HSE Proposes First Major Overhaul of RIDDOR in Over a Decade

The UK's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched a landmark consultation to modernise the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR). Marking the most significant review of the reporting framework since 2013, the proposed reforms aim to bring safety metrics into alignment with modern workplace hazards and working practices.

Central to the proposed updates is a substantial expansion in the list of reportable occupational diseases, growing from six categories to nineteen. The additions introduce specific reporting obligations for long-term health risks, including silica and asbestos-related lung conditions, noise-induced hearing loss, and other contemporary occupational illnesses. Furthermore, the HSE is looking to broaden the spectrum of registered healthcare professionals whose clinical diagnoses can formally trigger a reporting requirement, moving beyond traditional General Practitioners.

Fee for Intervention (FFI) Rates Rise to £188 Per Hour

Alongside regulatory consultations, the HSE has implemented upward adjustments to its cost recovery regimes. Effective from 1 April 2026, the widely applied Fee for Intervention (FFI) hourly rate increased from £183 to £188. Other specialized regulatory regimes saw comparable increases, with Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) fees rising to £218 per hour and offshore safety inspections climbing to £332 per hour.

The adjustments form part of the regulator's statutory duty to ensure full cost recovery for its compliance and enforcement activities. With the HSE continuing its aggressive inspection schedule—targeting roughly 14,000 proactive interventions focusing on occupational health, dust suppression, and psychosocial risks—duty holders face heightened financial exposure if material breaches of health and safety law are uncovered during site visits.

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Implications for Employer Compliance and Training

The combined weight of updated reporting duties, rising enforcement penalties, and a renewed regulatory focus on occupational health means that baseline compliance must be actively managed. Organisations across construction, manufacturing, and facilities management are urged to audit their current incident recording structures, health surveillance provisions, and risk assessments to navigate these evolving standards effectively.

Ensuring that team leaders, managers, and safety representatives possess up-to-date competencies is critical for mitigating regulatory and financial exposure. Comprehensive professional development and accredited compliance courses can be accessed through Abertay Training at https://www.abertaytraining.co.uk