While there are no alterations to legal obligations, the revised guidance aims to enhance your comprehension of when and how to submit reports under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases, and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR).
Key revisions to the guidance include:
- Direct links to specific types of reportable incidents, facilitating quicker determination of whether reporting is necessary.
- Enhanced clarity regarding who should and shouldn’t report incidents under RIDDOR.
- Improved explanation of what constitutes a ‘work-related’ accident.
- Clarification on instances when an occupational disease is not deemed reportable.
- Increased transparency regarding the reporting requirements for absences exceeding 7-days
Significant updates to the reporting forms comprise:
- Prioritisation of questions concerning the severity of injuries, expediting the determination of reportability.
- Integration of pop-up messages to guide users if an incident does not warrant reporting.
- Enhanced usability of the forms through improved guidance.
- Expanded options for individuals to specify gender when completing the relevant fields.
Violence and aggression in the workplace can significantly affect the physical and mental well-being of your employees. HSE’s guidance on violence at work is designed to assist you in safeguarding your workers.
This guidance will aid you in:
- Assessing the risks
- Implementing appropriate controls to protect workers
- Reporting and learning from incidents
Additionally, I encourage you to explore the SWITCH Forum Bin Hero film & Videos, developed as part of an awareness campaign, shedding light on the violence and aggression encountered by staff working in waste management roles on a daily basis. These videos feature interviews with staff members from various roles in the recycling industry, offering firsthand insights into real-life events and demonstrating the lasting impact of such behaviour.
It’s crucial to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of our resource and waste sector workers and to stand together against unacceptable behaviour. Let’s work collaboratively to eradicate this behaviour and create a safer work environment for everyone.
These videos are freely available for use by local authorities and private companies within the sector to raise awareness and support our campaign against workplace violence and aggression.
Additionally, you can explore other resources on our website, such as the H&S Situational Awareness campaign. This programme, part of the ESA member-led Health and Safety initiative, aims to enhance awareness of common risks in the sector, including workplace violence and aggression, reckless driving, and other safety concerns.
April marks Stress Awareness Month, a crucial opportunity to integrate stress prevention and mental health support into our daily routines, particularly in the workplace. Join HSE’s Working Minds campaign in prioritising mental well-being by focusing on one of the campaign’s five steps each week for five weeks:
- Reach out and have conversations
- Recognise the signs and causes of stress
- Respond to any risks you’ve identified
- Reflect on actions you’ve agreed and taken
- Make it Routine
To delve deeper into these steps, watch the informative video provided by HSE. Additionally, HSE offers various resources to assist you further.
- Gain insights from their press release for more information.
- Register for free bitesize learning sessions.
- Download HSE’s risk assessment template
Let’s make Stress Awareness Month a catalyst for positive change in how we approach stress and mental health in the workplace.