Rank: Forum user 
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Hi,
We have a number of people on an offshore oil and gas installation who have come down with vomitting / diarrhoea, which is being tagged to a possible Norovirus outbreak.
Can anyone advise if this would be RIDDOR reportable?
I'm thinking along the lines of a Major Injury:
"Acute illness which requires medical treatment where there is reason to believe that this resulted from exposure to a biological agent or its toxins or infected material"
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Rank: Forum user
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Rich
Dysentery (amoebic or bacillary) and food poisoning are listed in the diseases additionally reportable in off shore work.
Has it been confirmed by a medical source as Norovirus, if not it could be one of the above potentially?
I know Norovirus is not in the RIDDOR Regs, but I think its a fairly new disease, isnt it? so may not as yet be included in the Regs yet.
I am not 100% certain but would probably head down the disease route and not major injury route
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Rank: Super forum user
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No not unless it is ’arising out of or in connection with work’ ie unless you are treating people with the infection or running a lab working with the virus you do not need to report it under RIDDOR.
It will be a public health matter and you should get in touch with you local public health people or the Health Protection Agency.
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Rank: Forum user
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Good point
So no to the Norovirus being reported as a major injury, but if confirmed as D or FP it would be reportable as a disease, due to being in an off shore environment.
Makes sense
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Rank: Forum user
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Thanks all.
We're still investigating what is causing the sickness and will report along the offshore specific disease route, if applicable.
Cheers,
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Rank: Super forum user
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The virus has been known since about 1968, when it was first identified at a school in Norwalk, Ohio. Hence it was known mostly as Norwalk Virus. In my day it was also known as small round structured virus because it was a small round structured virus!
It’s official name has been Norovirus since 2002.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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No comment, as I am no longer prepared to take time offering comment that is removed by moderation which seeks to neutralise anything but the most insipid of discussion
Feel free to contact me directly
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Rank: Forum user
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So its been around since 2002. Therefore in that case those that update Regs have not deemed it fit to include as a notifiable disease, so there is nothing to report if it does turn out to be norovirus.
Great history lesson on the origins of this disease and I have learnt something new from this 'most insipid of discussions'
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Rank: Super forum user
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Norovirus is very infectious but NOT a Notifiable disease under the Health Protection(Notification) Regs 2010. Symptoms are generally short lived, usually 2-3 days, but can adversely impact on the vulnerable. The local health "proper officer" can help as will reference to the Health Protection Agency website. Unlikley to qualify for reporting under RIDDOR unless as indicated by others above.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Winter 28827
Thanks for the comments- just remembering younger days at the bench.
Bilbo.
I thought it was not Notifiable but as you quoted the regs I checked and ‘food poisoning’ is mentioned as being Notifiable- Norovirus does cause a form of food poisoning.
Anyway on something like an oil platform the last thing you want is highly infectious food-borne virus. So I’d definitely take the public health route to get this under control.
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