Why Do I Need an Accident Form? Accident forms are necessary for storing evidence of an incident which has taken place. They should be used in all workplaces but are also beneficial for schools, sport and activity clubs and at volunteering events. Even if you don't have to report an incident under RIDDOR, it is still important that you make and retain a record of it. It is a legal requirement for companies with more than ten employees to keep an accident book. Often, a responsible person will be nominated and it will be their job to ensure reported incidents are recorded in the book. Your place of work or organisation may have a physical accident book, or may keep them stored in a digital format. What Should I Do with Accident Forms? It is likely that you, or someone else, will need to refer to the accident form at a later date. The information recorded may be required to by the HSE if they ask to see it. One of the main purposes of an accident form is to help to prevent accidents from happening in the future. Therefore, you and your organisation need to reflect on past accidents in order to determine whether anything could have been done to avoid it. For example, an accident could have been the result of inadequate training or due to faulty equipment. By identifying the main cause, or contributing factor, you will be able to put measures in place to ensure similar accidents don't happen. This depends on the incident but may involve altering work practices to a safer, more suitable method. Alternatively, you may determine that employees have a poor understanding of health and safety risks. Providing all employees with sufficient training ensures they are aware of the risks and how to manage them. Further, you will be able to collate similar accidents and to see which may be becoming regular occurrences.