What is an Accident Book and do I need one?
An accident book is a workplace record for logging injuries, illnesses, and near-misses, serving as a legal requirement for employers to document incidents, comply with health and safety laws like RIDDOR, and help prevent future accidents by identifying patterns. It contains details like who, what, when, and where an incident occurred and helps with insurance claims and legal proof, it requires confidential storage.
Key functions
Legal compliance:
Helps employers meet requirements under health and safety legislation, such as RIDDOR.
Risk management:
Allows organisations to spot trends in incidents and accidents in order to improve safety procedures.
Employee protection:
It provides a record for employees if they need time off or to claim compensation.
Documentation:
Details all workplace accidents, even minor ones, including date, time, location, nature of injury, and witness info.
What it includes
Personal details such as name, address, occupation of the injured person and witness.
Incident details, for example, date, time, and location of the accident.
Injury details - include a description of the injury or illness.
Treatment, including details of any first aid given.
Who needs one
Most employers, particularly those with 10 or more employees, are legally required to keep one.
How it's kept
It can be a physical book or a secure digital system. It must be stored confidentially and securely.
