RIDDOR — Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences

RIDDOR — Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations

RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013) requires employers and the self-employed to report certain work-related injuries, occupational diseases and dangerous occurrences to the Health and Safety Executive. A 2026 consultation update to RIDDOR has broadened the occupational disease reporting categories — making this regulation more directly relevant to industries where dust, chemical exposure and biological hazards are routine.

This page explains what RIDDOR requires, which reportable diseases are relevant to V-TUF industries, and how proper dust extraction and equipment control reduces RIDDOR-reportable incidents.

What must be reported under RIDDOR

Three categories are relevant to the industries V-TUF supplies:

Reportable occupational diseases: includes occupational asthma (caused by wood dust, flour dust, cleaning chemicals), hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), dermatitis (from cleaning chemicals and water exposure), silicosis (from RCS exposure), and asbestos-related diseases including mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer. These are diseases that arise from — or are substantially worsened by — exposure at work. Where a worker is diagnosed with any of these conditions, the employer is required to submit a RIDDOR report to the HSE.
Dangerous occurrences: events that do not result in injury but which had the potential to cause major injury. Collapse of dust extraction equipment, chemical spills from pressure washing systems, and explosions in environments where ATEX-rated equipment is required are all potential dangerous occurrences.
Over-7-day incapacitation injuries: where a worker is incapacitated for more than 7 consecutive days (not counting the day of the accident) due to a work-related injury, the employer must submit a RIDDOR report within 15 days.

How dust extraction reduces RIDDOR exposure

The most common RIDDOR-reportable occupational diseases in V-TUF's customer industries are:

Silicosis: caused by inhalation of respirable crystalline silica. Preventable with H-Class extraction at source during cutting, grinding and drilling. A RIDDOR report for a silicosis diagnosis is a clear indicator of a COSHH control failure — and potentially CDM and HSE enforcement action.
Asbestos-related disease — mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer: asbestos-related diseases are the single largest cause of work-related death in the UK, with over 5,000 deaths per year attributable to past asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer are prescribed occupational diseases under RIDDOR — any diagnosis must be reported. These diseases arise from the disturbance of asbestos-containing materials during maintenance, refurbishment and demolition of pre-2000 buildings and vessels. H-Class extraction (H14 HEPA, 99.995%) is mandatory under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 for all asbestos vacuum work — it is the primary equipment control that prevents the fibre exposure that leads to RIDDOR-reportable disease. See Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 →
Occupational asthma: caused by sensitising substances including wood dust, flour dust, mould, and certain cleaning chemicals. Preventable with M-Class or H-Class extraction at source and appropriate chemical safety measures.
Dermatitis: caused by repeated skin exposure to water, cleaning chemicals, and wet work. Particularly relevant to pressure washing operatives who handle chemical injection systems without adequate PPE or exposure controls.

Investing in properly classified extraction equipment is the primary preventive control that reduces the probability of RIDDOR-reportable occupational disease diagnoses in your workforce.

Recommended equipment for RIDDOR-risk reduction

V-TUF MIDI H-Class — silicosis and asbestos disease prevention

H14 HEPA extraction for RCS-generating work and mandatory for all asbestos vacuum work under CAR 2012. The primary equipment control measure against silicosis and asbestos-related disease in construction. SKU MIDIH110 / MIDIH240. View MIDI H-Class →

V-TUF MIGHTY HSV — occupational asthma prevention

M-Class, 99.9% HEPA filtration. Controls wood dust, MDF, drywall and general construction dust that can cause occupational asthma. SKU MIGHTYHSV110 / MIGHTYHSV240. View MIGHTY HSV →