Posted By cara
How long should we legally keep our paper copies?

Posted By David Whaley
Cara,

If it is a 'Reportable' incident the record must be kept for three years from the date it was made. RIDDOR Reg. 7.

You need to be aware that a civil claim can be made at any time up to three years after the injury/loss becoming known. Which can be a very long time. I would recommend keeping records a minimum of five years preferably longer.

Incidentally there is no requirement to keep the record as a paper copy, provide it can be retrieved when required.

David

Posted By Maggie Atterbury
If an incident affects a child, the records must be kept until the child reaches 21 as they have the right to make a claim for up to three years after they reach the age of 18. Incidentally, it is worth keeping any records for longer than three years if the affects of that incident are on going - we recently had a claim that originated from an incident four years previously and made worse by a subsequent event.

Maggie Atterbury