COVID-19 Reporting Requirements (HSE)

Date: 24.06.20

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE), the UK regulator for health, safety and well-being at work has released guidance on the reporting of COVID-19 cases in the workplace.

Employees must make a report under the Reporting of Injuries Diseases and dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (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 COVID-19. 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

Note that there is no requirement under RIDDOR 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.

Further details can be found at www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/reportable-incidents.htm