Guidance on the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work ......Guidance on the Safety, Health and Welfare...

Guidance on the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work(Reporting of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences)

Regulations 2016

Updated October 2016

Guidance on the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Reporting of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences)

Regulations 2016

Our Vision:healthy, safe and productive lives

1. Introduction 2

2. Whyisaccidentanddangerousoccurrencereportingrequired? 2

3. Whataccidentsandpersonalinjuriesarereportable? 2

4. Whatdangerousoccurrencesarereportable? 4

5. Whoisresponsibleforreporting? 4

6. Reportingrequirements–employers 5

7. Reportingrequirements–self-employedandlandlords/tenants 6

8. Preservingthesceneofafatalaccident 7

9. Whenandhowreportsshouldbemade 7

10. Requirementtokeeprecords 7

Appendix1 8

Published by the Health and Safety Authority, The Metropolitan Building, James Joyce Street, Dublin 1. ©All rights reserved.

Contents


Regulations 2016

1. Introduction

ThisguideistoassistyoutounderstandtherequirementssetoutintheSafety,HealthandWelfareatWork(ReportingofAccidentsandDangerousOccurrences)Regulations2016(S.I.No.370of2016).Itexplainswhyaccidentanddangerousoccurrencereportingisrequired,whatisreportable,whatisnotreportable,whoshouldmakethereportandhowthereportshouldbemade.

Thisdocumentisnotintendedasalegalinterpretationofthelegislation.

Thenewregulationsdonotoverrideexistingstatutoryrequirements;reportingrequirementssetoutinotherlegislationmustcontinuetobecompliedwith.

Thefollowingoutlinesthekeypointsinrelationtoreportingofaccidentsanddangerousoccurrences:

- Onlyfatalandnon-fatalinjuriesarereportable.Diseases,occupationalillnessesoranyimpairmentsof mentalconditionarenotreportable. - FatalaccidentsmustbereportedimmediatelytotheAuthorityorGardaí.Subsequently,theformalreport shouldbesubmittedtotheAuthoritywithinfiveworkingdaysofthedeath.

- Non-fatalaccidentsordangerousoccurrencesshouldbereportedtotheAuthoritywithintenworkingdays oftheevent.

- Theinjuryofanyemployeeasaresultofanaccidentwhileatworkwheretheinjuryresultsintheemployee beingunabletocarryouttheirnormalworkdutiesformorethanthreeconsecutivedays,excludingtheday oftheaccident,mustbereported.

2. Why is accident and dangerous occurrence reporting required?

Developingsuccessfulpreventionpoliciesrequiresanunderstandingoftheprevalenceandtrendsofcertainaccidenttypes,andsuchunderstandingisbasedonup-to-dateandreliableinformation.TheaccidentanddangerousoccurrencereportsprovidetheAuthoritywithdatathatassistsintargetingactivitiesandadvisingemployersonpreventinginjuriesandaccidentalloss.Asmallproportionofthemoreseriousaccidentsareinvestigatedbyourinspectors.

3. What accidents and personal injuries are reportable? Anaccidentisanunplannedeventresultingindeath,orresultinginaninjurysuchasaseveresprainorstrain(forexample,manualhandlinginjuries),alaceration,abrokenbone,concussionorunconsciousness.

Cyan 100%Magenta 76%Yellow 0Black 27%TheSafety,HealthandWelfareatWorkAct2005containsthefollowingdefinitions:

• ‘accident’meansanaccidentarisingoutoforinthecourseofemploymentwhich,inthecaseofaperson carryingoutwork,resultsinpersonalinjury.

• ‘personalinjury’includes– (a)anyinjury,disease,disability,occupationalillnessoranyimpairmentofphysicalormentalcondition,and (b)anydeath, thatisattributabletowork.

For the purposes of these Regulationsonlyfatalandnon-fatalinjuriesarereportable.Diseases,occupationalillnessesoranyimpairmentsofmentalconditionarenotreportable.Notethatdirectlycausedmentalinjuriessuchasshockorfrightastheresultofanassault,continuetobereportable.Informationonwork-relateddiseasesandillnessesisavailablefromarangeofothersources,suchassurveydatacollectedbytheCentralStatisticsOffice,claimsdatacollectedbytheDepartmentofSocialProtection,andagenciesthatcollecthealthstatisticsandinsuranceclaimsdata.

Therearethreesituationsinwhichanaccidentshouldbereported:

(a) arisinginthecourseofemploymentresultinginpersonalinjurytothepersoncarryingouttheworkactivity. Thiscouldbeaninjurytoanemployeewhoisactuallydoingthework.

For example:anemployeedislocatesashoulderwhilemanuallymovingaheavyloadoranemployeedealingwiththepublicisassaulted.

(b) arisinginthecourseofemploymentwhichresultsinpersonalinjurytoanemployeewhowasnotdoingtheworkthatisthesubjectoftheaccident.

For example:ashelvingsystemcollapsesandinjuresanemployeewhoispassingbythesceneatthetimeofthecollapse.

(c) arisingfromaworkactivitywhichresultsinpersonalinjurytoapersonoutsideofthecourseofemployment.Thiscouldbeaninjurytoanon-employeeormemberofthepublic.

For example:aloadfallsfromatruckthatisbeingusedforworkpurposes,andcausesaninjurytoamemberofthepublicwhoisnotatwork.

Examplesofincidentsthatarenotreportableincludethosewhere:

- anemployeeoraself-employedpersonisabsentasaresultofanaccidentformorethanthreedays,butthe absentdaysarenotconsecutive.

- anemployeeisinjuredinatrafficcollisionwhilecommutingtoorfromwork.

- apatientofaregisteredmedicalpractitionerdies,isinjuredorsuffersillhealthwhileundergoingmedicaltreatment,unlessthetreatmentisbeingcarriedoutasaresultofaworkplaceincident.Medicaltreatmentincludestreatmentsuchastheadministrationofmedicinesbyanyroute,surgicalprocedures ordressingofwounds.


Regulations 2016

However,patientcarethatispartofeverydaypatientmanagementisnotconsideredmedicaltreatment and,inthesecases,anincidentmaybereportable.Forexample,patienthandlingthatincludesthemovingofpatients,whetherinbedorfromplacetoplace,isnotconsideredmedicaltreatment.Cleaningandbathingareotherexamplesofpatientcarethatarenotconsideredmedicaltreatment.

4. What dangerous occurrences are reportable?

TheSafety,HealthandWelfareatWorkAct2005containsthefollowingdefinition:

• ‘dangerousoccurrence’meansanoccurrencearisingfromworkactivitiesinaplaceofworkthatcausesor resultsin–

(a)thecollapse,overturning,failure,explosion,bursting,electricalshortcircuitdischargeoroverload,or malfunctionofanyworkequipment,

(b)thecollapseorpartialcollapseofanybuildingorstructureunderconstructionorinuseasaplaceof work,

(c)theuncontrolledoraccidentalrelease,theescapeortheignitionofanysubstance,

(d)afireinvolvinganysubstance,or (e)anyunintentionalignitionorexplosionofexplosives,

asmaybeprescribed.

TheprescribeddangerousoccurrenceswhichmustbereportedtotheAuthorityarelistedinAppendix1.

5. Who is responsible for reporting?

Employers,self-employed,landlords,ownersandtenantsallhaveadutytoreportaccidentsanddangerousoccurrencestotheAuthority.

Cyan 100%Magenta 76%Yellow 0Black 27%6. Reporting requirements – employers

FatalaccidentsinaworkplaceshouldbereportedimmediatelytotheAuthorityortheGardaísothatthenecessaryaction,includinganyinvestigationbytheAuthority,cantakeplace.Subsequently,theformalaccidentreportformshouldbesubmittedtotheAuthoritywithinfiveworkingdaysofthedeath.Non-fatalaccidentsordangerousoccurrencesshouldbeformallyreportedwithin10workingdaysoftheevent.

Firstly, in relation to your employees:

6.1 Youmustreportthedeathofanemployeeifthisisasaresultofanaccidentatwork.

Theaccidentmayhavetakenplaceeitheratyourplaceofworkoratanotheremployer’splaceofwork, orinalocationotherthanthenormalplaceofwork. Thefollowingareexamplesofreportablefatalities:

- Youremployeeisfatallyinjuredasaresultofbeinghitbyadeliverytruckinyouryard. - Youremployeeisfatallyinjuredwhiledrivingforworkonapublicroad. - Youremployeeisfatallyinjuredwhilecarryingoutcontractworkforanotheremployerattheirsite.

6.2 Youmustreporttheinjuryofanyemployeeasaresultofanaccidentwhileatworkwheretheinjuryresults inyouremployeebeingunabletocarryouttheirnormalworkformorethanthreeconsecutivedays, excludingthedayoftheaccident.

6.3 Incalculatingthedays,youshouldincludeweekendsandothernon-workingdays. Thefollowingareexamplesofreportableaccidents:

- Anemployee,whichincludesatrainee,whonormallyhasSaturdayandSundayoffwork,isinjuredon WednesdayandreturnstoworkthefollowingMonday.

- Adriverorapassengerisinvolvedinaroadtrafficaccidentwhiledrivingorridinginthevehicleinthe courseofworkandheisoutofworkformorethanthreedays.

- Anemployee,whileliftingboxesonMonday,hurtsherback.ShereturnstoworkonThursdaybutshe canonlydolightdutiesforthenextweek.Eventhoughshewasnotabsentformorethanthreedays, shecouldnotperformhernormalworkformorethanthreedays.

6.4 Youmustreportanycasewhereanemployeediesasaresultofanaccidentatworkwithinoneyearofthat accident,evenifyouhadalreadyreportedtheaccident.


Regulations 2016

Secondly, in relation to non-employees (non-workers, members of the public, employees of another enterprise) at your place of work:

6.5 Youmustreportthedeathofapersonwhoisnotyouremployeeandwhoisnotatwork,butwhodiesfrom anaccidentcausedbyaworkactivityattheplaceofwork. Forexample, ifyouareresponsibleforroadworksandamemberofthepublicisinjuredbyareversing vehicleinthecourseofthework,andsubsequentlydiesasaresultoftheirinjuries,thenyoumustreport thataccident.

6.6 Youmustreporttheinjuryofapersonwhoisnotyouremployeeandwhoisnotatworkbutwhoisinjuredfromaworkactivityiftheinjuredpersonhashadtobetakenfromthelocationoftheaccidenttoreceivetreatmentinrespectofthatinjuryinahospitalormedicalfacility.ForthepurposesoftheseRegulations,amedicalfacilitycanincludeaprimarycarefacility,amedicalcareclinic,oramedicalfacilityataworksitethatisstaffedbyaregisteredmedicalpractitioner.

Thefollowingareexamplesofaccidentsthatmustbereported:

- Amemberofthepublicslipsonliquidthathasbeenspilledintheprocessofshelf-stackinginyourshop,andiftheextentoftheinjuryrequiresthattheymustbebroughtbyambulanceorothervehicletoahospitalormedicalfacilityfortreatmentbyaregisteredmedicalpractitioner.

- Avisitortoafactoryisovercomebyfumesthatescapeaccidentallyfromaprocessbeingcarriedonthere.Thepersonisremovedtohospitalandtreatedbyaregisteredmedicalpractitioner.

- Apatientwithlimitedmobilityisadmittedtohospitalforroutinetests.Duringtheteststhepatientslipsfromtheslingofthepatienthoistandsuffersabackinjury,whichrequiresthemtoremaininhospitalovernightformedicaltreatment.

- Thereisaroadcollisioninvolvingyouremployeedrivingforworkandamemberofthepublicdrivingacar.Thememberofthepublicisinjuredandrequiredtobetakentoandtreatedinhospitalormedicalfacility.

Thirdly, in relation to a prescribed dangerous occurrence:

6.7 DangerousoccurrenceslistedinAppendix1arerequiredtobereported.

7. Reporting requirements – self-employed and landlords/tenants

Ifaself-employedpersonisfatallyinjuredwhileworkingattheirownpremises,theAuthoritywillreceivenotificationfromtheGardaíorotheremergencyservices.ThenextofkinarenotrequiredtoreporttheincidenttotheAuthority.Followinginvestigation,theAuthoritywillensurethatthenecessarydataisrecordedontheapprovedform.

Cyan 100%Magenta 76%Yellow 0Black 27%

Ifaself-employedperson,forexampleasoletrader,afarmer,agarageowneroranaccountant,suffersapersonalinjuryasadirectresultofaworkevent,thenthatpersonisrequiredtoreportthisifithasresultedinthembeingunabletodotheirnormalworkformorethanthreeconsecutivedays,excludingthedayoftheaccidentorexposure.

Ifaself-employedpersonisincontrolofaplaceofworkinwhichthereisadangerousoccurrence,theymustreportthistotheAuthority.

Ifalandlordortenantcontrolsaplaceofworkinwhichaself-employedpersonisfatallyinjuredasaresultofaworkactivity,thelandlordortenantisrequiredtoreportthisdeathtotheAuthority.

8. Preserving the scene of a fatal accident

AllfatalaccidentsreportedtotheHealthandSafetyAuthorityareinvestigatedbyinspectors.WhenemployersorothersnotifytheAuthorityofafatalaccidentinaworkplacetheyshould,iftheyhavecontrolofthesceneoftheaccident,discusswithaninspectoroftheAuthoritytheextenttowhichthesceneistobemaintained.TheGardaíwillensurethatthesceneisleftundisturbeduntiltheinspectorcommencesaninvestigation.Whereappropriate,accessshouldberestrictedanditemsshouldnotberemoved.Employersmay,however,takesuchstepsasarenecessarytomakethescenesafe.

9. When and how reports should be made

FatalaccidentsinaworkplaceshouldbereportedimmediatelytotheAuthority.Followingtheinitialreportandwithinfiveworkingdaysofthedeath,theformalreportshouldbemadeintheapprovedform.Thisappliestoanywork-relateddeath,includingonethattakesplacewithinayearofapreviouslyreportableaccident.

Anon-fatalaccidentordangerousoccurrenceshouldbeformallyreportedwithin10workingdaysoftheevent.

InjuriesshouldbereportedusingtheonlinereportingsystemontheAuthority’swebsite(www.hsa.ie).

10. Requirement to keep records

ThosewhoarerequiredtoreportaccidentsanddangerousoccurrencesundertheRegulationsarealsorequiredtokeeprecordsforaperiodof10yearsfromthedateoftheincident.Therecordscanbekeptinthesameformatasthereportmade–thatis,acopyofthereportsubmittedtotheAuthoritywillsufficetomeettheobligation.


Regulations 2016

Appendix 1

List of prescribed dangerous occurrences

Thelistofdangerousoccurrencesisdesignedtoobtaininformationmainlyaboutwork-relatedincidentsthatrarelyhappenbutwhichhaveahighpotentialtocausedeathorseriousinjury(eveniftheydonotactuallycausedeathorreportableinjury).TheinformationallowstheHealthandSafetyAuthoritytolearnaboutthecircumstancesandcausesofsuchincidents.Theanalysiscanbesharedwithindustrytohelpunderstandingofprimarycausesandpreventwork-relatedaccidents.

Insomecasesitmaynotimmediatelybeclearwhetherawork-relatedincidenthasahighpotentialtocauseinjury.Insuchcases,itisbetterfortheresponsiblepersontomakeajudgementsoapromptreportcanbemade,ratherthanwaitinguntilthepotentialtocauseinjuryisconfirmedbytestsorfurtherinvestigation.Suchadelaycouldleadtothelossofvaluableinformationrelatingtotheincident.

Thereportabledangerousoccurrencesarelistedbelow,withguidancenotes in italics,whereapplicable.

1. Vehicles, lifting and mobile machinery, etc. 1. Thecollapseof,theoverturningof,orthefailureofanyload-bearingpartof– a. anyliftorliftingequipment; b.anyexcavator;or c. anypile-drivingframeorpiledrivingmachine,havinganoverallheight,whenoperating,ofmorethan 7metres.

2. Theoverturningofanyvehicleor‘ride-on’mobileworkequipmentoritstrailerorsemi-trailertowing equipment.

3. Theload-shiftorlossofloadfrom– a. anyvehicle; b.anymobilemachine; c. anytrailer,or d.anysemi-trailer. causingariskofpersonalinjurytoapersonatwork.

2. Pressure vesselsTheexplosion,collapseorburstingofanyclosedvessel,includingaboilerorboilertube,inwhichtheinternalpressurewasaboveorbelowatmosphericpressure.


3. Explosion or fire 1. Anunintentionalexplosionoccurringinanyplantorplaceofwork. 2. Afireoccurringinanyplantorplaceofworkwhichresultedinthestoppageofthatplantorsuspension ofnormalworkinthatplaceofworkformorethan24hours.

4. Escape of flammable substancesThesuddenuncontrolledreleaseofonetonneormoreofhighlyflammableliquid,liquefiedflammablegas,flammablegasorflammableliquidaboveitsboilingpointfromanysystem,plantorpipe-line.

5. Collapse of scaffoldingThecollapseorpartialcollapseofanyscaffoldmorethan5metreshigh,including,wherethescaffoldisslungorsuspended,acollapseorpart-collapseofthesuspensionarrangements(includinganoutrigger),whichcausesaworkingplatformorcradletofallmorethan5metres.

6. Collapse of building or structureAnyunintendedcollapseorpartialcollapseof–

a. anybuildingorstructureunderconstruction,reconstruction,alterationordemolition,orofany falsework,involvingafallofmorethan5tonnesofmaterial;or

b. anybuildingbeingusedasaplaceofwork,notbeingabuildingunderconstruction,reconstruction, alterationordemolition.

The ‘falsework’ referred to in paragraph 6(a) means a temporary structure or frame that supports something that is being built. Examples of incidents reportable under paragraph 6 would include the collapse of a heavily loaded floor in a building or the collapse of a wall as a result of a vehicle colliding with a building used as a work premises.

7. Escape of a substanceTheuncontrolledoraccidentalreleaseortheescapeofanysubstance,which,havingregardtothenatureofthesubstanceandtheextentandlocationofthereleaseorescape,mighthavebeenliabletocausepersonalinjurytoanyperson.

Examples of the kinds of incident involving substances that would be covered by the definition are escapes arising from the failure or breakage of materials, apparatus, equipment, process plant, pipework, storage vessels, tanks, pipe-line, conveyance tanker, land-fill site, exploratory land-drilling site and spillages from containers and equipment.


Regulations 2016

Release of substances from plant, etc. during the normal course of operation or maintenance (e.g. during sampling, packaging or draining of lines) that are sufficiently well controlled to ensure that no person is put at risk would not be reportable.

Chemical substances covered by this definition may be in any form: liquid, solid (e.g. powder), gaseous or vapour, and may include, for example:

a. substances that may be hazardous to health (e.g. asbestos, phosgene, toluene diisocyanate);

b. substances that may be either corrosive or potentially hazardous by virtue of their temperature or pressure (e.g. nitric acid, molten metal, liquid nitrogen); c. flammable substances which may, depending upon the circumstances of the escape, present a fire or explosion hazard (e.g. oxygen, acetylene).

The decision as to whether or not an incident is reportable depends upon factors such as the nature of the substance and its chemical, physical and toxicological properties, the amount that escaped and its dispersal, and whether people could have been present at the time.

In the case of asbestos, any inadvertent contact likely to create a significant concentration of fibres in the air, thereby adding to the risk of developing an asbestos-related disease, should be regarded as dangerous occurrences.

Examples of dangerous occurrences involving asbestos would include:

- use of power tools (to drill, cut, etc.) on most asbestos-containing materials (ACM) without effective controls; - work that leads to physical disturbance (knocking, breaking, smashing) of an ACM that should only be handled by a specialist contractor, for example sprayed coating, lagging, asbestos insulating board; - manually cutting or drilling without effective controls; - work involving aggressive physical disturbance of asbestos cement, e.g. breaking or smashing.

Substances also include micro-organisms. Accidents or incidents that may have resulted in the release of a biological agent and which could cause both severe human infection and human illness must be reported. Biological agents include both Group 3 and 4 agents as defined in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Biological Agents) Regulations 2013.

8. ExplosivesAnyunintentionalignitionorexplosionofexplosives.


9. Freight containers 1. Thefailureofanycontainerorofanyload-bearingpartthereofwhileitisbeingraised,loweredor suspended.

2. Inthisparagraph– ‘container’meansanarticleoftransportequipmentwhichis–

a. ofapermanentcharacterandaccordinglystrongenoughforrepeateduse;

b. designedtofacilitatethetransportofgoodsbyoneormoremodesoftransportwithoutintermediate reloading;

c. designedtobesecuredorreadilyhandledorboth,havingcornerfittingsforthesepurposes;and

d. ofasizesuchthattheareaenclosedbytheouterbottomcornersiseither:

(i)ifthecontainerisfittedwithtopcornerfittings,atleast7squaremetres;or

(ii)inanycaseatleast14squaremetres;

andincludesacontainerwhencarriedonachassisbutdoesnotincludeavehicleorpackagingorany articleoftransportequipmentdesignedsolelyforuseinairtransport,oraswapbody,exceptwhenitis carriedbyoronboardasea-goingshipandisnotmountedonaroadvehicleorrailwagon.

‘cornerfittings’meansanarrangementofaperturesandfacesateitherthetoporthebottomorbothat thetopandthebottomofthecontainerforthepurposesofhandling,stackingandsecuringoranyof thosepurposes.

10. PipelinesInrelationtoapipeline,thebursting,explosionorcollapseofapipe-lineoranypartthereof.

11. Breathing apparatusAnyincidentwherebreathingapparatus,whilebeingusedtoenablethewearertobreatheindependentlyofthesurroundingenvironment,malfunctionsinsuchawayastobelikelyeithertodeprivethewearerofoxygenor,inthecaseofuseinacontaminatedatmosphere,toexposethewearertothecontaminanttotheextentineithercaseofposingadangertotheirhealth,butexcludingsuchapparatuswhileitisbeingusedinamineorisbeingmaintainedortested.


Regulations 2016

12. Overhead electric linesAnyincidentinwhichplantorequipment,includinganyotheroverheadline,eithercomesintocontactwithanoverheadelectriclineinwhichthevoltageexceeds200voltsorcausesanelectricaldischargefromsuchanelectriclineorcablebycomingintocloseproximitytoit,unlessineithercasetheincidentwasintentional,arisingfromorinconnectionwithworkactivities,oranyincidentinvolvingaliveconductoraccidentallyfallingduetobreakageorotherwise.

13. LocomotivesAnyaccidentalcollisionbetweenalocomotiveortrainandanyothervehicleatafactoryoratdockpremises.

14. Bursting of vessel, etc.Theburstingofarevolvingvessel,wheel,grindstone,orgrindingwheelmovedbymechanicalpower.

15. Wind turbines 1. Thecollapseorpartialcollapseofawindturbinetower.

2. Thefailureofoneormorebladesattachedtoawindturbine,resultinginthatbladeorblades,orpartofthat bladeorblades,becomingseparatedfromthewindturbine.

3. Inthisparagraph–

‘windturbine’meansequipment,withaminimumhubheightof20metres,thatconvertsthekineticenergyofwindintoanotherformofenergy,whichisthenusedforelectricitygeneration;

‘windturbineblade’meanstheelementsofawindturbineusedtoextractthekineticenergyofwindandconvertthistorotationalenergyofashaft;

‘windturbinetower’meansthatpartofawindturbinethatsupportsthenacelle,rotorandblades.

A wind turbine is considered to be a machine. The measurement of the hub height is from the base of the tower to the centre line of the rotor.

Cyan 100%Magenta 76%Yellow 0Black 27%Notes

healthy, safe and

productive lives

Health and SafetyAuthority

978-1-84496-230-3 HSA0451

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