Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

Explosion or fi re
An explosion or fi re occurring in any plant or prem-
ises which results in the suspension of normal work 
for more than 24 hours.
19. 
Escape of fl ammable substances
The sudden, uncontrolled release inside a 
building:
(i) of 100 kg or more of a fl ammable liquid
(ii) 
of 10 kg or more of a fl ammable liquid above its 
boiling point
(iii) 
of 10 kg or more of a fl ammable gas
500 kg or more of any of the substances, if released 
in the open air.
20. 
Escape of substances
The accidental release or escape of any substance 
in a quantity suffi cient to cause the death, major 
injury or any other damage to the health of any 
person.
17.27.10
Reportable diseases – Schedule 3, 
brief summary
These include:
➤
certain 
poisonings
➤
some skin diseases such as occupational derma titis, 
skin cancer, chrome ulcer, oil folliculitis/acne
➤
lung diseases, such as occupational asthma, farmer’s 
lung, pneumoconiosis, asbestosis, mesothelioma
➤
infections such as leptospirosis, heptatitis, tubercu-
losis, anthrax, legionellosis and tetanus
➤
other conditions, such as occupational cancer, cer-
tain musculoskeletal disorders, decompression ill-
ness and hand-arm vibration syndrome.
The details can be checked by consulting the guide, 
looking at the pad of report forms, checking the HSE’s 
web site, ringing the HSE’s Infoline or the Incident 
Control Centre (ICC).

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Summary of the main legal requirements
383
17.27.11 References
A guide to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and 
Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995, L73, 1999 
HSE Books
ISBN 0-7176-2431-5
Everyone’s guide to RIDDOR, HSE 31 (rev1) HSE Books
ISBN0-7176-2441-2
RIDDOR Information for doctors HSE 32. 1996 HSE 
Books, RIDDOR reporting: Information about the new 
incident centre, MISC310, HSE