Accident book - illness

  • Quick and easy to fill in
  • HSE compliant
  • Spot trends and problems early

This template accident book for illness is suitable for you to record the necessary details of any work-related illnesses that crop up.

It is a legal requirement for you to keep an accident book including illnesses if you normally have ten or more employees on your business premises at once. However, it is good practice to keep a record of work related illnesses even if you have fewer staff than this. A record like this makes it easier for you to spot trends and tackle any underlying causes of illness before it becomes too much of a problem.

For serious illnesses, particular information must be recorded. This accident book for illness is a template page for you to fill in, ensuring your record covers everything that is legally required.

Q&A

  • When should I use this document?

    Use this accident book template to record work related illnesses reported by your staff. Complete a separate form for each illness and keep them securely to comply with your data protection obligations.

    You do not need to record every illness that your staff mention, mostly because it is often impossible to tell whether a common illnesses such as colds, flu or stomach bugs have been caught at work or somewhere else.

    Some serious illnesses or occupational diseases must be recorded in your accident book and reported to the HSE promptly.

  • What does this document cover?

    This accident book for illness includes fields for all the details you are legally required to record if a member of staff contracts a work-related illness.

    Illnesses like chronic hand and arm problems (eg brought on by repetitive movements), occupational dermatitis and occupational asthma all need their details carefully recording and must be reported to the HSE.

  • Why do I need this document?

    You are legally required to keep an accident book for work-related illnesses if you usually have ten or more employees working at your business premises at once. You should keep these records for at least three years from the date that the illness is reported.

    It is good practice to keep a record even if your business is smaller as it can help you build up a picture of any health and safety issues that you can improve on. Fewer staff illnesses means a happier, more productive workforce.

    If you fail to keep a proper accident book recording illnesses when you are legally required to, you are committing an offence which is punishable by a fine or even imprisonment if the matter is serious enough.

  • Where can I find out more?

    For full details about your record keeping obligations for accidents and illnesses, and when and how to report serious illnesses to the HSE, see Dealing with accidents and illnesses.

    In addition to accident book entries for work-related illnesses, you will also need Accident book - injuries and Accident book - near misses.

Related Documents

Related Toolkits

Small claims toolkit

This small claims toolkit guides you through the right process to follow if you want to make a straightforward small claim against someone, and contains a pack of all of the template documents you are likely to need. Use the small claims process to get back money you are owed for amounts less than £10,000 (for example, if a supplier has not sent you the right goods or you have not received payment from a customer). Documents provided in this small claims toolkit include: letter before action (also known as a letter of claim), which must be sent to someone before you sue them to set out what you are claiming; witness statement, which provides a template for any witness statements you are providing to ensure they are legally compliant; and letter of non-attendance for small claims hearing (if you want the court to judge your case on paper evidence rather than you attending a hearing). By using this small claims toolkit you can avoid the need to use a lawyer and maximise your chances of getting back money you are owed. It helps you avoid common mistakes that can reduce your chance of a successful claim.
Find out more
  • How-to guide: Small claims toolkit
  • Letter before action
  • Witness statement
  • Letter of non-attendance for small claims hearing

Redundancy toolkit

This redundancy toolkit guides you through the key steps you need to take to make an employee redundant, and provides a pack of the relevant template documents you are likely to need. You will find guidance and a pack of 9 supporting documents, including letters, notices and agendas, for each step of the redundancy process: Initial steps (considering alternatives and reasons for redundancies); Creating a redundancy pool, applying selection criteria and notifying employees; Carrying out a consultation process; and Making a final decision, calculating payments and terminating employment. It also includes a template letter to offer alternative employment to employees who are at risk of being made redundant. By using this redundancy toolkit, you will ensure that your redundancy process is fair and legally compliant, which reduces the chance of any employees suing you. The guidance in this redundancy toolkit also helps you to ensure you do not make redundancies in a discriminatory way. Use this redundancy toolkit to ensure you are legally compliant without the need for a lawyer.
Find out more
  • How-to guide: Redundancy toolkit
  • Redundancy - Letter warning of proposed redundancies
  • Redundancy - Selection criteria form
  • Redundancy - Provisional selection for redundancy letter
  • Redundancy - First individual consultation meeting agenda
  • Redundancy - Outcome of individual consultation meeting
  • Redundancy - Invitation to final individual consultation meeting
  • Redundancy - Final individual consultation meeting agenda
  • Redundancy - Notice of termination of employment
  • Redundancy - Offer of alternative employment

Starting an online business toolkit

This toolkit to start an online business includes all the legal documentation and know-how you need to set up a website and change your business to online sales. It comprises 9 key documents, including: separate cookie and privacy policies, and terms of use for your website; a customisable set of terms and conditions to cover you for the supply or goods or services or both; template invoices (VAT and non-VAT) and cancellation form; and a quick guide to customer rights, which are much broader for online sales than face-to-face transactions. Our helpful how-to guide will take you step-by-step through how to use the documents included in this pack, whether you are starting a new business or changing an existing business model to set up your own website and start selling online. Note that if you provide online services in the EEA, you will also need to ensure that you follow the rules of each EEA country you operate in. If you are not sure how this applies to you, you can access a specialist lawyer in a few simple steps using our Ask a Lawyer service.
Find out more
  • How-to guide: Starting an online business toolkit
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookie policy
  • Website terms of use
  • Terms and conditions
  • Cancellation form
  • VAT invoice
  • Non-VAT invoice
  • Quick guide to customer rights in online sales
  • Checklist of information to include to ensure your website is legally compliant

Disciplinary toolkit

This disciplinary toolkit will guide you through the process of handling a disciplinary matter. It includes a how-to guide and a pack of 16 relevant documents you are likely to need. You will find template letters, agendas and other documents which can be used at each key step of the disciplinary process: Investigating the disciplinary matter (including suspension of your staff member if necessary and appropriate); Attending a disciplinary meeting with your staff member; Taking disciplinary action eg written warnings or dismissal; and Providing an opportunity for your staff member to appeal your decision. The toolkit also includes a list of common disabilities, so that you can check whether you need to make any reasonable adjustments at disciplinary meetings. This toolkit will help you to follow a fair and proper disciplinary process, which reduces the risk of your staff member taking legal action against you in future.
Find out more
  • How-to guide: Disciplinary toolkit
  • Suspension letter pending investigation
  • Disciplinary investigation template
  • Invitation to attend a disciplinary hearing
  • Invitation to attend meeting to discuss sickness absence
  • List of common disabilities
  • Note taking template for disciplinary proceedings
  • Basic script for conducting a disciplinary hearing
  • First written warning for capability
  • First written warning for misconduct
  • Final written warning for capability
  • Final written warning for misconduct
  • Sickness absence meeting - outcome letter
  • Dismissal letter
  • Invitation to attend a disciplinary appeal hearing
  • Basic script for conducting a disciplinary appeal hearing
  • Letter to confirm outcome of a disciplinary appeal
See all Toolkits