Posted By John Merrell Two people having a punch up at work and one comes off significantly worse that the other ( who is also hurt),first aid was rendered to both parties and "accident at work forms filled out by the first aider,my questions are 1)Even with first aid being rendered should this be classed as an accident at work 2)The worst off individual has been away from work for more than 4 days does an F2508 need to be registered 3)if your answer to question one was NO then why do I have to make out a f2508 Incidentally I have got both "Incident at work and a accident at work form as well as the 2508 all filled in just to be on the safe side

Posted By John Merrell Morning Gareth, Taking it word by word an accident is " an unplanned unforseen event etc etc, this was certanly unplanned and unforseen by one of the protagonists so the question it would appear has answered itself for one but not the other, the f2508 question also has complcations, the wording of that is "an act of non-consensual violence done to a party at work" by all accounts he started it and came worse off so is that classed as consensual My excuse for being up this late is that I have an unwritten agreement with my boss that allows me to work nights and have as much time off as I require to cover the other shifts for H+S traing etc whats your excuse??

Posted By steven bentham Violence at work is normally a work related accident and covered by HASAWA. However two employees having a square go is not. You should instigate measures related to Gross Misconduct on both persons. If it involved serious injury or weapons you should ask the Police to be involved.

Posted By J Knight There is specific guidance about exactly this sort of situation in the Guidance to RIDDOR'95. The key question, according to teh guidance is, as has already been stated, was the violence arising out of a personal quarrel which was not work related. The following examples are given: 37 If one of the people in the following examples died or suffered a major or over-3-day physical injury caused by a non-consensual act of physical violence while they were at work then regulation 3 would apply, meaning that the death or injury must be reported. In the case of an over-3-day injury the incapacity must arise from the physical injury and not be the result of a psychological reaction to the act of violence alone: (a) a supervisor is hit by an employee while giving an instruction to carry out a work-related task; (b) a member of a hospital medical team (eg nurse, porter) is hit by a patient whilst carrying out their duties; (c) a new employee is injured while being forced to take part in an initiation ceremony. 38 Injuries suffered by the people in the following examples would not be regarded as arising out of or in connection with work and so would not have to be reported: (a) an employee working on a factory production line hits another during an argument over a personal matter; (b) an employee working at a public enquiry desk is hit by one of their relatives who comes in to discuss a domestic matter. John