In a move to cut costs, the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) are ending their Infoline telephone service on 30 September.

Businesses will still be able to notify fatal and major incidents and injuries by ’phone but from 12 September, all other reportable work-related injuries and incidents under RIDDOR (the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases & Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) will move to a predominantly online system, with a suite of seven forms available on HSE’s website intended to make the statutory reporting process quick and easy.

And after 30 September, businesses and members of the public seeking information and guidance on health & safety will have to use the website.

The HSE website features information on the most frequent health & safety enquiries, including RIDDOR reporting, first aid and the health & safety responsibilities of start-up businesses. It receives 26million visits a year and is regularly updated and improved with the aim of helping businesses and members of the public quickly access the information they need.

Trevor Carlile, HSE’s Director of Strategy, says: “More than half of reportable injuries are already notified to HSE through the website and this proportion has been increasing steadily over the past seven years. Taking advantage of the growing use of the internet allows HSE to be more efficient in the way it works. We do recognise, however, that people reporting a traumatic event still need that personal interaction, so the notification of fatal and major incidents and injuries will still take place by phone.”