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
Nearly every accident reporting question hinges on one distinction: what must be recorded in the accident book versus what must be reported to the HSE under RIDDOR 2013. Get that line clear from the notes below and the rest follows.
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
Reporting questions live or die on precise wording, the gap between record and report, or exactly who the duty falls on. Press Play in Polish below to hear a real question read aloud while you follow the English, so no keyword slips past you.
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 quiz, five questions
Five accident reporting questions in the real CITB format. Look out for the ones testing the record-versus-report threshold and near misses, the classic traps. Answer each one and it is marked straight away, with the reason it is right.
0 of 5 answered
Score: 0 / 5
Q1. Who is primarily responsible for completing an accident report?
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?
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?
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?
Reveal explanation
Correct answer: B. To prevent future accidents
Recording near misses helps identify potential hazards and prevent future accidents.
Q5. What is RIDDOR?
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.
Answer all five to see how you did on accident reporting
The real CITB test is 50 questions in 45 minutes, with a 45 out of 50 pass mark. Our free mock test uses the same format and needs no account.
Common mistakes
These are the reporting mistakes that let a hazard go unrecorded and unfixed, not just cost you a mark. Clear them up before the test and before your next incident on site.
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
Accident reporting connects to what happens before and after an incident. These related areas complete the picture: