Cancers and diseases still have to be reported

A proposal to remove the duty on employers to report cases of occupational diseases has thankfully been dropped by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

A consultation on changes to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrence Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR), which ran to last November 2012, provoked opposition from the unions and safety campaigners. There was particular opposition to the proposal to drop the requirement to report occupational cancers, diseases attributable to biological agents and six short-latency diseases (hand-arm vibration syndrome, dermatitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, severe cramp of the arm, tendonitis and occupational asthma).

Recently published minutes of an HSE board meeting held in January reveal a U-turn on the part of the authorities.The relevant minute said: “The Board will advise the minister to accept the modified option which now reinstates the requirement to report injuries to members of the public and the notification of six key industrial diseases which represent over 90% of those that are currently reported, in addition to the requirement to report occupational cancers and diseases attributable to biological agents.”

The HSE’s RIDDOR pages are at: www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/index.htm