What Is A First Aid Accident Record Book?

A first aid accident record book is an essential document used by employers and employees to record and report details of any specified injuries and incidents on the work premises and what action was taken. 

This enables businesses to comply with legal requirements under the Social Security and Health and Safety legislation, and allows for employers to identify any commonly occurring injuries so that they can take preventative action.

What are the laws around recording accidents?

Many people think that the accident record book is a health and safety requirement, as accidents are a health and safety issue, right? But surprisingly, the law on accident books doesn’t come from health safety regulations at all. In fact, the legal requirement for an accident book comes under the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1979.

Under the section ‘obligations of employers’ the law states that:

• Every employer must take reasonable steps to investigate every accident
• Any employer required to do so by the Secretary of State must provide information of an accident or alleged accident resulting in death or incapacitation
• Every owner or employer of any mine or quarry or any premises which the Factories Act 1961 applies to, and every employer with 10 or more persons normally employed at the same premises, must keep readily accessible means of recording the details of any accident causing personal injury.

This section therefore requires employers to provide accident books at work. Anyone injured at work is required to inform their employer and to record information about the accident in the accident book, and the document must be kept by the employer for 3 years following completion.

So, if you are asking yourself ‘does my business need an accident record book?’, the answer is a simple ‘yes’!

What must be recorded in an accident book?

There are a number of important details you must record in an accident book, including:

• name and occupation of the injured or ill person;
• the date, time and location of incident;
• details of the injury/illness and what first aid was given;
• how did the accident happen (i.e. did something cause it or what were the events leading up to it);
• what action was taken immediately afterwards (for example, did they go back to work or go to hospital); 
• supporting evidence (e.g. CCTV footage, photographic evidence, cleaning logs); and
• the name, signature and contact details of the first aider or person dealing with the incident.

Why is it so important to record accidents and injuries at work?

As well as being the simplest most reliable way to ensure compliance with the relevant regulations, there are other reasons why recording accidents at work is so important.

Firstly (and most importantly), an accident book can be used to track trends in accidents so that common threads can be identified and prevented. The ultimate point of the accident book is to prevent accidents from happening again, as well as recording the details of those that have already occurred.

In addition to this, in the event of legal backlash, it helps to cover your workers as well as your company as a whole. The evidence recorded can be used in compensation claims, for both employees and for employers if the accident was the consequence of faulty equipment, for example.

First Aid Books & Manuals For Your Workplace

Accident Record Book

This Data Protection Compliant accident record book is an A4 document and supplies you with tear off report forms to allow for the details of the injured party to be kept filed in a safe and secure place. 

This publication provides helpful advice on how the accident book should be used and an introduction to Reporting Of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. This ensures that your place of employment is covered should ever the Health and Safety Executive call upon your records. 

Pupil Accident Record Book

This accident record book is great for use in nurseries, schools, colleges and universities, for recording injuries to pupils/students. This book has been produced with the tear off report forms allowing details of that person to be kept filed in a safe and secure place. 

First Aid Manual Revised 10th Edition

This First Aid Manual is the UK’s only fully authorised first aid guide, endorsed by St John Ambulance, St Andrew’s First Aid and the British Red Cross and packed with step-by-step first aid advice.

This is the bestselling first aid manual in the UK and is used as the official training manual for the UK’s leading first aid organisations’ courses. It covers all aspects of first aid, from emergency first aid and first aid for babies and children, to the latest guidelines on resuscitation, helping a drowning casualty, and snake bites. 

Find out how to treat over 100 different conditions from splinters and sprained ankles to strokes and unresponsiveness and how to use essential equipment including a defibrillator.

You can find our full range of accident books and first aid manuals for the workplace here.

At Morsafe Supplies, we stock a selection of first aid products with free next day delivery available. If you need more guidance, please contact us on 01686 611 377 or sales@morsafesupplies.com.

Written by Kate for Morsafe Supplies.