UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT
A near miss is an event that could have caused harm but did not produce that outcome. The absence of injury can conceal a serious weakness, especially when timing or chance explains why nobody was affected. Reporting should help the organization understand what happened, what might reasonably have happened, and which safeguards need qualified review. It should not depend on proving blame.
Make the reporting route easy to find and accessible to employees and contractors. Useful information includes the location, activity, time, observations, and people who can provide context. Separate observed facts from interpretations. An increase in reports may reflect greater trust or better access, so avoid treating the count alone as deteriorating performance. Close the learning loop by explaining what was reviewed and changed, while protecting personal information and following applicable incident reporting procedures.
Questions to take back to your team
- Does the report separate observations from assumptions?
- Could the potential consequence justify a more detailed review?
- Will the reporter learn what happened to the concern?
Awareness guide only. Follow applicable requirements, qualified review and your site’s approved procedures. Reading this page does not authorize work or certify competence.
Further reading
Explore the primary references below. Requirements and applicability depend on your organization and jurisdiction.
