Rank: New forum user 
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Hello all, Whilst lifting a bin of feed with a hoist, a link on the chain broke and the bin fell to the ground. No one was injured.
RIDDOR regs state that a chain is an accessory and It does not cover the failure of ancillary equipment, such as electric operating buttons or radius indicators, or failures of lifting accessories, such as chains and slings.Grey area. Can someone advise if this incident falls under dangerous occurrance and is reportable under RIDDOR? Appreciate your response.
Kevin
Edited by user 27 March 2023 12:53:32(UTC)
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Rank: Forum user
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Hi Kevin, I'm currently an apprentice in OHS so I can't give any experienced advice im afraid, but since there have been no replies so far I think your best bet would be to contact the HSE and ask. You can find their details here: Ask about health and safety - Contact HSE I think opinions would vary on this, especially after looking at an old thread from 2006. Regards Mathew
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 1 user thanked M.cooper.99 for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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You have answered your own question, so not sure why you think it is a grey area? A chain is an accessory and accessories are specifically excluded in RIDDOR Dangerous occurrence Schedule 2. So no it is not reportable to HSE, just your own inhouse recording and investigation. Edited by user 27 March 2023 12:42:30(UTC)
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3 users thanked chris42 for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I don't think it's quite as simple as a chain is always (and by definition) an accessory.
The RIDDOR regs require reports of "failure of any load-bearing part of any lifting equipment, other than an accessory for lifting" and the HSE guidance (as quoted above) says " It does not cover ... failures of lifting accessories, such as chains and slings." If it's a link in a set of lifting chains, I'd agree that's a lifting accessory and not reportable (though I've never really understood why not - a dropped load is a dropped load, as far as I'm concerned, and it's no less dangerous if it was an accessory that failed). If it's a link in a chain-hoist chain, then I think that's a primary part of the lifting equipment, and that does require a report.
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2 users thanked achrn for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user
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I agree with achrn. If the chain is part of the hoist mechanism its reportable. If the chain attaches the load to the hoist, its an accessory and is not reportable.
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2 users thanked Holliday42333 for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Presumably you can tell the difference from the LOLER inspection schedule, which will almost certainly be 6 monthly if it is an accessory and otherwise annually. (I realise this is backwards as it is whether it is an accessory that determines the inspection schedule and not the other way around!)
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1 user thanked Kate for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user
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My response was due to the OP referring to the chain as an accessory. As Kate notes if the hoist and chain have separate reports then then the chain is not an integral part of the lifting equipment (or due to time interval). Perhaps the OP would confirm if it is a chain hoist we are talking about. I’m sure in the dim and distant past though a HSE inspector told me they were not interested in chains full stop, but opinions change. I have always found it a bit odd that chains are considered an accessory and not reportable if they fail also. The only reason could think of is that if a chain or sling etc failed the load would come down and no one should stand below a suspended load. However, the DO is about collapse and overturning, which means it is possible for it not to go straight down. Don't know if this thought is right though.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Hi Kevin The scope of what should and should not be reportable as a Dangerous Occurrence is a fine line decided by civil servants but the lines drawn in RIDDOR are historic. Before RIDDOR, there was the previous RIDDOR. Before that NADOR, before that various requirements depending on sector IF covered by health and safety law. So, in Factories, as far back as The Dangerous Occurrences (Notifications) Regulations 1947 (and probably earlier!) where the Schedule included: "2. Collapse or overturning of a crane, derrick, winch, hoist, or other appliance used in raising or lowering.......or any part thereof (except the breakage of chain or rope slings)......." As you concluded in your posting, not reportable under RIDDOR assuming that the chain is attached to the lifting appliance as an accesssory. The accessory forms part of the LOAD to be lifted!
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