Rank: Forum user 
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Hi all,
Not the usual is it work related question, this one clearly is. We have an employee who got an acid sterilising chemical in his eye, resulting in a trip to the hospital and being diagnosed with a burned inner eye lid. He was off work for 3 days (could be argued 5 as he it happened on Tuesday and he came back the following Monday. Either way it is still less than 7 days), and my employers are querying if it needs to be reported as he wasn't off for over 7 days, however I feel that as it is a burn to the eyes it should be reported as a significant injury.
What are the opinions of the learned folks here.
Cheers
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Has the burn caused significant damage to the eye itself?
From the HSE website regarding RIDDOR:
serious burns (including scalding) which:
covers more than 10% of the body
causes significant damage to the eyes, respiratory system or other vital organs
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Rank: Forum user
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Jodie thanks for your quick response.
This is where the problem arises, what constitutes significant damage? As far as we know there is no permanent vision loss (that would have made the reporting issue easier, although the repercussions would be bigger), but I would suggest that a burn to the inside of your eyelids is reasonably significant, i.e. it could easily lead to infection/complications etc. but I'm willing to be corrected.
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Rank: Forum user
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If the burn is to the inner eye lid and not the eye itself then I would suggest it is not reportable as RIDDOR clearly states damage to the eye and mentions nothing about eye lids. Obviously open to opinion but I don't think I would report it.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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IMO a burn on the the eyelid is not significant damage to the eye.
Significant damage to the eye would mean some form of vision impairment, which was long term or permanent.
From what you have written there was no damage to the eye itself, but some damage to the eyelid.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Stop trying to make it worse than it is, If the injury falls below the 7 days and theres no permanent damage why do you want to upgrade it for? The injury was for an inner eye lid with no damage to the eye and certainly not more than 10% burns of his body?
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Potential for complications is not the same as actual serious injury.
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