Hello all. When I checked my emails this morning I had received a notification from the HSE thanking me for submitting a RIDDOR report. Very confused, I opened the email and the report has been submitted by someone who does not work for the company but implying that he does (all the contact details are ours; easy enough to find online), claiming that one of our delivery vehicles (we are a builders merchant) has 'caught scaffolding with crane' (in the 'Type of Dangerous Occurrence' section '52 - Movement of slopes and faces' has been chosen...) Now after some investigating it turns out that the guy who has submitted the report is a disgruntled neighbour of one of our customers and no incident/dangerous occurrence has taken place. I have spoken to the local EH officer and explained the whole thing but she said as it is in relation to a domestic premise it could have gone to the HSE. I'm just wondering what the likely outcome will be? Is there any more I can do? I just can't believe someone would do it... Thanks in advance.

I'd get in touch with RIDDOR straight away, in writing and by phone and refute this report immediately with your full investigation details. I am sure you won't be the first or last that this has happened to, but it is imperative that you take recorded action as soon as you realise what has happened as you need traceability if it goes to a court case or HSE investigation. Also, get round there and take any photo evidence you can as well and make sure it's dated.

RIDDOR Reports Health and Safety Executive Redgrave Court Merton Road Bootle Merseyside L20 7HS

I agree with Paul W71 as such things must be managed properly otherwise your company can be badly damaged if this person carried on as U do not know where they would stop

Hi, sorry have only just seen your reply. There have been a couple of developments since last week! I wrote to RIDDOR refuting the dangerous occurrence took place and am now waiting to hear back. Since then however, we have received notification of a second report, this time a report of a concern. I believe it is the same person as the same incorrect postcode has been used (same appalling spelling too amongst other things). We now think that it is an ex-employee who did not leave on the best of terms. I assumed after the first report that it was the neighbour (after investigating and speaking to the customer etc) and that seemed like the only explanation but following this report the person who has submitted can only be a current or ex employee (or know someone who is/was). We now think we know who it is. There are too many coincidences to list. I have spoken to our local EH again who agrees it has been submitted with malicious intent and is taking no action. He said that if he receives another he will contact me first. Its interesting that we received the email with the notification on as I believe that should have gone to the person who submitted it (they had put our sales email address as their contact) and we shouldn't have received any notification. Sorry if this post is a bit rambling!