Reporting Near Misses

OSHA defines a near miss 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.” These near misses tend to become an injury if employees aren’t encouraged to report them so management can act accordingly. Today let’s explore the importance of tracking near misses and how to properly report them.
 
Why Track Near Misses?
OSHA estimates that for every injury on the job, there are over 300 near misses that go unreported. Tracking these incidents before they turn into injuries can help employers identify hazards or weaknesses in their safety programs and promptly fix them before an injury can occur. When near misses are reported, you can take a proactive approach to safety and safeguard employees from future injuries.
 
How to Report Near Misses
When an employee sees unsafe conditions, unsafe behavior, or an event where an injury/property damage could have occurred, they must be encouraged to report that near miss immediately. OSHA provides employers with their Incident Report Form to help identify what happened so management can review and respond quickly.
Once management has been notified of the near miss, an Incident Investigation can be conducted. These investigations help to identify hazards, provide engineering controls or plan adjustments, and create new training techniques to prevent the incident from happening again. From the investigation, employers then communicate any changes to staff to make sure all hazards have been identified and mitigated.
Even after investigations have been conducted, it is important for employers to encourage near miss reporting to allow for continuous improvement to overall health and safety. Remember, these reports should not be subject to disciplinary action unless the behavior is negligent, malicious, or violent.
 
Near misses are accidents waiting to happen. Encouraging employees to report them and properly eliminating the hazards at hand can help keep everyone in the workplace safe. To keep the conversation going, download the Near Miss Toolbox Talk (TBT) or comment below. 

Near Miss TBT