc. action was then taken.

Mike-C  
#8 Posted : 08 July 2011 11:26:26(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
Mike-C

Regulation 3 (2) says more than 3 consecutive days but does not say "immediately after the accident" so return for a day but later a problem occurs then more than 3 consecutive days counts. (however as notification has to be within 10 days of accident excessive delay would not be reasonable.
The duty holder (employer) must decide if the absence was due to an injury resulting from an accident arising out of or in connection with work. A GP may sign someone off but the employer has the perogative to engage a private physician to examine and state if the person is fit to resume their normal work (a Fit Note). Sometimes the cost of a private medical is worth it.
Terry556  
#9 Posted : 08 July 2011 11:29:43(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Terry556

Yes it is reportable, but I would interview him, do my investigation, under the fit to work I would offer other work to him/her to see if they would accept it, and then get occupational health involved to see if there is likely to Be a claim, then pass it on to our insurance consultants
Ron Hunter  
#10 Posted : 08 July 2011 11:54:41(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Ron Hunter

But there is an obvious dilemma here. > 3-day criteria is not concerned wit "absence", rather with the employee being unable to carry out the full range of duties.
Here we have a situation where the employee carried on for 2 days doing that full range of duties.

Unless there was some later "event" there is a reasoned argument not to report (cause and effect?) and to question this absence.

Your call though!
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