Safety Glossary
Safety Glossary
ACCIDENT REPORTING |
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Do I need to report it if a homecare worker has an accident when making a home visit?
Only if they have already started work since health and safety legislation does not apply until an employee arrives at or starts work.
For example, if going to their first visit straight from their own home, then once they have arrived at the home of their first client they will have started work and any accident that happens to them from that time until they finish that work period, whether for the day or for a lunch break or similar, needs to be reported. However an accident that happens between leaving their home and before arriving at the first call does not need to be reported.
If reporting to a base first before going out on calls, then any accident that happens when visiting any client’s home after leaving their base needs to be reported, but again any accident that happens on their way in to the base from home does not.
Do I need to report it if an employee has an accident after arriving at their work premises but before starting work, e.g. after parking their in the office car park but before entering the office building itself?
Yes – since although they have not actually started work, they have arrived at their workplace, which the Council has a responsibility to maintain.
Do I need to report it if one of my employees has an accident during their lunch break?
Only if the accident occurs whilst the employee is on the Council premises where they are carrying out their work duties at the time – since the Council has a responsibility for the maintenance of its premises.
If the employee has an accident on Council premises that they are visiting during lunchtime but whilst not carrying out any work duties, e.g. when visiting a library for books, then the appropriate person in the library should report the accident as if they are reporting an accident to a member of the public.
How do I report incidents/accidents to the Health and Safety Team?
Initially, details of an incident/accident may be reported to the Council’s Health and Safety Team at Ty Elai by telephone, email or fax, although the Council’s incident/accident form HS5(A) must also be completed and forwarded to the Health and Safety Team on each occasion.
If I have an accident, who do I report it to?
Your line manager.
Is it only incidents/accidents to employees that need reporting?
No – you must also report to the Health and Safety Team incidents/accidents involving non-employees if they occur on Council premises or as a result of a work activity undertaken by, on behalf of or under the control of the Council.
Is there guidance available on the reporting of incidents/accidents to pupils?
Yes - in the Health and Safety Executive’s Education Information Sheet No 1 (Revision 3) [EDIS1(rev 3)]: ‘Incident reporting in schools (accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences) – Guidance for employers’ (refer to ‘Additional Resources’).
Is there guidance available on the reporting of incidents/accidents?
Yes, in the following documents in particular:
- Accident Reporting Arrangements Guidelines (a Council guidance document);
- Reporting accidents and incidents at work (INDG 453 (rev 1) - published by the HSE);
- Policy HS5 – Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences (a Council Policy).
and on the HSE website:
To whom do I report incidents/accidents to my employees or any other person affected by my service’s work activity?
The Council’s Health and Safety Team, located at Ty Elai, Williamstown (telephone: 01443 425546).
What do I do if one of my employees has an accident?
You should carry out an investigation into the accident as soon as possible whilst the events are still fresh in people’s minds, gather evidence, including taking witness statements and photographs where necessary, and complete the Council’s incident/accident form HS5(A) and forward it to the Council’s Health and Safety Team at Ty Elai. The incident/accident form should be received by the Health and Safety Team within 5 days of the date of the accident at the latest, except for over 7 day injuries when it should be received within 10 days.
However in addition, if the incident/accident involves a death, a specified non-fatal injury or a member of the public being taken directly to hospital from the scene of the accident, or is a dangerous occurrence, you should contact the Health and Safety Team immediately to provide them with as much detail as you can so that they can report it to the Health and Safety Executive in line with the requirements of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR).