Most workplaces only act after someone gets hurt. You can change this by creating a near miss reporting safety culture.
Near miss reporting will give you the insight needed to prevent real accidents from happening. However, most workers are naturally reluctant to report near misses honestly or consistently.
In this blog, we look at how to build a culture where near misses are noticed, reported and used to stop real harm before it happens.
Key Takeaways
- A near miss is an unplanned event that didn’t cause harm but had the potential to do so. They often expose uncontrolled risks in the workplace.
- Most workers don’t report near misses because they don’t see the point, don’t feel safe doing it or find the process difficult.
- To create a near miss reporting safety culture, workers must feel psychologically safe to admit mistakes.
- Training workers will help them understand the value and purpose of near miss reporting.
What is a Near Miss?
A near miss is an unplanned event that did not cause any injury, illness or damage but had the potential to do so. These incidents are also called close calls.
Some examples of near miss incidents at work include:
- A worker slips on a wet floor but catches themselves before falling.
- A tool falls from scaffolding and lands near someone below.
- A ladder shifts unexpectedly but doesn’t tip over.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), there are approximately 90 near misses for every workplace accident.
These incidents shouldn’t be ignored because no one was hurt. A near miss is a dress rehearsal for an accident. They reveal unsafe systems, inadequate equipment or a lack of competency in your workforce. Identifying why a near miss happened will help you prevent future accidents.
Steps for Creating a Near Miss Reporting Safety Culture
Creating a near miss reporting culture means changing how people think about safety.
Most workers don’t report near misses because:
- They assume incidents are only worth reporting if someone is hurt.
- Reporting is complicated or takes them away from work for too long.
- Admitting mistakes or raising concerns is met with hostility.
Here are some steps that will help you tackle these barriers to near miss reporting and encourage your staff to report such incidents:
1. Involve Staff in the Near Miss Reporting Process
Workers often see risks before anyone else. Encourage your front-line staff to speak up when they witness or experience a close call.
Get their input through simple questions like:
- What are your thoughts on near miss reporting?
- What might stop you from reporting a near miss?
- What would make you more likely to report one?
- What should we include in our near miss programme?
- How would you like to take part in the programme?
2. Promote Psychological Safety
Promoting psychological safety is integral to developing a near miss reporting culture. If workers fear repercussions for admitting mistakes or raising concerns, they won’t report near misses consistently or honestly.
You must make it clear that workers are “safe” to report near misses. Adopt a no-blame approach and reassure workers that near miss reporting is about improving safety, not finding fault.
3. Recognise and Reward Reporting
When staff report near misses, you need to acknowledge them and follow up.
This builds psychological safety and encourages future reporting. If workers see their reports are taken seriously and their efforts recognised, they’ll be more likely to speak up again.
Even a simple thank-you or a mention builds motivation. You can also offer small rewards.
4. Provide Straightforward Near Miss Reporting Forms
Provide a clear and simple near miss reporting form.
Reporting must feel easy. If the form is long or confusing, some people won’t bother reporting.
Keep the form as brief as possible. It should include:
- Date and time
- Location
- Description of what happened
- What could have happened
- Any immediate action taken
Make sure completed forms go to someone who reviews them quickly.
You can also use the HSE Near Miss Book to ensure all key details are captured and reviewed.
For faster reporting and easier access, you can provide a digital option, such as an online form.
5. Train Workers to Spot and Report Near Misses
Some workers may not recognise a near miss when it happens or understand why reporting is vital. To prevent this, teach your staff what a near miss is and how they’re used to improve safety.
Use real examples. Walk through past near misses and explain how they were handled. Reinforce the idea that proactive reporting makes everyone safer and will be rewarded.
Near Miss Training for Safety Teams and Managers
Workplace safety culture starts at the top. If managers don’t understand the value of near miss reporting, workers won’t either.
To build a reporting culture, managers must lead by example. They need to know how to communicate the importance of near miss reporting, engage staff, review reports, spot patterns and take action to fix root causes. Without these skills, reports are ignored and lessons are lost.
Our online Near Miss Training course gives practical guidance on how to react to and resolve near misses – from identifying issues to leading investigations and fixing the root causes. Users learn how to extract valuable lessons from near miss reports and improve safety performance.
About the author(s)
Jonathan Goby
