Injury Reporting Changes Take Effect in UK
HSE reports that two new changes aimed at improving health and safety in the workplace went into effect on Oct. 1.
Business owners in the United Kingdom can breathe easier—two regulations took effect on Oct. 1 that will help them comply with health and safety regulations, according to a news release from HSE.
The first change is an amendment to the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981. The change removes the requirement for HSE to approve first aid training and qualifications, giving business owners much more flexibility. The change is part of HSE's attempt to "reduce the burden on businesses and put common sense back into health and safety," according to the agency.
The second legislative change is to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995. The new change clarifies and simplifies the reporting requirements while also ensuring that the data gives an accurate and useful picture of workplace incidents. Specifically, the changes include different classification of major injuries (a shorter list of specified injuries is used), eight categories for industrial disease instead of 47 types, and fewer types of occurrences that need to be reported.
For more information, visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/hse-legislation-changes.htm.