CONTENTS
Construction Site Safety
Accident Reporting and Investigation
Introduction
It may be said that there is no such thing as an
‘accident’. They are always someone's fault and it
is by no means always the fault of the injured
person.
In fact, the HSE consider that a lack of safety
management, or procedures, is a contributory
factor in over 70% of cases.
The reporting of accidents following an incident is
a legal requirement and failure to comply is a
criminal offence. The reports that are made allow
the HSE to identify accident trends, and to take
remedial action in the production of additional
Health and Safety legislation, if it is felt that it is
needed.
If you are an employer or are in charge of work
operations, you have duties under the law.
You generally have to report deaths, serious
injuries and dangerous occurrences immediately,
and less serious injuries within 10 days.
If you are in an office, shop, warehouse, etc. you
have to notify incidents to your Local Authority
Environmental Health Department. All other types
of premises require reports to be sent to the local
office of the Health and Safety Executive.
Legislation
The Social Security Act 1975
The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and
Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995
References
HSE publications
L73 A Guide to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases
and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995
© Construction Industry Training Board
4. Part 1.
The Reporting of Injuries,
Diseases and Dangerous
Occurrences Regulations 1995
The RIDDOR Regulations 1995 replace previous
reporting arrangements under the Reporting of
Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences
Regulations 1985. Reports are made directly to
the appropriate enforcing authority, either the
nearest HSE office or the Local Authority.
Reporting procedure covers:
• fatalities and major injuries
• injuries resulting in incapacity for more
than three days
• specified diseases
• dangerous occurrences
Persons covered by the regulations include:
• employees
• self-employed
• other persons injured on controlled
premises
Note
Trainees are no longer specifically mentioned
within these regulations, but other regulations
require that non-employed trainees must be
treated as employees for all health and safety
purposes.
Reporting deaths, major injuries
and dangerous occurrences
The procedure for reporting deaths, major injuries
and dangerous occurrences will usually be set out
in detail in company safety policies and associated
documentation. A summary of the main
requirements of the regulations are set out below.
GE 700/4/1
March 1996
CONTENTS
The following must be reported immediately to the
appropriate authority by the quickest practical
method (usually by telephone) and a report on the
approved form within 10 days:
• death of any person as a result of an
accident at work
• an accident to any person at work resulting
in major injuries or serious conditions
specified in the regulations (see list below)
• any one of the dangerous occurrences
listed in the regulations (see summary
below)
Note
1) All fatal accidents must be reported to HM
Coroner via your local police station. The police
have the right to investigate along with the
Health and Safety Executive Inspectors.
2) It is expected that the existing Form 2508 will
be approved for use, although the HSE, in due
course, may approve other forms or methods of
reporting, such as fax or e-mail.
In Scotland, procedures are slightly different,
where an accident or occurrence which requires
reporting under RIDDOR can now be reported to
an agency, who will in turn inform the HSE. Once
this call has been made, there is no longer a need
to follow the report up by a written form. The
Scottish Accident Reportline can be contacted on
0845 277 0277.
Major injuries and serious conditions
• Any fracture of any bone, other than to the
fingers, thumbs or toes
• Any amputation
• Dislocation of the shoulder, hip, knee or
spine
• Loss of sight (whether temporary or
permanent) or any other listed eye injury
• Electric shock or burn causing
unconsciousness, or requiring
resuscitation, or requiring admittance to
hospital for more than 24 hours
• Any injury leading to hypothermia, heat
induced illness or to unconsciousness
requiring resuscitation or admittance to
hospital for more than 24 hours
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FIRST PAGE
• Unconsciousness due to asphyxia or by
exposure to a harmful substance or
biological agent
• Acute illness or unconsciousness caused
by any poisoning by any route
• Acute illness caused by exposure to
infected material or a biological agent
Summary of reportable dangerous
occurrences likely to affect the building
and construction industry
• Collapse, overturning or failure of any load-
bearing part of any lift, hoist, crane, derrick,
mobile powered access platform, access
cradle, window cleaning cradle, excavator,
piling rig or fork-lift truck
• Explosion, bursting or collapse of any
closed vessel, boiler, etc.
• Contact with, or arcing from, any overhead
electric cable caused by any plant or
equipment
• Electrical short-circuit with fire or explosion
• Explosion or fire caused by any material
resulting in stoppage of work or plant for
more than 24 hours
• Uncontrolled release of 100 kg or more of a
flammable liquid, 10 kg or more of a
flammable liquid above its normal boiling
point or 10 kg of a flammable gas, inside a
building, and 500 kg or more of such
substances outside a building
• Collapse or partial collapse of any scaffold
over 5 metres in height or fall of any cradle,
etc.
• Collapse of 5 tonnes or more of any
building or structure, or any false work, or
any wall or floor in any workplace
• Uncontrolled release of any biological
agents
• Accidental ignition of any explosive
• Failure of any load-bearing part of a freight
container
• Bursting, explosion or collapse, or fire
involving a pipeline
• Specific incidents involving road tankers
CONTENTS
• Specific incidents involving dangerous
substances being conveyed by road
• Escape of any substance in a quantity
sufficient to cause death, injury or damage
to health
• Malfunction of any breathing apparatus
whilst in use or when being tested before
use
• Contact with or arcing of any overhead
power line
Note
There are a total of 72 scheduled dangerous
occurrences relating to workplaces in general,
mines, quarries and transport systems.
There are a further 11 in respect of offshore
workplaces.
Other reportable injuries and deaths
The following must be reported to the enforcing
authority within 10 days on an approved form. (It is
expected that Form 2508 will continue to be
approved.)
• Any accident at work where, because of an
injury, a person is incapacitated for work of
their usual kind for more than three
consecutive days, not counting the day of
the accident, but counting rest days,
weekends, etc.
• The death of an employee if it occurs within
one year of the date of the reportable
injury, even though the injury has been
previously reported
Keeping records
Records must be kept of all reportable deaths,
injuries and dangerous occurrences. No precise
method is prescribed, but a photocopy of the
approved form is acceptable as are electronic
databanks and computer storage. If an ‘in house’
accident form provides for the recording of the
same details as on the approved form, it is
acceptable.
FIRST PAGE
The minimum particulars that must be kept are:
• date and time of the accident or dangerous
occurrence
• injured person:
full name and occupation
nature of injury
• in the event of an accident to a non
employee:
full name status (e.g. passenger, customer,
visitor or bystander)
nature of injury
• place where accident or dangerous
occurrence happened
• a brief description of the circumstances in
which the accident or dangerous
occurrence happened
• the date on which the event was reported
to the enforcing authority
• the method by which the event was
reported
Accident Book
Employers are required to keep an accident book
readily available, into which details must be
entered of every accident causing personal injury
to any employee. The entry may be made by the
employee or by anyone acting on their behalf. The
employer is also required to investigate the
circumstances of every accident.
Completion of the accident book does not meet
the employer's obligation to report specific
accidents and dangerous occurrences to the HSE
by telephone or on an approved form.
The old Accident Book BI 510 may still be used
until it is full, but thereafter, providing all the
relevant details are correctly entered and the
proper records are maintained, any book may be
used.
Reporting diseases
A disease must be reported where it has been
diagnosed in a person doing a specified type of
work. The regulations list diseases against the
type of work which makes them ‘reportable’.
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CONTENTS FIRST PAGE

The report must be made when the disease has Pneumoconiosis Work with silica, sand,
been diagnosed by a registered medical grinding wheels, boiler
practitioner, who will notify the employer of it in descaling
writing.
Occupational Work with epoxy resin,
Diseases are reported to the appropriate enforcing dermatitis oil, cement, solvents,
authority on an approved form. (It is expected that hardwoods, plaster,
Form 2508 will be approved by the HSE.) concrete, bleach,
acids, alkalis, wood
Reports must be kept in the same manner as for
preservatives and
accidents and the minimum particulars that must
anything else which
be kept are:
causes dermatitis
• date of diagnosis of the disease Carpel tunnel Work with hand-held
• name of the person affected syndrome vibrating tools
• occupation of the person affected Reference
The Reporting of Diseases and Dangerous
• name or nature of the disease Occurrences Regulations 1995
• the date on which the disease was reported
to the enforcing authority Calculating accident frequency
rates
• the method by which the disease was
reported From the accident records it is possible to
calculate the frequency and incidence rates for
Some of the diseases and work activities listed in accidents at a particular place of work, and for the
the regulations are: types of injury, severity or duration.
Disease Work activity Frequency rate
Chemical and metal Any work activity The frequency rate formula uses 100,000 hours to
poisoning represent a person’s average working life of 50
Chrome ulceration, Work with chrome years at 40 hours per week, and the total number
acne, skin cancer, compounds, mineral of hours worked in a period. The period may be a
Folliculitis oil, tar, pitch, week, a month, a quarter or a year.
radiation
Frequency rate = Accidents x 100,000
Occupational asthma Work with epoxy Total person hours worked
resin, soldering flux, in a period
silica, sand, wood dust
For example, a large firm with some 260
Mesothelioma, lung Work with asbestos
employees had five accidents in a period of three
cancer, asbestosis
months when a total of 125,000 person hours
Leptospirosis Where there are rats, were worked.
field mice, voles or
other small mammals Frequency rate = 5 x 100,000 = 4
125,000
Hepatitis Exposure to blood or
human waste products Monthly and quarterly moving averages, regularly
Nasal or sinus cancer Working in a dusty used over a fixed period, quickly show up
building underlying trends and indicate whether the firm's
accident rate is rising or falling.
Hand, arm vibration Hand-held rotary or
syndrome or percussive tools, By using the formula with different types of
chain saws and hand- accidents, such as no time lost, time lost, time lost
held circular saws over three days, or for different causes, such as a
fall, manual handling, using plant or equipment,
etc. it is possible to determine a wide range of

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CONTENTS
rates. This is useful in assessing performance and
highlighting areas where accidents and losses are
occurring.
The accident frequency rate of one company may
be compared with that of another. An important
point is to ensure that numbers of employees, or
person-hours, are not padded out with persons
such as clerical staff or other people who are not
at risk due to construction activity.
It is difficult to obtain national accident frequency
rates for the construction industry, but figures
taken from HSE reports can be used as a
comparison. The best comparisons are, this month
with last month, this year with last year, since it will
be immediately obvious whether the rate, and the
safety performance, is better or worse.
It is important to remember that most published
statistics deal with reportable accidents only.
Incidence rate
The incidence rate is easy to use and is based on
the number of accidents, taken over a fixed period,
per 1,000 employees:
Incidence rate = Accidents x 1,000
Number of employees
For example, if there were six accidents and the
firm employed an average of 120 employees, the
formula would be:
Incidence rate = 6 x 1,000 = 50
120
Direct comparisons between the incidence rate
and the frequency rate must never be made, since
they are based on different formulae.
Mean duration
The mean duration, or average length of time lost
per accident, can also be calculated.
Mean duration = Number of person-hours lost
Number of lost time accidents
Analysis and presentation of data
Computers are ideally suited to producing the
various frequency and accident rates, moving
averages, etc. There are many commercially
available computer programmes to manage
accident statistics or a simple computer
programme can be easily devised, using the
labour resources and person-hours which are
already known for production purposes.
FIRST PAGE
Rates are best displayed as bar charts, histograms
and graphs; these make trends visually clear.
The frequency and incidence rate formulae given
above are also used in HSE publications.
The proper and effective reporting of accidents,
along with the thorough investigation, can have
major benefits for a company. Some of the things
to consider are:
• reduce costs by implementing change and
preventing accidents.
• identify training needs which will also
improve performance
• show HSE inspectors that the company
has a pro-active approach to safety
• ensure that you will be able to meet the
requirements of the Construction (Design
and Management) Regulations
• satisfy clients and main contractors that
your workforce is properly trained and
totally safety orientated
• benefit from a possible reduction of
insurance premiums following years of
hard work to reduce accidents
Accident investigation
Accident procedure
Many firms have established procedures to be
followed in the event of an accident. The
procedure outlined below is given as general
guidance.
The following steps should be taken to deal with
the accident, and initiate an early investigation into
causes:
• attend to the injured person, call for
assistance if necessary and arrange for
first aid, doctor, ambulance, hospital
• isolate machine, tools or equipment
• do not disturb or move anything unless to
release an injured person
• inform manager or safety officer, safety
representative and other appropriate
persons such as fire officers, engineers or
insurers
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CONTENTS
• ensure any remaining hazard is guarded
against
• take notice of anything significant and
make general observations at the scene of
the accident
Conducting an investigation
It is not usually possible to investigate every minor
accident, but those involving major or serious
injuries to persons and major damage to plant or
equipment should be thoroughly investigated so
that immediate action can be taken to prevent a
recurrence. The following headings may be useful
as a guide to the steps to be taken:
• investigate promptly
• record evidence
• identify types of evidence, i.e. factual,
corroborative, etc.
• interview the injured person if possible
• question the person in charge and other
supervisors
• obtain details of injured person’s job and
what they usually or normally do
• interview witnesses
• inspect plant for signs of misuse or defects
• establish the full sequence of events
• ascertain nature and extent of injury or
damage
• complete accident report and accident book
• notify appropriate authorities
Investigate promptly
The sooner an investigation is started the better,
provided it is safe to do so.
Engineers and supervisors will be anxious to find
ways and means of repairing the damage to plant,
machinery or buildings, but first priority should be
to establish the cause of the accident.
Safety specialists and safety representatives will
be concerning themselves solely with the safety
implications and preventing a recurrence.
It is important that the investigation is properly
supervised and organised. Where HSE Inspectors
may wish to investigate, any other persons
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FIRST PAGE
responsible for investigating accidents must take
extreme care not to disturb the scene, workplace
or machinery.
Recording evidence
Statements from witnesses should contain such
details as their age and occupation, etc. The time,
date and place of interview should be indicated at
the end of the statement.
Witnesses’ statements should always be written in
their own words, even if these include slang or
expletives.
The statement should be read to the witness, and
signed by them and by the person who took the
statement.
Identifying the types of evidence
Evidence will usually include:
• statement of witnesses and others given
orally, or in writing. ‘Others’ may include
experts who have been called in to
examine a machine or the state of a
scaffold
• documentation of all kinds
• material exhibits of all kinds
Factual evidence comprises the facts related by
persons directly involved, and by witnesses who
are able to say what they felt, saw, heard, etc., or
give an expert opinion. This type of evidence is
primary, direct and positive and should be written
in simple language keeping to the facts and
avoiding inferences, opinions and beliefs. The
facts should be recorded clearly, accurately and in
sequence.
The best witnesses are those persons directly
involved who are able to:
• listen carefully to the questions
• answer directly, fairly, impartially and
truthfully
• state clearly when they do not know the
answer
• remain calm when they are being asked
questions
Material evidence includes, for example, items of
plant, equipment, machines, scaffolds, ladders,
CONTENTS
hand tools, where the use of or the state or
condition of the item has a bearing on the
accident.
Corroborative evidence tends to support the
truthfulness and accuracy of the evidence which
has already been given. The confirming evidence
may take the form of site records, plant or
maintenance records, warning notices, written
procedures, reports made by safety officers or
safety representatives.
Opinions are not generally acceptable as
evidence in a court of law, but people in the vicinity
of an accident should be asked to give an opinion.
In this way a full picture can be built up of the
circumstances of the accident. Experts or
specialists who are familiar with the type of
accident, or technical and other factors
surrounding the accident, may be called upon to
express their expert opinions.
When there is a lack of real or factual evidence,
other forms of evidence such as circumstantial
and corroborative evidence tend to become more
valuable.
Photographs taken immediately after an accident
record the state of the scene and often highlight
conditions which existed at the time. Machines,
equipment, tools and obstructions, and factors
such as floor conditions, space, dimensions, etc.
may show up very well on photographs.
If possible, it is best to engage professional
photographers and to obtain the largest possible
prints. Time, date and place or subject
photographed should be written on the back of the
pictures.
Interviewing the injured person
This should be an early priority. Even the briefest
description of the accident should suffice initially.
The physical and mental state of the injured
person will need to be considered, and tact and
patience required during the interview. The injured
person should be in a fit state to answer
questions.
The injured person should be encouraged to talk
about how the accident happened and it is
important they have confidence and trust in the
listener. It is important to stress that the purpose of
the investigation is to find the cause so that
preventive action can be taken. Blame should not
be apportioned.
FIRST PAGE
Questioning should not take the form of an
interrogation. Someone well known to the injured
person is probably the best person to do this.
Safety officials are more likely to receive the co-
operation of an injured person if they are able to
demonstrate a genuine interest in their welfare and
recovery. This may involve visiting the injured
person, with the doctor's approval, in hospital or at
home.
Questioning the person in charge
Establish from the injured person, manager,
supervisor or the person in charge, what the
normal job and tasks of the injured person were.
Did they include the activity which led up to the
accident? Other questions which might be asked
include:
• what task or type of job was being
performed?
• was it planned or part of a planned activity?
• at what stage of the work did the accident
occur?
• was the person involved trained, and if so,
when?
• was the person authorised to carry out that
type of work or use machinery in that
location?
• was the person authorised to be where the
accident occurred?
• what instructions had been given?
• how many other persons were or should
have been involved in the activity?
• was the activity or task covered by any
statutory regulations or code of practice?
• were safe and correct procedures being
observed?
• did unsafe acts cause the accident? If so,
were they those of the injured person,
workmates, or others?
• did any unsafe condition contribute to the
accident?
• what safety equipment or personal
protection was available and in use?
• were other contractors’ employees or plant
and machinery involved or at fault?
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CONTENTS
• had the injured person been involved in
previous accidents?
Interviewing witnesses
Skill is required when interviewing. Witnesses
should be interviewed one at a time. If they wish to
say anything before notes are taken, they should
be allowed to do so.
Interviewers should seek answers to the following
basic questions:
• what did the witness actually see or hear?
• what was the witness doing at the time?
• what was the proximity of the witness to the
accident or occurrence?
• what actions did the witness take?
• what actions did others take before and
after the accident?
• what was the condition of the workplace at
the time?
• what hazards or unsafe conditions existed;
what unsafe acts were performed?
• what was the probable cause(s) of the
accident or occurrence?
Skilled interviewers allow witnesses to tell things in
their own way, intervening only to clear up specific
points or answers where necessary. Questions
should be impartial, and should be recorded
together with the answers.
It is expected that certain details will differ in
witnesses’ accounts, but there should be
agreement about basic facts if the true cause of
an accident or occurrence is to be determined.
The important witnesses are those persons
involved. Their evidence will be more valuable
than evidence from witnesses who saw or heard
only from a distance, although, they too, should be
interviewed. Corroborative evidence and
information is often required, particularly when
witnesses are few or are not reliable.
As much evidence and information as possible
should be collected, since the action taken to
prevent a recurrence will be based on what is
learned.
Inspection of plant for misuse or defects
Inspection of plant, equipment, tools and
machinery immediately after an accident may
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FIRST PAGE
reveal signs of misuse or defects which may or
may not have contributed to the accident. The
scene should also be carefully examined to see if
trip hazards, slippery floors, or some other defect
contributed to, or caused, the accident.
Assistance from specialists and persons directly
involved or familiar with the type of plant,
equipment, or machinery in question can provide
valuable information.
Establish a sequence of events
Evidence gained from interviews and from
inspection of the scene, plant, equipment or
machinery, should give an indication of the
sequence of events leading up to the accident.
Ascertain the extent of injury or damage
It is not always possible to ascertain the full extent
of injuries and damage resulting from an accident.
There may be complications or delayed effects
from injuries. The total time off work will obviously
not be known at the time of investigation.
Whilst it may be easy to identify the extent of the
damage caused to plant, machinery, equipment,
buildings and materials, it is far from easy to
measure the overall effects of the accident in
terms of lost time, lost production and, of course,
the suffering of the injured person or persons.
Completion of the accident book and an
accident report form
Accident report details will vary, depending on who
produces the report and whom the report is for. To
help eliminate or reduce this variation, guidance in
making reports and the use of a standard form is
recommended.
Reports should be concise, unbiased and should
summarise the essential information obtained
during the investigation.
Sample accident and damage report forms are
included as Appendices A and B.
CONTENTS FIRST PAGE

Construction Site Safety

4. Part 1. Appendix A
Personal Accident Report
1. Name of employer.....................................................................................................................................

2. Site address ..............................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................... Contact ..........................................................................

3. Injured person's surname .................................................. Forenames ..................................................

4. Injured person's address ..........................................................................................................................

5. Nat. Ins. no. ........................................... Age .......................... Clock no. ...............................................

6. Normal occupation....................................................................................................................................

7. Occupation at time of accident .................................................................................................................

8. Exact location of accident.........................................................................................................................

9. Date and time of accident.........................................................................................................................

10. Date and time of ceasing work .................................................................................................................

11. State precise nature of injury....................................................................................................................

(If eye or limb, state left or right)

12. To whom was the accident reported? ............................Date ............... Time ........................................

13. Entry made in accident book on ...............................................................................................................

14. HSE informed by telephone Date ............................... Time ..................................................................

15. Report sent to HSE on .............................................................................................................................

16. Has the accident been recorded in the official company register? ..........................................................

17. Was first aid given on site? ......................................................................................................................

18. Did the injured person go to hospital? ......................................................................................................

Give name of hospital

19. Was the injured person authorised to be at the place of the accident for the purpose of his/her
work?

..................................................................................................................................................................

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CONTENTS FIRST PAGE

20. How was the accident caused?................................................................................................................

a) Give a full description of what happened .............................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................................

b) State what the injured person was doing at the time ...........................................................................

c) If falls of persons from heights or into excavations or holes are involved, state distance of fall in .....
metres

..................................................................................................................................................................

d) Use the reverse of this form for a sketch

21. What action has been taken to prevent a recurrence?............................................................................

22. If machinery was involved

a) Give name and number of machine or part causing the accident.......................................................

..................................................................................................................................................................

b) Was it working at the time of the accident? .........................................................................................

23. Names and addresses of witnesses to the accident. Obtain witnesses wherever possible.
Attach signed statement from each witness.

a) ..............................................................................................................................................................

b) ..............................................................................................................................................................

c) ..............................................................................................................................................................

This form was completed by:

Name ...................................................................... Signed ....................................... Date .......................

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CONTENTS FIRST PAGE

Construction Site Safety

4. Part 1. Appendix B
Damage Report
Contract ..............................................................................................................................................................
Address of site ....................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................
Plant or equipment affected................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................
Serial numbers or identifying marks ...................................................................................................................
Full name and adrress of owner of the plant or equipment................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................
Place, date and time of accident.........................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................
Details of defects or damage ..............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................
Names of operators concerned ..........................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................
Cause of the accident.........................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................
Names of witnesses............................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................
Agent or supervisor’s signature ............................................ Date .............................................................

4/1/11