The Health and Safety Executive's proposals to reform RIDDOR are a welcome step towards improving how workplace injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences are reported in Great Britain. For too long, gaps in reporting have made it harder to understand the full extent of workplace harm and, crucially, to prevent it.
At Thompsons, we see first-hand the devastating impact occupational diseases can have on workers and their families. Silicosis, asbestos-related illness and other occupational conditions are not historical problems; they continue to affect workers across the UK today.
That's why we have strongly supported the proposal to expand and reintroduce reportable occupational diseases under RIDDOR. It's a positive step towards ensuring the reporting system reflects the reality of modern workplaces and provides a more accurate picture of the risks workers face.
However, if RIDDOR is to remain fit for purpose, it must evolve to reflect the realities of modern workplaces. Occupational disease continues to devastate workers, families and communities, yet many conditions remain under-reported. Emerging risks, including heat-related illness, also deserve greater recognition within the reporting framework.
RIDDOR is more than a reporting mechanism. It provides the evidence needed to identify trends, target enforcement, improve workplace standards and save lives. When incidents go unreported, opportunities to learn lessons and prevent future harm are lost.
As lawyers representing workers and trade unions across the UK, we know that effective reporting alone cannot eliminate the risks of injury, but it is an essential first step.
The challenge now is to ensure that reform is ambitious enough to meet the workplace challenges of the 21st century. A modern reporting system should prioritise transparency, inclusion and prevention – and it should be shaped in partnership with the trade unions and safety representatives who are often the first to identify emerging workplace dangers.
By Philip Liptrot, Head of Personal Injury at Thompsons Solicitors
How to Get in Contact
If you’ve been diagnosed with a work-related disease or illness, our industrial disease specialists are on hand to support you. To find out more about how we can help, call us on 0800 0224 224 or visit our contact page to request a call back.