Reporting work related incidents is an important step in managing the risks from our work activities. It gives us an opportunity to learn from what has happened and take action to stop it happening again.

An incident can be any unplanned or unexpected event that either caused or could have caused:

• personal injury
• ill-health
• damage to property, plant or equipment
• any loss in productivity

This includes near misses where no one was injured but could just as easily have been under slightly different circumstances.

Near misses often go unreported but are just as important to report as they can help avoid situations that might otherwise cause someone harm.

Incidents are valuable learning events and using them to improve the safety of our employees and others is our goal.

There is a legal requirement to report certain types of incidents to the Health and Safety Executive. This information helps them see where the more serious risks are so they can work with organisations to prevent them happening again.

Guidance on what incidents are reportable and how to make a report is available on the Health and Safety Executive's website.