June 2013
E-zine from NIPSA Health & Safety Committee
Assembly U-Turn on RIDDOR changes In response to representations made by NIPSA and the NIC/ICTU Health and Safety Committee to the Assembly Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee the Minister, Arlene Foster, has decided not to proceed with the proposed change to the trigger points under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrence Regulations (RIDDOR) which were due to come into force on 1 April 2013. The decision not to proceed leaves intact the employer’s duty to report any accident that has led to an employee being absent from work for more than three days instead of the proposed move to over seven days. We are delighted the Assembly has taken this common sense approach and have not
taken the same path as Great Britain who implemented this change on 6 April 2012. The perceived need for reform of the regulations was fuelled by claims from some business bodies that reporting duties are too complicated and burden businesses. This decision has sent a clear signal to employers that reporting over three day incidents is not a burden on businesses. That RIDDOR reports provide much needed intelligence data and there is a requirement on employers to comply with this duty. NIPSA will continue to argue against any future de-regulation agenda which poses a threat to the health, safety and welfare of our members.