ETR H & S Services Ltd

Information for employers regarding RIDDOR reporting of COVID-19 in the workplace.

RIDDOR reporting of COVID-19
This guidance is for the person reporting, usually the employer (known as the ‘responsible person’).

Members of the public and non-work-related cases
There is no requirement under RIDDOR (The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013) to report incidents of disease or deaths of members of the public, patients, care home residents or service users from COVID-19.

The reporting requirements relating to cases of, or deaths from, COVID-19 under RIDDOR apply only to occupational exposure, that is, as a result of a person’s work.

What to report
You should only make a report under RIDDOR when one of the following circumstances applies:
• an accident or incident at work has, or could have, led to the release or escape of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). This must be reported as a dangerous occurrence
• a person at work (a worker) has been diagnosed as having COVID-19 attributed to an occupational exposure to coronavirus. This must be reported as a case of disease
• a worker dies as a result of occupational exposure to coronavirus. This must be reported as a work-related death due to exposure to a biological agent

Dangerous occurrences
Dangerous occurrences are certain unintended, specified events, which may not result in a reportable injury, but which do have the potential to cause significant harm.
For an incident to be reportable as a dangerous occurrence, the incident must have resulted (or could have resulted) in the release or escape of coronavirus, that is, led to a possible or actual exposure to coronavirus.
The assessment does not require any complex analysis, measurement or test, but rather for a reasonable judgement to be made as to whether the circumstances gave rise to a real risk or had the potential to cause significant harm.
Find out more about what the law says including some examples of what is not and what is reportable as a dangerous occurrence.

Cases of disease: exposure to a biological agent
When deciding if a report is required, the responsible person (usually the employer) must make a judgement, based on the information available, as to whether or not a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 is likely to have been caused by an occupational exposure, that is, whether or not there is reasonable evidence that a work-related exposure is the likely cause of the disease.
The report should specify a disease due to exposure to a biological agent and use the case of disease report form.
Get more information on what constitutes a diagnosis and more guidance on making a judgement and reasonable evidence.

Work-related deaths due to exposure to a biological agent
For an incident to be reportable as a death due to occupational exposure to coronavirus there must be reasonable evidence that a work-related exposure caused the worker’s death.
The responsible person should notify the enforcing authority by the quickest practicable means, without delay, and send a report within 10 days. The report should specify death due to exposure to a biological agent using the “case of disease” report form.
More on work-related deaths from coronavirus: What the law says and information on making a judgement using reasonable evidence.

If anyone would like work related information on Corona Virus (COVID-19) let me know and I will send it over, everyone needs to know the facts to ensure we all stay safe.

I have fact sheets on FAQ's, Employees Responsibilities and Advice for Home Working.

Stay safe everyone.

ETR Health & Safety Services Ltd is a very proactive company with realistic ideas to accommodate all companies in all industries. We have a very diverse Client list in various industries e.g.The London Crematorium Company, Local Councils, the Probation Service, Doctor’s Surgeries, Engineering, Construction, Scaffolding, Renewable Energy, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Motor Repairs & Voluntary Services to name a few.

Based upon our sound experience in Welfare, Health & Safety, we are pleased to offer you our services:

Risk Assessment, COSHH, Policies and Procedures, H&S Audits & Inspections, Fire Risk Assessments, Accident Investigations to name but a few. We cover all aspects of H&S in the Workplace and can arrange all of your training needs. Give us a call to discuss your needs.

RIDDOR
(Reporting of Injuries, Diseases & Dangerous Occurrences Regulations)
These regulations place a legal duty on:

Employers
Self-employed people
People in control of premises.

An employer must report work-related deaths, major injuries or over-seven day injuries, work related diseases, and dangerous occurrences. The information enables the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and local authorities to identify where and how risks arise, and to investigate serious accidents. For most businesses, a reportable accident, dangerous occurrence, or case of disease is a comparatively rare event. However, if it does happen, you must let them know. ETR can assist with this procedure plus all the paperwork that goes with it.

We offer a comprehensive accident investigation service to determine the underlying and root causes of an accident / incident.
Recording and analysing all incidents, including near misses, will help you to become proactive in the prevention of accidents. A reactive system can be very costly and sometimes catastrophic.

RISK ASSESSMENTS

Regulation 3 of the Management of Health & Safety At Work Regs. 1999 charges the employer to perform a suitable and sufficient assessment (and review / re-assessment) of the risks to Health & Safety of:
Their employees whilst at work
Others affected by the conduct of their undertaking which include, sub-contractors, visitors, contractors, customers and neighbours etc.

for the purpose of identifying measures necessary to comply with relevant legislation, including fire precautions.

Where five or more persons are employed, the employer shall record:
The significant findings of the assessmentAny group of employees identified as being especially at risk.

Following the general risk assessment, it is likely that further, more specific risk assessments will need to be performed such as COSHH, Display Screen Equipment (DSE), or Manual Handling for example.

So as an employer, the law requires that you assess and manage the Health & Safety risks of your business. ETR can help you do that.

A risk assessment is simply a careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm to people. It means you can weigh up if you have taken enough precautions, or if you should do more to prevent harm. For most businesses, this is not difficult to do.
Legislation requires that the assessment be carried out by a “competent person” and examine the entire company’s activities to identify any hazards involved, the likelihood of those hazards causing harm and the steps required to eliminate or minimise the risks.

The risk assessment should be reviewed periodically and whenever there are significant changes in the workplace. ETR can arrange for a qualified safety practitioner to visit your premises and carry out a risk assessment study on your behalf.

FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT

Employers (and / or building owners or occupiers) must carry out a fire safety risk assessment and keep it up to date. This shares the same approach as health and safety risk assessments and can be carried out either as part of an overall risk assessment or as a separate exercise.

Based on the findings of the assessment, you as employers need to ensure that adequate and appropriate fire safety measures are in place to minimise the risk of injury or loss of life in the event of a fire.

To help prevent fire in the workplace, we at ETR H&S Services can assist by carrying out your fire risk assessment making sure it identifies what could cause a fire to start, i.e. sources of ignition (heat or sparks) substances that burn and the people who may be at risk.

Once the risks have been identified through the assessment, we can help you and advise how to take the appropriate action to control them. You need to consider whether you can avoid them altogether or, if this is not possible, how you can reduce the risks and manage them. You also need to consider how you will protect people if there is a fire.

Carry out a fire safety risk assessment
Keep sources of ignition and flammable substances apart
Avoid accidental fires, e.g. make sure heaters cannot be knocked over
Ensure good housekeeping at all times, e.g. avoid build-up of rubbish that could burn
Consider how to detect fires and how to warn people quickly if they start, e.g. installing smoke alarms and fire alarms or bells
Have the correct fire-fighting equipment for putting a fire out quickly
Keep fire exits and escape routes clearly marked and unobstructed at all times
Ensure your workers receive appropriate training on procedures they need to follow, including fire drills
Review and update your risk assessment regularly.

Fires need three things to start – a source of ignition (heat), a source of fuel (something that burns) and oxygen:
Sources of ignition include heaters, lighting, naked flames, electrical equipment, smokers' materials (ci******es, matches etc), and anything else that can get very hot or cause sparks
Sources of fuel include wood, paper, plastic, rubber or foam, loose packaging materials, waste rubbish and furniture
Sources of oxygen include the air around us.
If you need a new Fire Risk Assessment for your premises or you need an existing one reviewed, which should be carried out annually or sooner if you carry out structural alterations that could affect the health and safety of employees and visitors to the premises, call us for a chat and a quote.

We will attend your premises and advise you what is required by law and then if you are in agreement we can complete the assessment complete with any recommendations. We are always on the end of the phone or email to answer questions and queries you may have and to help out in any way we can.

AUDITS
Section 2 of the Health & Safety At Work Act 1974 states that employers, must so far as reasonably practicable, ensure the Health, Safety and Welfare at work of all its employees.

Safe plant and systems of work
The safe use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances
The provision of all necessary information, instruction, training and supervision
A safe place of work with safe means of access and egress
A safe working environment.
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An employer with 5 or more employees must also:

Prepare a written statement of his general health and safety policySet down the organisation and arrangements for carrying out the policyRevise and update when necessaryBring the policy and arrangements to the attention of all employeesAcknowledge the appointment by recognised trade unions of employees safety representatives and consult on the arrangements for co-operation on safety measures and means of monitoring those safety measuresWhen requested, establish safety committees.

ETR can perform a comprehensive audit of your business and its provision for Health & Safety compliance. A written policy and set of documents detailing your Health & Safety objectives for the future will be drawn up for your approval. These will form the detailed written record of how you intend to plan and conduct your business with full consideration of Health & Safety law now and in the future. We will give our recommendations for any actions / improvements we feel may be necessary for you to meet the minimum standards.

What can ETR H&S Services Ltd offer you?
An initial H&S Audit to identify opportunities for improvement in your H&S Management Systems,
Procedures and Policies
Periodic auditing of your system providing a comprehensive written report with recommendations for improvement if necessary
Advice whenever you need it whether it is just a friendly voice to reassure you on something you may or may not of done or more important information requested by a Contractor, the HSE or Local Authority.
A consultant is always available to take that call. All our clients are very important to us and we take a personal approach to each and every one of them.
If you have five or more employees, you must write your policy down. ETR have vast experience in compiling Health & Safety Policies and can, with input from you, produce a policy to suit your company and your needs
General & Specific Risk Assessments & Method Statements to highlight Hazards & Risks which will, following implementation of the appropriate controls, ensure the best protection of your EMPLOYEES; protect YOU and protect your BUSINESS.

Manual Handling assessments
Display Screen Equipment assessments
Fire risk assessments
COSHH assessments.
A risk assessment for almost every workplace task!

A comprehensive accident investigation service to determine the underlying and root causes of an accident / incident. Recording and analysing all incidents, including near misses, will help you to become proactive in the prevention of accidents. A reactive system can be very costly and sometimes catastrophic
Site visits, including construction sites and workshops, conducting safety inspections supported with a written report, so that you can ensure you are doing all that is reasonably practicable to ensure the Health, Safety and Welfare of all your employees
ETR can help you to gain accreditation such as CHAS, SafeContractor, Altius, Constructionline and SMAS to name a few

ETR H&S Services Ltd is a proactive company with realistic ideas to accommodate all companies in all industries. Based upon our sound experience in Welfare, Health & Safety, we are pleased to offer you our services.

Our service covers all aspects of Health & Safety in the work place. Health and Safety has become an integral part of the day-to-day management of all businesses. It is intricate, has far reaching consequences and can become very time consuming. Law is constantly evolving, new regulations and guidance are introduced form month to month and some businesses find it increasingly difficult to maintain the pace.

We aim to temper the perceived burden that senior management has regarding the Health, Safety & Welfare of their employees.