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RIDDOR Changes

From 1 October 2013 changes will be introduced to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) that will simplify the mandatory reporting of workplace injuries for businesses, while ensuring that the data collected gives an accurate and useful picture of workplace incidents. To allow businesses time to familiarise themselves with the changes, […]

Sharps Regulations 2013

The Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013 In Force from 11 May 2013 The Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013 came into force on 11 May 2013. These regulations are intended to control the risks posed by needles and other ‘sharps’ in healthcare. Northern Ireland introduced equivalent regulations on […]

RIDDOR Changes

Sharps Regulations 2013

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RIDDOR Changes

From 1 October 2013 changes will be introduced to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) that will simplify the mandatory reporting of workplace injuries for businesses, while ensuring that the data collected gives an accurate and useful picture of workplace incidents.
To allow businesses time to familiarise themselves with the changes, the following information has been developed to support duty holders with the requirements.

The main changes are to simplify the reporting requirements in the following areas:

The classification of ‘major injuries’ to workers is being replaced with a shorter list of ‘specified injuries’.
The existing schedule detailing 47 types of industrial disease is being replaced with eight categories of reportable work-related illness.
Fewer types of ‘dangerous occurrence’ will require reporting.

There are no significant changes to the reporting requirements for:

Fatal accidents.
Accidents to non-workers (members of the public).
Accidents which result in the incapacitation of a worker for more than seven days.

Sharps Regulations 2013

The Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013
In Force from 11 May 2013

The Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013 came into force on 11 May 2013. These regulations are intended to control the risks posed by needles and other ‘sharps’ in healthcare.

Northern Ireland introduced equivalent regulations on the same date.
The regulations implement a European Directive. They will supplement the existing health and safety legislation that already requires employers across all sectors to take effective action to control the risk from sharps injuries.

Employers and contractors working in the healthcare sector will be required to:

Have effective arrangements for the safe use and disposal (including using ‘safer sharps’ where reasonably practicable, restricting the practice of recapping of needles and placing sharps bins close to the point of use)
Provide the necessary information and training to workers
Investigate and take action in response to work related sharps injuries