Accidents - Keele University
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Department of Occupational Health and Safety

 

Department of Occupational Health and Safety

Accidents, Dangerous Ocurrences and Diseases

(Latest revision June 2010)

This section addresses the arrangements in the University for the recording, reporting and investigation of accidents and dangerous occurrences and diseases.

Associated webpages and documents

Policy

It is the Policy of the University to comply with the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995, the Data Protection Act 1998, the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1979 and the Social Security Administration Act 1992.

Arrangements for recording accidents and dangerous occurrences and diseases

All work areas have been issued with an Accident Book of "Accident and Dangerous Occurrences Report Forms". The book is kept either by your departmental administrator, Designated First Aider or the Workplace Safety Adviser, who must be advised immediately an accident occurs. Departments and Schools must decide who their responsible person is and enter their name on the front cover of the book.  If someone is injured in a part of the campus not obviously within any department's control the accident can still be recorded in your own workplace accident book. If you are in any doubt please consult the DOHS.  Further copies of the Accident Book are available from the Secretary of the Department of Occupational Health and Safety (DOHS).

Each Accident Book contains 20 forms in duplicate. The forms are numbered, which allows DOHS to trace distribution throughout every Department and School in the University.

Full instructions on how to complete the form are given at the front of the booklet.

After completion, both copies of the form must be removed from the booklet. The top (white) copy must be sent forthwith to the DOHS. The coloured copy must be filed confidentially by the responsible person named on the front cover. This will be deemed to comply with the provisions of the Data Protection Act.  In essence this means that no booklet in the University should have a completed form remaining within it.

Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences reportable to the Health and Safety Executive under RIDDOR

Certain more serious accidents and dangerous occurrences are reportable to the Health and Safety Executive. It is the responsibility of the Head of the DOHS to implement this procedure on behalf of the University.  Anyone completing an accident form should consider whether the accident or dangerous occurrence falls within defined reportable categories and if so they must complete the remainder of the form (Parts B, C and D) before sending it forthwith to the DOHS.  If in doubt please contact DOHS.

Reportable events include

  • Death
  • Major injury
  • An injury to an employee or self-employed person which prevents them carrying out their normal work for more than three days
  • An accident arising from work to a student or visitor resulting in them being taken from the scene of the accident to a hospital for treatment
  • Certain dangerous occurrences as defined by the HSE

DOHS is responsible for safely maintaining accident report forms for a minimum period of three years. It is also responsible for providing routine statistical data on accident and dangerous occurrences arising in the University to the Health and Safety Standing Committee and the Occupational Health and Safety Committee, or any other body as requested by Council.

Investigation of Reportable Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences

Accidents, dangerous occurrences and cases of ill-health may be investigated for a variety of reasons.

  • To enable statutory reports to be completed
  • To provide information for insurers in the event of a claim
  • To allow accident statistics to be produced

But the fundamental objective is the identification of the root cause of the incident. A further objective, once the cause has been identified, is the prevention of recurrences.

It is a requirement of Council that all reportable accidents and dangerous occurrences are fully investigated.  From January 2010 this will be carried out by the Head of DOHS in consultation with relevant people from the work area concerned.  In exceptional circumstances, such as a fatal accident or a complex scenario, the Head of the DOHS will investigate in liaison with the Inspector of the Health and Safety Executive.

Occupational Diseases

Occupational diseases are on occasions identified by the Occupational Health Service. A number of these are reportable to the Health and Safety Executive. Should a Department/School believe they have an incidence of an occupational disease, whether or not reportable, it should be discussed with the Occupational Health Manager. For information see a copy of the list of reportable diseases and a copy of the Report Form of the Diagnosis of a Reportable Disease.