RIDDOR vs the accident book
"We wrote it in the accident book" is not the same as "we reported it under RIDDOR". They are two different duties — and confusing them is how reportable incidents get missed.
Two different jobs
The accident book is your own record of injuries at work. Some of that record-keeping is a legal duty in its own right: RIDDOR itself (regulation 12) requires you to keep records of reportable incidents and of over-three-day injuries, and a traditional accident book also supports social-security and injury-benefit purposes. Beyond that statutory minimum, it is good practice — not the same legal duty — to also record minor injuries and near misses, because they help you prevent the next accident.
RIDDOR is a duty to report certain more serious incidents to the enforcing authority (usually the HSE). Reporting is a notification to the regulator; recording is your internal record. One does not do the other's job.
Record vs report
| Accident book | RIDDOR | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Your internal record of injuries | Report serious incidents to the regulator |
| Who sees it | You (and an inspector on request) | The HSE / HSENI |
| Over-three-day injury | Recorded | Not automatically reportable |
| Over-seven-day injury | Recorded | Reported (within 15 days) |
| Near misses / minor injuries | Useful to record | Generally not reportable |
The over-three vs over-seven day point
The single most common mix-up: an over-three-day injury must be recorded, but only an over-seven-day injury crosses the RIDDOR reporting threshold. Both duties can apply to the same injury — you record it, and if it also passes seven days you report it too. See the reporting timescales.
Why you need both
Reporting to the HSE satisfies RIDDOR; it does not give you a usable internal record, a trend to learn from, or the corrective action that stops it happening again. Keeping an accident book gives you the record and the evidence; it does not notify the regulator. Run both, and connect the record to the fix.
One register — record it, and see if it's reportable
Complys is your digital accident and incident register — it records injuries to anyone (staff, contractors, visitors, public), flags whether an incident looks RIDDOR-reportable and links you to the HSE to file, and turns each into corrective actions tracked to closure. It keeps the record and the evidence; it does not submit RIDDOR reports to the HSE for you.
Incident reporting software →FAQs
What is the difference between RIDDOR and the accident book?
The accident book is your own internal record of injuries at work; RIDDOR is a legal duty to report certain serious incidents to the enforcing authority (usually the HSE). Recording something in the accident book does not report it under RIDDOR, and a RIDDOR report does not remove the need to keep your own record. They are two separate obligations.
Is an over-three-day injury reported under RIDDOR?
No. An over-three-day injury must be recorded (for example in the accident book) but is not automatically RIDDOR-reportable. The RIDDOR reporting trigger is an over-seven-day injury. Recording the over-three-day injury is still required.
Do I still need an accident book if I report under RIDDOR?
Yes. Record-keeping is a separate duty from reporting: RIDDOR (regulation 12) requires you to keep records of reportable incidents and of over-three-day injuries, and a traditional accident book also serves social-security purposes. Recording near misses and minor injuries that fall below those thresholds is good practice rather than the same statutory requirement — valuable for prevention, but keep the distinction clear.
Who can be recorded in an accident book?
Anyone injured by the work — employees, but also agency workers, contractors, visitors and members of the public. A record is only complete if it can capture people who are not on your staff list.
Related: what is RIDDOR, RIDDOR reporting timescales, and incident reporting software. General information, not legal advice — check HSE for the current position.