Dangerous occurrence
A specified event that must be reported to the relevant authority even if no injury results. The lists of dangerous occurrences are defined separately in each jurisdiction and are not identical.
By jurisdiction
UK HSE
“dangerous occurrence”Exact equivalentAn event listed in Schedule 2 of RIDDOR 2013 that must be reported to HSE regardless of whether injury occurs. Examples include collapse of a scaffold, failure of a freight container, unintentional fire or explosion, and certain releases of biological agents.
Irish HSA
“dangerous occurrence”Close equivalentSchedule 2 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 lists the dangerous occurrences that must be notified to the HSA using the IR1 form. The list differs from RIDDOR Schedule 2.
US OSHA
“catastrophic event”Partial equivalentOSHA does not use the phrase dangerous occurrence. Severe injury reporting under 29 CFR 1904.39 requires employers to report fatalities within eight hours and in-patient hospitalisations, amputations and losses of an eye within 24 hours.
Note: The lists are jurisdiction-specific. Do not assume a GB dangerous occurrence is reportable in Ireland or the US.
Practitioner note: Reportable even where nobody is hurt. The duty is triggered by the event itself, so a near miss matching a listed occurrence must still be notified.