Construction union UCATT has warned that the proposed changes to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) will lead to a further downgrading in safety reporting.

Under the changes which are due to be introduced in October 2013, the number of major injuries which require an automatic RIDDOR report has been significantly reduced.

Injuries which will no longer require an automatic RIDDOR report include:

• An electrical shock leading to unconsciousness, resuscitation or admittance to hospital.

• A temporary loss of eyesight

• Dislocation of the shoulder, hip, knee or spine.

• Unconsciousness or acute illness caused by a biological agent its toxins or infected material.

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• An acute illness requiring medical treatment.

• Loss of consciousness due to absorbing or inhaling a substance.

Steve Murphy, General Secretary of UCATT, said: "The reduction in the requirement to report major injuries is dangerous. Many of these type of injury are potentially life changing for those involved. If companies no longer have to report them then they are less likely to take preventive measures to stop them re-occurring."

The proposals also downgrade the need to report injuries sustained by members of the public unless "they are taken from the scene of the accident to hospital for treatment for that injury" and even this is not required if they are taken to hospital as a precaution.

The requirement to report dangerous occurrences which don't result in an accident (near misses) has also been reduced. There are now 21 types of dangerous occurrences which should be reported, previously there were 27 types of incident where reporting was required.

Mr Murphy added: "These changes are a further downgrading of the reporting of workplace accidents. The Government is determined to ensure that the reporting of accidents is so weak that they become meaningless. The Government says it wants to simplify accident reporting for employers, it is clear they don’t care about the consequences it has for workers."

(CD/JP)