Hi all,

I've just come out of a meeting with our in-house OH provider, who has advised us we need to take action to review our systems with respect to noise induced hearing loss as the UK RIDDOR reporting criteria will be changing shortly.

My question to the forum is - does anyone have an inside track on this - is it occupational health led, as I've not seen anything on the HSE website on the subject?

Originally Posted by: Kate

H&S regulations traditionally only change in October or April of each year, so it would be surprising if any change to RIDDOR was about to happen.

I wasn't sure if this was still the case as there have been so many changes in Govenment since it was originally instigated.

From what I understand, this appears to be more about clinical reporting criteria rather than regulatory change, which might also explain the lack of HSE information.

Originally Posted by: Kate

But noise-induced hearing loss is not a reportable disease under RIDDOR in the first place, so no amount of changes to clinical criteria could affect the reporting of it without a change to RIDDOR itself.

On the flip side I've found a SOM document which is a position statement on NIHL referrals to OH Physicians:

https://www.som.org.uk/s...ance_Guidance_May_23.pdf  

I wonder if we are talking at crossed purposes?

Edited by user 14 November 2023 16:15:22(UTC)  | Reason: spacing

I do understand that NIHL will be a focus for the HSE in 2024 and there may be some increased requirement for referals but do not see any link with RIDDOR.

A question was asked in the Commons on this very subject two years ago: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2021-06-22/20383

The questioner  asked if occupational hearing loss would become reportable under RIDDOR. The answer was essentially the government  would “consider” this as part of  a review of RIDDOR in September 2023.  The technical term for  this is  “kicking the can down the road”.  The question  was  asked  2 years and 2 prime ministers ago. We still had a Queen and a bag chips and scraps cost less than a fiver. Like Peter said  this is not going to happen,  at least  under the current government.

Originally Posted by: MikeKelly

Hi Yossarian

Did you enquire of your OH provider as to the source of the info?

regards

Mike 

Mike, my understanding is currently:

Society of Occupational Medicine issued a position statement (which I linked previously) that a 'notch' in the audiogram" at the frequencies of 3000, 4000, or 6000 Hz with recovery at 8000 Hz" is to be used for NIHL referral criteria to an appropriately qualified doctor.

Our OH team has alerted us that anyone sending staff through for medicals etc, may see an increase in NIHL referrals and as such we should be aware.

Finally there was a confusion between the term 'referral' and ' RIDDOR reportable' during the conversation, which this forum has helped clear up.

Edited by user 17 November 2023 09:44:26(UTC)  | Reason: clarity