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GazNicki2504  
#1 Posted : 24 September 2024 09:45:07(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
GazNicki2504

If an employee has a medical episode at work, could this lead to RIDDOR? Some examples:

Example 1 - Steve has Type 1 diabetes. His medication has been changed and as a result he has a seizure at work which leads him to being off for 10 days as he recovers.

Example 2 - Julia is working in a warehouse, walking along a pedestrian walkway when she blacks out. She falls breaking her hip on the concrete floor.

Example 3 - Steve has a recurring episode of his Type 1 diabetes. During his most recent seizure, he bangs his head on the floor as he falls from a seated position.

Example 4 - Brenda is works in an office, and has been suffering from symptoms of the menopause for some time, including dizzness and weakness. On her way to the tea room one day she has a dizzy spell which causes her legs to give way, and as he falls she bangs her head on the floor, rendering her unconcious for a few moments.

It is my understanding that for each of the exmples, the following is relevant:

Example 1 - This is a medical episode, and as it wasn't caused by activities related to work, it is not RIDDOR reportable regardless of  the duration of absence following the incident.

Example 2 - This is RIDDOR reportable, as although the incident was caused purely by a medical episode, the affected person did sustain a fracture on the company premises, and this would therefore need to be reported.

Example 3 - Whilst there was an injury sustained at the premises during the medical episode, a bang to the head is not a RIDDOR in iteself,

Example 4 - This is a RIDDOR as even though the incident was a medical episode, it was the company premises that caused the affected person to become unconcious which is a RIDDOR incident.

Please could someone confirm my thinking and reasoning is correct here?

LancBob  
#2 Posted : 24 September 2024 11:22:26(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
LancBob

"An accident taking place at work premises does not, in itself, mean that it is work related – the work activity itself must cause the accident."

This is taken direct from the HSE website, so given that none of the examples are related to a work activity then I would say no to all of them. That, said, if you've looked at other posts on RIDDOR reporting there has been some differing views.

The only example might be 2, was Julia doing something work related e.g. carrying stock that was too heavy or affected by any fumes that caused her to black out.

As for going to hospital for treatment it covers non employees and visitors, but again has to be work related, just being on the premises wouldn't be sufficient.

Hope this helps

thanks 3 users thanked LancBob for this useful post.
A Kurdziel on 24/09/2024(UTC), GazNicki2504 on 24/09/2024(UTC), Martin Fieldingt on 24/09/2024(UTC)
GazNicki2504  
#3 Posted : 24 September 2024 11:54:12(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
GazNicki2504

It does, thank you very much for the sense check.

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