A near miss is an event or hazard that does not result in injury, illness, or damage but had the potential to do so.
Near misses must be reported, regardless of how severe, in order to ensure that the appropriate steps are taken to prevent a recurrence in which serious injury or loss may occur.
Near misses happen in the industry on a regular basis. We can recognize near misses and use them as a tool to change processes and prevent future incidents and serious injuries from happening.
With proper reporting and investigation, these incidents should never reoccur.
Examples of Near Misses
A worker not wearing the proper PPE for the job.
A worker not following proper procedures or safe work practices.
A person slips on ice but does not fall or hurt themselves.
Tool malfunctions or misuse.
A tool that is dropped and lands beside another person.
A missing guard rail and a person nearly slips into the opening.
Nearly hitting underground utilities or lines.
Using the top of the step ladder as a step
Equipment nearly contacting overhead power lines.
Vehicle or object impact or strike “close-call.”
Tips on Near Misses:
Near misses are accidents waiting to
happen. The only difference between a near miss and an accident is a fraction of an inch or a second in time.
Report all near misses right away. Most accidents are preceded by multiple near misses. Report them to your supervisor so that he or she can track the patterns, pinpoint the problem, and take corrective action.
If possible, remove the hazard immediately. Do your part to protect your co-workers, patients, and visitors from injury. But do not forget to report the hazard even if you removed it.
Report damaged equipment or property. Do not wait for a near miss or accident to happen. Stay alert for anything that could cause an accident. Injuries can often be traced
back to equipment or property damage that was never reported and repaired.
Look for and report damaged equipment.
Stay alert for and
report property damage.
Think of scenario not the event. Often, we look at the event but not the scenario. Consider all the events that led up to the near miss is the best way to report.
Consider what was different this time that caused the near miss. Change from the norm is often where the near miss and accident occurs. Different tool, different process, someone/something out of place, consider the changes during investigation.
Source:Glenn Dickey, All-Safe Program Manager at AgriSphere Services, LLC, Decatur, IL
Safety Tip of the Week is edited by
Managing Editor Tucker Scharfenberg and published each Monday by Grain Journal, Decatur, IL
