RIDDOR Reportable Diseases

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2 min 45 sec
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Employers and the self-employed must report a diagnosis of certain occupational diseases which are likely to have been caused by or made worse by their work.  

Reportable diseases must be diagnosed by a doctor and employees need to provide the diagnosis in writing to their employer. The diagnosis may relate to a new diagnosis or the worsening of an existing condition or symptoms.

Reportable diseases include: Severe cramp of the hand or forearm, where the affected person’s work involves long periods of repetitive movements of the fingers, hand or arm, which can impair a person’s ability to carry out their normal duties.  This condition is reportable when it is chronic and has happened to someone whose work involves an associated repetitive movement. This would not apply to someone just experiencing an acute cramp instance at work.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is not always work-related, but when it is due to work factors it is often related to hand-held vibrating tools such as sanders or grinders and it should be reported.

Occupational dermatitis would be reportable when it is associated with work-related regular exposure to a known skin sensitiser or irritant.  If it can be proven that the dermatitis has been caused solely by an exposure outside the workplace, then it would not be reportable.  

Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome would be reportable when the person affected works regularly with percussive or vibrating tools, or where the person regularly holds a material or object that is subjected to such a tool.

Asthma would be reportable when it is associated to work-related exposure to any respiratory sensitiser, and this may include solder fume, wood dust, epoxy resin fumes and other substances.  

In the case of asthma, when there is good evidence that the individual already had the condition and it hadn’t been triggered by or made work by exposure at work, it would not be reportable.

Tendonitis is a type of tendon injury, and workers who have physically demanding, repetitive tasks are more likely to develop these conditions.  The type of work may include repeated lifting and work that involves constrained postures or extreme movements.  Examples could be bricklaying or assembly line work.

You should also report any disease attributed to occupational exposure to a biological agent for example: Leptospirosis, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis, Anthrax, Legionellosis and, finally Tetanus.