INVESTIGATE NEAR MISSES

One of the most important principles of accident prevention is anticipation. When workers anticipate what could go wrong, they can take proactive steps to prevent incidents before they happen.

A critical part of this process is investigating near misses, incidents that could have caused injury or damage but did not. These events are valuable warning signs. Safety research shows that for every accident that causes injury, many similar incidents go unreported or result in no harm. Near misses often share the same root causes as serious accidents.

An accident that does not cause injury should never be ignored. It signals that a process, environment or behavior needs attention. If left uncorrected, these warning signs can lead to serious injuries or costly damage. They often stem from unsafe practices or conditions that were overlooked. 

In many cases, an injury is preceded by multiple near misses. For example, if someone trips and falls and is injured, that person may have stumbled before without consequence. Each earlier incident was a missed opportunity to correct the hazard.

How many near misses should occur before action is taken? If safety is a priority, one should be enough. Every near miss and no-injury accident should be investigated with the same seriousness as an injury-related incident.

Report all accidents and near misses to your supervisor. Failing to do so increases the risk that the next incident will be more severe. Repeated unsafe conditions are more likely to result in injury over time.

By staying alert to near misses and reporting them promptly, everyone plays a role in creating a safer workplace.