Investigation - Stage 1: Receive incident details - Additional guidance
Definition of major incident
A major incident is defined as a significant event, which demands a response beyond the routine, resulting from uncontrolled developments in the course of the operation of any establishment or transient work activity.
The event may either cause, or have the potential to cause, either:
- multiple serious injuries, cases of ill health (either immediate or delayed), or loss of life, or
- serious disruption or extensive damage to property, inside or outside the establishment
Events which, taken in isolation, may not warrant classification as major incidents, may do so when considered together.
Significance is determined by the severity of the incident, the degree of public concern and the nature and extent of HSE's previous involvement with the dutyholder(s).
The nature and extent of HSE's previous involvement would not normally, on its own, result in an incident being declared as 'major'.