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JHF  
#1 Posted : 24 June 2025 19:15:13(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
JHF

Hi, we have had a fire on a conveyor - see it as a "Dangerour Occurance," out of action for a week - is this reportable under RIDDOR? conflicting oppinions as to yes / no. Thanks. 

Jonny95  
#2 Posted : 25 June 2025 07:30:41(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Jonny95

Morning JHF, 

I would say dangerous occurrences paragraph 25 states 

'Examples of the type of incident which would be reportable are:

  • any fire at a factory or office building, causing the suspension of work activities for more than 24 hours, or

  • an explosion involving dust in a pneumatic conveying system, causing stoppage of the conveying plant for more than 24 hours

The incident is not reportable if either the plant or the work activity in those premises where the fire or explosion occurred has not resulted in a stoppage or a suspension of normal work for more than 24 hours.' I would say yes if you were out of action for a week but as often stated by the more experienced users of this forum, sometimes if you're unsure reporting doesn't hurt, better to over report than under report. 

peter gotch  
#3 Posted : 25 June 2025 10:06:21(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
peter gotch

Morning Jonny

My usual advice on RIDDOR applies. Always refer to the Regulations and not HSE's guidance on them. 

I just happen to have been reading Nos 4 and 25 of the list of reportable Dangerous Occurrences BEFORE I ead this thread!

.....and concluding that No 25 seems to apply to the circumstances JHF describes is MUCH easier based on reading the Regulations themselves than what you have quoted from HSE guidance.

I have never been entirely sure but I think that HSE's guidance on RIDDOR is designed to give excuses to people not to report some reportable incidents - ones that HSE doesn't really want to know about. 

This could be an HSE policy decision that saves on resources in terms of data input and which also serves to massage the numbers to make them smaller, sometimes helpful when trying to do benchmarking with other nations - though given how much we understand about UNDERreporting not necessarily particularly convincing.

Edited by user 25 June 2025 10:07:03(UTC)  | Reason: Typo

thanks 1 user thanked peter gotch for this useful post.
A Kurdziel on 25/06/2025(UTC)
Jonny95  
#4 Posted : 25 June 2025 10:38:21(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Jonny95

Hi Peter, 

I've decided after being a bit of a silent participant in the fourm for a while to get myself more involved for this exact development reason!  Thanks for the advice, I've just compared some of the guideance vs the regulation and can see what you mean. 

JHF  
#5 Posted : 25 June 2025 18:13:33(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
JHF

thanks all, difficult subject, machine was replaced within 24hr - production wasnt affected for too long, presume not RIDDOR?

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