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HSE Investigation Criteria - 2001

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HSE's "Incident Selection Procedure"

This sets out the criteria that the HSE first introduced in April 2001


"Criteria for Selection for Investigation of RIDDOR Notifications (except Gas Incidents Reported Under Reg 6(1) and 6(2))"

(A) Defined Circumstances

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 seriousnes

  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
 
  1. inadequate resources/other developing priorities - in this circumstance the incident must be referred to the Head of Operations;
  2. impracticability for investigations e.g. unavailability of witnesses or evidence or disproportionate effort would be required; or
  3. no reasonable practicable precautions available for risk reduction;

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Page last updated on March 15, 2005