Importance of reporting a near miss

BACK TO YOU: DON HURST

A near miss is defined as a potential hazard or incident in which no property was damaged and no personal injury was sustained, but where, given a slight shift in time or position, damage or injury easily could have occurred. 

They can also be referred to as close calls, near accidents, or injury-free events and are leading indicators of health and safety performance.

Some examples of near misses include:

• Events where injury could have occurred but didn’t
• Unsafe or improper behavior or work habits
• Improper use of tools and equipment
• Malfunctioning equipment

It’s important to encourage your workers to report near misses as it can:

• Reduce risk
• Establish a safe and healthy work environment
• Provide an opportunity to improve the safety program
• Demonstrate trends
• Demonstrate management’s commitment to safety

For more information and resources on reporting near misses, please contact your regional safety advisor or visit our website.