HSE RIDDOR Reform Consultation 2026: What It Means for Employers

The HSE has launched a consultation on proposed changes to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013. The consultation opened on 7 April 2026 and closes on 30 June 2026. While not a full overhaul, the proposals signal a meaningful shift in how workplace incidents, particularly occupational ill health are defined, captured, and reported.

For health and safety professionals, this is less about minor regulatory tweaks and more about preparing for a broader, more data-driven reporting regime.

So, What Is The HSE Proposing with RIDDOR 2026?

The consultation focuses on five key areas:

• Clarifying definitions such as “work-related,” “injury,” and “routine work.”
• Expanding the list of reportable occupational diseases.
• Allowing diagnoses from a wider range of healthcare professionals, not just doctors.
• Updating the list of dangerous occurrences, including new categories.
• Improving the reporting system to reduce both under-reporting and over-reporting.

At face value, these changes aim to make RIDDOR clearer and more effective. In practice, are likely to increase both the volume and complexity of reporting.

A Shift Towards Occupational Health

The most significant change is the proposed expansion of reportable occupational diseases. The HSE is considering introducing or reintroducing a number of conditions, reflecting a growing recognition that workplace harm is not limited to acute injuries. This aligns with the broader regulatory focus on occupational health, particularly in areas such as respiratory conditions, musculoskeletal disorders, and long-latency illnesses.

What This Could Mean:

• More cases will meet the threshold for RIDDOR reporting.
• Historical exposure may become a consideration (depending on final rules).
• Employers will need stronger alignment between safety and occupational health functions.

This is a clear move towards RIDDOR becoming not just an incident-reporting tool, but a mechanism for capturing work-related ill health trends.

Broader Diagnostic Triggers

Another important proposal is to allow a wider range of registered health professionals to confirm diagnoses that trigger RIDDOR reporting. Currently, this is largely limited to doctors. Expanding this could mean:

• Earlier reporting triggers.
• More frequent notifications from occupational health providers.
• Increased reliance on external clinical judgement.

Implication:
Your reporting process may no longer be controlled solely internally; it will depend more heavily on how information flows through your business.

Changes to Dangerous Occurrences

The HSE is also proposing updates to dangerous occurrences, including new categories and amendments to the existing ones. While the final list is not yet confirmed, early indications suggest a focus on:

• High-risk construction and engineering events.
• Failures of plant or equipment.
• Serious near-miss scenarios with potential for significant harm.

Implication:
Organisations in higher-risk sectors may see an increase in reportable events, particularly where internal near-miss thresholds are currently higher than RIDDOR requirements.

Tackling Poor Quality Reporting

HSE has been explicit that the current system suffers from both under-reporting and over-reporting. A notable proportion of reports received are not actually reportable. Reasons include:

• Misinterpretation of “work-related.”
• Over-cautious “belt-and-braces” reporting.
• Reports submitted by individuals who are not the dutyholder.

There is also a data protection angle, submitting non-reportable incidents may result in personal data being shared without a lawful basis.

Implication:
This is a clear signal that enforcement may increasingly focus on the quality of reporting decisions, not just whether something was reported.

The Real Impact for Organisations

While the administrative burden per report may not change significantly, the overall impact will likely be felt in:

• Internal Decision-making
  • Your current RIDDOR guidance, flowcharts, and manager training may quickly become outdated. Clearer legal definitions will reduce ambiguity but also expose poor decision-making.
• Occupational Health Integration
  • Closer working with occupational health providers will be essential. Reporting triggers may originate externally, and processes will need to reflect that.
• Data Governance

• You will need stronger controls to ensure:
  • Only reportable incidents are submitted.
  • Personal data is handled lawfully.
  • Reporting responsibility sits with the correct “responsible person.”
• Systems and Automation
  • For larger organisations, this may accelerate the move toward integrated incident management systems capable of triaging and potentially, automating elements of reporting.

What Should You Do Now?

Even at consultation stage, there are some practical steps worth considering:

• Review your current RIDDOR decision-making process: where are the grey areas?
• Map your occupational health reporting triggers: who tells you what, and when?
• Compare internal incident categories vs RIDDOR thresholds.
• Assess reporting governance: who is authorised to submit and how is this controlled?
• Engage with the consultation: particularly if you operate in higher-risk sectors or manage significant occupational health risks .

Summary

These proposals reflect a broader direction of travel. RIDDOR is evolving from a reactive injury-reporting tool into a more comprehensive system for capturing work-related harm and risk indicators. For employers, this means:

• More reportable events.
• Greater reliance on clinical input.
• Increased scrutiny on reporting decisions.

The organisations that adapt early by strengthening their internal processes and integrating occupational health more effectively, will be best placed to manage both compliance and risk.

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