Report RIDDOR & Unsafe Sites - London Bylaws

Labor and Employment England 3 Minutes Read · published February 02, 2026 Flag of England

In London, England you must report certain workplace injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences under RIDDOR and notify your local council about hazardous buildings or sites that present public risk. This guide covers when to use the HSE RIDDOR reporting route and when to contact your local authority for dangerous structures, with clear action steps and official contacts.

When to report

RIDDOR applies to work-related deaths, major injuries, specified occupational diseases and dangerous occurrences; local councils handle dangerous buildings, public safety and environmental hazards on non-work sites. Use the HSE online report for workplace incidents and your local council for unsafe public or private sites affecting passers-by.

Report serious workplace incidents to the HSE without delay.

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement for RIDDOR reporting and health and safety at work is carried out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE); local authorities may enforce health and safety in certain premises and take action on dangerous structures.

  • Enforcer: HSE for RIDDOR workplace incidents; local authority building control or environmental health for dangerous structures and public-safety hazards.
  • Fines: not specified on the cited page. [1]
  • Escalation: not specified on the cited page; enforcement may range from advice to notices and prosecution.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: improvement or prohibition notices, emergency remedial works, seizure or cordons, and prosecution in courts.
  • Inspection and complaint pathways: report to HSE using the online RIDDOR form for workplace incidents and contact your local council for dangerous sites (see Resources below).
  • Appeals and review: specific appeal routes and time limits are not specified on the cited page; enforcement notices normally set review or appeal procedures (check the enforcement notice for deadlines).
If enforcement action is taken, read the notice carefully for appeal deadlines and requirements.

Applications & Forms

Workplace incidents are reported via the HSE RIDDOR online reporting form; there is no fee for reporting. For dangerous buildings or sites, councils may require forms or written reports—check your local authority's building control or environmental health pages for their procedures.

Practical action steps

  • Immediate: secure the site and provide first aid; for life-threatening emergencies call 999.
  • Report workplace deaths, major injuries or dangerous occurrences using the HSE online form [1].
  • Contact your local council's environmental health or building control to report dangerous structures or public-safety hazards.
  • Keep records: preserve evidence, take photographs, log times and witness details.
  • Comply: follow any improvement or prohibition notices and retain proof of remedial work.
Keep contemporaneous records of actions and communications when reporting incidents.

Common violations

  • Failure to report a RIDDOR reportable incident — may lead to enforcement action; amount not specified on the cited page.
  • Unsafe site maintenance leading to collapse or falling debris — council remedial orders and possible prosecution.
  • Ignoring prohibition or improvement notices — escalation to emergency works and court action.

FAQ

Do I always report to HSE for an injury at a construction site?
You must report work-related deaths, major injuries, specified diseases and dangerous occurrences under RIDDOR to the HSE; construction sites are commonly reportable. Contact the HSE online for RIDDOR reports.[1]
Who do I tell about a dangerous abandoned building on my street?
Report dangerous or collapsing buildings to your local council's building control or environmental health department; use the gov.uk find-your-council tool in Resources to locate your authority.
Is there a fee to submit a RIDDOR report?
No fee is required to submit a RIDDOR report via the HSE online form.

How-To

  1. Secure immediate safety and call emergency services for life-threatening incidents.
  2. Gather facts: names, dates, times, witnesses, and photos of the incident and site.
  3. For workplace reportable incidents, submit the RIDDOR report via the HSE online reporting page [1].
  4. Report dangerous buildings or public-safety hazards to your local council's building control or environmental health team.
  5. Follow any enforcement notices, keep records of remedial work and, if necessary, prepare an appeal within the time limits stated on the notice.
Contact HSE for workplace incident guidance and your council for public-safety site issues.

Key Takeaways

  • Report RIDDOR incidents to HSE promptly and record all evidence.
  • Report dangerous buildings to your local council's building control or environmental health team.
  • Keep clear records and comply with any notices to avoid escalation.

Help and Support / Resources

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