What The HSE Consultation Means for Workers
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety, has launched a public consultation on The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR). The consultation, which opened earlier this month (7th April 2026) and runs until 30th June 2026, represents one of the most significant reviews of workplace incident reporting in recent years. Employers, businesses, health professionals, and industry stakeholders are all being invited to take part.
At The Personal Injury People, we believe it is important to keep workers informed of changes that affect their rights and protections in the workplace. In this blog, we look at the HSE consultation and what this might mean for you.
What is RIDDOR?
RIDDOR sets out the legal requirements for reporting work-related injuries, ill health, and dangerous occurrences to the HSE. When a serious accident or illness happens in the workplace, employers and those in charge of that working environment are legally obliged to report it.
Reporting these incidents is crucial. They allow the HSE to identify patterns and emerging risks across various industries or occupations, target its regulatory activity, and build the evidence that supports workplace health and safety across Great Britain.
Despite its importance, RIDDOR has long faced challenges with under-reporting and over-reporting, with many incidents either going under-reported or being submitted in ways that make the data difficult to analyse effectively.
What is the HSE Proposing?
The consultation includes proposals for both legislative and non-legislative changes. There are various key areas being reviewed, including:
- Clarifying existing definitions: The HSE has identified areas within RIDDOR where current terminology is unclear or ambiguous. As part of the consultation, the regulator is proposing to clarify these definitions to make reporting requirements easier to understand and apply consistently.
- Updating the list of dangerous occurrences: The list of dangerous occurrences that must be reported has remained largely unchanged for many years. The HSE is proposing to revise this list to better reflects the realities of the modern workplace.
- Expanding the list of reportable occupational diseases: The consultation includes proposals to update the list of reportable occupational diseases. Some conditions previously removed may be reintroduced, and new conditions may be added to ensure that serious instances of work-related ill health are properly captured and recorded.
- Widening who can diagnose a reportable occupational disease: Currently, only a doctor registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) can formally diagnose a reportable occupational disease. The HSE is proposing to extend this ability to a wider range of registered health practitioners, reflecting the growing role that occupational health professionals now play in diagnosing and managing work-related conditions.
- Simplifying the online reporting form: As part of the non-legislative proposals, the HSE is seeking views on how to improve its online RIDDOR reporting form. The aim is to simplify the process, making it more user-friendly, with the hope that this will help to address the longstanding challenges of both under-reporting and over-reporting.
Why Is This Important for Injured Workers?
Accurate workplace injury and illness reporting is about far more than regulatory obligations. When incidents are properly reported, patterns can be identified, preventive measures put in place, and employers can be held accountable for unsafe working conditions.
For employees who have been injured or developed an illness as a result their occupation, RIDDOR reports can also form an important part of the evidence trail in a personal injury claim.
Rachael Radway, Deputy Director of Regulation at the Health and Safety Executive, commented:
“RIDDOR reporting is central to how we identify emerging risk, target regulatory activity and contribute to the evidence base for workplace health and safety.”
She added,
“This consultation allows those who will be affected by the changes to have their say as we look to improve standards and reduce the burden on business.”
The consultation is relevant across all sectors and industries. Workers in manufacturing, agriculture, construction, healthcare, and many other fields could all be affected by the proposed changes.
Source: Read the press release on the consultation here: HSE launches consultation on workplace injury and illness reporting.
How to Respond to the Consultation
The consultation closes on 30 June 2026. The full consultation document, including detailed proposals, background information and guidance on how to submit a response, is available on the HSE website at https://consultations.hse.gov.uk/hse/proposals-riddor-2013/
Workplace Accident Claims
At The Personal Injury People, we understand the life-changing impact that workplace accidents can have on victims and their families. In a previous article, we highlighted how the personal injury specialists at Russell & Russell Solicitors (who run and own this website) helped secure an £85,000 settlement for workplace victim with head Injury.
Our experienced Work Accident Compensation Solicitors have extensive experience handling claims for those injured at work. Areas we cover include:
- Fault Protection
- Military Accidents
- Industrial Illness
- Farm Accident
- Workplace Assault
- Asbestos
- Construction Accidents
- Factory Accidents
- Falls From a Height
- Faulty Equipment
- Inadequate Training
Several of our solicitors are members of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), so you can be assured that your case will be handled by a qualified, accredited professional.
Our personal injury team can assist not only those who have been directly injured but also families making claims on behalf of loved ones who have been severely injured or who have tragically lost their lives.
If you have or someone you know has been involved in work-related accident, and has been injured as a result, our team can provide a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case. Call us at 0800 731 7555 or complete our enquiry form to get in touch. We can also provide specialist advice if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an industrial-related illness.
Our compassionate and dedicated solicitors are here to support you every step of the way.
About Russell & Russell Solicitors
The Personal Injury People is a specialist personal injury site which is owned and operated by Russell & Russell Solicitors, an established law firm that has been providing legal advice since 1887.
Many of our Solicitors have over 20 years’ experience handling personal injury claims, and the firm has secured the national Law Society’s legal practice quality mark, Lexcel. Lexcel is developed specifically for the legal profession. It is an optional, recognised accreditation scheme for law firms and in-house legal departments, assuring that a practice meets high client care and business management standards.
This article is not intended to be taken as advice or acted upon, and information may have changed since publication.