| "Defined
Circumstances" |
If
an incident falls within this category it should
be investigated. This includes:
| • |
all
reportable deaths |
| • |
certain
kinds of reportable major injuries |
| • |
all
industrial diseases unless there has already
been an investigation into the incident
in question |
|
| "Circumstances
requiring judgment as to seriousness" |
If
an incident is "likely to give rise to serious
public concern" or likely to "have been
a result of a serious breach of health and safety
law", then it should be investigated. |
| "Circumstances
allowing discretionary selection" |
This
gives three different reasons why it may be decided
that an incident should be investigated. (a) to
assist in training needs; (b) involves a new process/plant
that could help with increasing HSE's knowledge
or (c) is part of HSE's priority programmes. |
There
are a number of reasons that could disqualify
an incident from being investigated:
| • |
inadequate resources/other developing priorities |
| • |
impracticability
for investigations |
| • |
no reasonable practicable precautions available
for risk reduction |
It
is notable that reported 'dangerous occurrence's
and 'over-three day injuries' will only be investigated
if they fall into the second category - i. e.
they are "likely to give rise to serious
public concern" or likely to "have
been a result of a serious breach of health
and safety law"
To
read about when a death or major injury is reportable,
click here
|
| 1. |
All
Fatalities as a result of an accident arising
out or or in connection with work activities.
This specifically excludes suicides and deaths
from natural causes. See OM 2000/124 for consideration
of investigation of work-related road traffic
incidents |
| 2. |
The
Following RIDDOR-defined major injuries to all
persons, including non-employees, irrespective
of cause:
| • |
all
amputations of digit(s) past the first joint |
| • |
amputation
of hand/arm or foot/leg |
| • |
Serious
multiple fractures (more than one bone,
not including wrist or ankle); |
| • |
crush
injuries leading to internal organ damage
e.g. ruptured spleen; |
| • |
head
injuries involving loss of consciousness;
|
| • |
burns
and scalds covering more than 10% of the
surface area of the body; |
| • |
permanent
blinding or one or both eyes; |
| • |
any
degree of scalping; and |
| • |
asphyxiation |
|
| 3 |
Incidents
which result in a RIDDOR-defined major injury
in the following categories;
| • |
workplace
transport incidents; |
| • |
electrical
incidents; |
| • |
falls
from a height of greater than 2 metres;
and |
| • |
any
incident which arose out of working in a
confined space |
|
| |
(see
OM 2000/124 for consideration of investigation
of work-related road traffic incidents). |
| 4 |
All
reports of cases of occupational disease which
meets the criteria of reportability under RIDDOR,
except those arising from circumstances which
have already been investigated. |
|
(B)
Circumstances requiring judgment as to seriousness
|
| |
Public
Concern
All incidents likely to give rise to serious public
concern. This reflects the views of the public
at large not just those of an individual. Give
particular consideration to incidents involving
children, vulnerable adults, and multiple casualties
where the outcome of potential outcome of breach
is serious. |
| |
Breach
of health and safety law
Any incident where there is likely to have been
a serious breach of health and safety law
Note:
A serious breach of the law is one where, in
accordance with the Enforcement Management Model,
the national enforcement expectation would determine
a notice or a prosecution.
|
| (C)
Circumstances allowing discretionary selection |
| 1 |
Any
Incident which contributes through the FMU workplace
to an HSC/E priority programme e.g. manual handling. |
| 2 |
Any
incident which involves new process or plant which
could enhance HSE's knowledge |
| 3 |
Training
of Band 4s or Band 3s, new to a Field Management
Unit |
| (D)
Disqualifying Criteria |
| |
-
inadequate resources/other developing priorities
- in this circumstance the incident must be
referred to the Head of Operations;
-
impracticability for investigations e.g. unavailability
of witnesses or evidence or disproportionate
effort would be required; or
-
no reasonable practicable precautions available
for risk reduction;
|
