Accident Books

Accident books are a legal requirement.

By law, every employer must record accidents to employees and visitors. Two key laws apply to accident reporting/recording at work:

• Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations (SSCPR)

• Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR)

Many people think that the accident book is a health and safety requirement. So it might surprise you to find out that the law on accident books doesn't come from a health and safety regulation. The SSCPR makes accident books a legal requirement for businesses employing 10 or more people.

So if you employ less than 10 people, you don't legally need an accident book under the SSCPR. However, RIDDOR reporting is a legal requirement for businesses of any size, so it makes sense for every workplace to keep an accident book to comply with the law.