In food studies, riddor is a key term connected with workplace health and safety. It refers to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations. These regulations require certain workplace injuries, occupational diseases and dangerous incidents to be reported to the relevant enforcing authority. In a hospitality setting, this could involve an incident affecting a member of staff in a kitchen, restaurant or food-service area. Understanding RIDDOR helps you explain how serious workplace incidents are dealt with, rather than treating every minor accident as a reportable event.
What does RIDDOR stand for?
RIDDOR stands for Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations. It is a set of workplace reporting regulations used in Great Britain.
The important point for GCSE food revision is that RIDDOR concerns specified events. This means that not every injury, illness or accident has to be reported under RIDDOR. The rules identify the types of serious workplace injury, work-related disease and dangerous occurrence that must be reported.
Why is RIDDOR relevant to hospitality?
Hospitality workplaces can include commercial kitchens, cafés, restaurants, hotels, school kitchens and catering businesses. These environments may contain hazards such as hot equipment, sharp tools, wet floors, chemicals and heavy items.
If a serious incident occurs, the person responsible for the workplace must consider whether it meets the reporting requirements. This is separate from giving first aid, making the area safe and investigating what happened. Reporting helps the enforcing authority identify serious risks and check that suitable safety controls are being used.
| Key idea | What it means |
|---|---|
| Specified event | An injury, disease or dangerous occurrence that falls within the reporting requirements. |
| Workplace | A place where people carry out work, such as a professional kitchen or food-service area. |
| Responsible person | The person or organisation with responsibility for reporting, depending on the workplace circumstances. |
How could you apply RIDDOR in an exam?
If a question describes a serious incident in a hospitality workplace, first identify the hazard and the outcome. Then explain that the incident should be assessed against the RIDDOR reporting requirements. Avoid writing that every cut, burn or slip must automatically be reported under RIDDOR. The details of the incident matter.
A strong answer could link the term to prevention as well as reporting. For example, a business should follow its health and safety procedures, record and investigate incidents appropriately, and review controls to reduce the chance of the problem happening again.
RIDDOR exam-ready summary
- RIDDOR means Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations.
- It applies to specified workplace injuries, diseases and dangerous incidents.
- It is relevant to hospitality workplaces, including professional kitchens and food-service areas.
- Not every accident or injury is reportable under RIDDOR.
- In an exam, define the term and apply it carefully to the details in the scenario.
Workplace reporting guidance and qualification specifications can change. For the assessment context, check the relevant WJEC specification or AQA specification, and use current official guidance from the Health and Safety Executive or GOV.UK where appropriate.