Hi - if there was nothing wrong with the set-up of the DSE and there were no defects to the equipment / working environment that could have contributed to the injury then I would not personally report it.

I am sure there will be differing opinions as is usually the case for what could be a RIDDOR related topic.

Many thanks for taking the time to reply. To clarify I am asking is this a workplace injury and should be recorded as such or a medical issue that needs recording as sick leave. When discussing in the office I likened it to walking down a corridor and tweaking a leg muscle, my colleague however feels that as the chair is classed as workplace equipment and the IP was in the act of standing up from it, we should record it as a workplace injury.

Although a newbie forum wise we are both CMIOSH, but have a difference of opinion on this matter. We are interested what other members take on this is?

I know the question wasn't about RIDDOR per se but (if it had been) it's quite clear:

From HSE website:

In relation to RIDDOR, an accident is a separate, identifiable, unintended incident, which causes physical injury. This specifically includes acts of non-consensual violence to people at work.

Injuries themselves, eg ‘feeling a sharp twinge’, are not accidents. There must be an identifiable external event that causes the injury, eg a falling object striking someone. Cumulative exposures to hazards, which eventually cause injury (eg repetitive lifting), are not classed as ‘accidents’ under RIDDOR.

Thus there has not been an accident and therefore not reportable.

However...
Is this a workplace injury? That's ultimately up to yourself as to whether you wish to record it in that fashion. It feels like a decision you'd make after investigation into any underlying issues. The fact that it happened AT work could simply be co-incidental as you and your colleague have clearly already discussed.

IMHO I think the question is:- would this person have suffered the same pain & resultant time off work anyway regardless of using the DSE equipment (sitting in the canteen or at home). It sounds as if it is an underlying medical condition, therefore they are on the sick from the medical condition not a workplace activity.

You could do worse than actually ask the employee what they think or at least say you intend to record their absence as a medical issue due to the doctors diagnosis and see if they agree (or come out with more information it was work related).

Chris

A walk in centre could not / would not diagnose a pain as sciatica.

They might have suggested it as a probability.

Get you OH people involved otherwise you will be getting a plague of similar events.

as has been pointed out sciatica is not a disease it's a set of pain related symptoms. The doctor asks you were it hurts and then say: 'Ooh you got sciatica'. it doesn't indicate the cause or anything like that

Thanks to those who have taken the time to reply, it has been interesting to read your views and has also led to me reading up on sciatica. As the IP only gave a self cert 7 day sick note we have decided to wait to see if anything else is raised during the return to work interview before making a decision, if nothing is added we will record this as sick leave not a workplace injury.