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On 1 October 2013 changes were introduced to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) that will simplify the mandatory reporting of workplace injuries for businesses, while ensuring that the data collected gives an accurate and useful picture of workplace incidents.

The main changes are in the following areas:

• The classification of 'major injuries' to
  workers has been replaced with a shorter list of 'specified injuries'
• The existing schedule detailing 47 types of
  industrial disease replaced with eight categories of reportable work-related
  illness
• Fewer types of 'dangerous occurrence' require
  reporting

The changes affect all employers - including the self-employed. Information and guidance is available on the HSE website at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/

Both changes follow a review of health and safety legislation by Professor Ragnar Löfstedt in which he made a number of recommendations that the Government appointed HSE to implement.

Neither change alters the duties and responsibilities already placed on employers. For example, businesses still have a legal duty to make arrangements to ensure their employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work.

The amendments to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995 do not affect how an incident at work is reported and the criteria that determine whether an incident should be investigated.