Procedures for Reporting and Recording Incidents, Accidents and Spillages

All incidents, including those involving patients, staff, or visitors, need to be reported promptly to the appropriate person, often a line manager or supervisor.
The person who first becomes aware of the incident typically has the responsibility to report it.
Reporting should follow the standard protocols set out in the institution’s incident management policy.
An incident report needs to be completed, providing full details of the event, including the people involved, witnesses, the nature of the incident, date, time, location, and any actions taken.

Accurate recording is a significant aspect of incident management, contributing to improved patient safety and risk management.
It is important to record all the facts about an incident in a concise and objective manner, avoiding opinion and speculation.
Incident records need to be stored securely in compliance with data protection and confidentiality policies.
Regular reviews of incident records can help to identify trends and inform improvements in infection control procedures.

Incident reporting procedures also apply to accidents, but certain accidents may require additional reporting under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR).
Serious accidents, including those resulting in death, specific injuries, or incapacitation for more than seven days, need to be reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
An appropriate record of any reportable accident should be kept for at least three years.

Spillages of bodily fluids or hazardous substances need to be dealt with promptly and safely to reduce the risk of infection.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) should be used during clean-up operations.
In case of major spillages or those involving potentially infectious or hazardous substances, the area should be cordoned off and specialist clean-up teams alerted.
All spillages and the actions taken to deal with them should be reported and recorded to ensure appropriate follow-up and review of preventative measures.