Accident reporting: why it matters
Reporting and recording accidents is how the industry learns from harm and stops it happening again. The test checks you know what to record, what to report and to whom.
The reporting law is RIDDOR 2013 (the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations). It sets out which serious events an employer must report to the HSE, separate from the everyday accident book.
Accident reporting revision notes
The points below are the core of what the CITB test wants you to know on this topic. Learn these and most questions answer themselves.
Record everything
Every injury, however minor, should be entered in the accident book. A clear record protects the injured person and helps spot patterns before something worse happens.
RIDDOR reportable events
Employers must report deaths, certain specified injuries (such as fractures other than to fingers, thumbs and toes, amputations and loss of sight), dangerous occurrences, and some work-related diseases.
Over-seven-day injuries
An injury that keeps a worker off their normal work for more than seven days is RIDDOR reportable. An over-three-day injury must be recorded but is not, by itself, reportable.
Report near misses too
A near miss caused no injury this time, but it is a free warning. Reporting near misses lets the hazard be fixed before it hurts someone.
Investigate the cause
After an accident, the cause is investigated so controls can be improved. The aim is learning and prevention, not blame.
Who reports
The duty to report under RIDDOR falls on the responsible person (usually the employer), who reports to the HSE. As a worker, you tell your supervisor and make sure it is recorded.
Hear a question in Polish
The questions stay in English, exactly like the real CITB test, but you can listen to each one read aloud in native Polish. Press Play in Polish below to try it.
What is the first step when witnessing an accident on site?
Move the injured person to a safe location
Report it to your supervisor
Complete an accident report form
Call the emergency services
Every wrong answer can also come with an AI explanation that points to the specific rule behind the correct answer, so you learn from each mistake instead of just memorising. Native Polish audio and AI explanations are two things you will not find on other CSCS practice sites.
Accident reporting practice questions
Five questions in the real CITB format: one stem, four lettered options, one correct answer. Select Reveal explanation to check your answer and read why it is right.
Q1. Who is primarily responsible for completing an accident report?
- A.The injured person
- B.The site manager
- C.The health and safety officer
- D.The witness of the accident
Reveal explanation
Correct answer: C. The health and safety officer
The health and safety officer is responsible for ensuring that all accidents are properly documented and reported.
Q2. How soon should a serious accident be reported to the HSE?
- A.Within 2 hours
- B.Within 24 hours
- C.Immediately
- D.Within 3 days
Reveal explanation
Correct answer: C. Immediately
Serious accidents should be reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) immediately for investigation.
Q3. What information is crucial on an accident report form?
- A.Medical history of the injured person
- B.Details of the accident and injuries
- C.The weather conditions during the incident
- D.Personal opinion about the cause of the accident
Reveal explanation
Correct answer: B. Details of the accident and injuries
An accident report form should contain detailed information about the accident and any injuries sustained.
Q4. Why is it important to record near misses?
- A.To assign blame
- B.To prevent future accidents
- C.To reduce insurance premiums
- D.For statistical purposes only
Reveal explanation
Correct answer: B. To prevent future accidents
Recording near misses helps identify potential hazards and prevent future accidents.
Q5. What is RIDDOR?
- A.A type of emergency response
- B.A legal requirement for accident reporting
- C.A first aid protocol
- D.A safety equipment manufacturer
Reveal explanation
Correct answer: B. A legal requirement for accident reporting
RIDDOR stands for the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, which requires certain workplace incidents be reported to the authorities.
Common mistakes
These misconceptions catch people out in the test and on site. Unlearn them before you sit the real exam.
Mistake 1: “Every accident must be reported to the HSE.”
Correct: Only RIDDOR-reportable events go to the HSE. Everyday minor injuries are recorded in the accident book but not reported. Knowing the difference is exactly what the test checks.
Mistake 2: “An over-three-day injury is RIDDOR reportable.”
Correct: It must be recorded, but the reporting threshold is over seven days off normal work. Mixing up the recording and reporting thresholds is a common test trap.
Mistake 3: “Near misses are not worth reporting.”
Correct: Near misses are leading indicators of accidents. Reporting them lets a hazard be fixed before anyone is injured, which is the whole point of accident reporting.
Related CSCS topics
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