There are 90 near misses for every accident in the workplace, according to the Health and Safety Executive. That’s 90 opportunities to find and fix safety issues before an accident happens. But too often, these opportunities are wasted. And hazards go overlooked until someone’s hurt.
Of course, you could catch these hazards the first time they reveal themselves. Our guide explains how to use near miss forms to identify and address risks before they result in injury.
What is a Near Miss?
A near miss (or close call) is an incident that could have resulted in injury, illness or damage but was narrowly avoided. Near misses are obviously less serious than actual accidents, but they shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Imagine an employee working in a busy warehouse who narrowly misses being hit by a box falling from an overloaded shelf. The worker might see this as a trivial event. They mistake being unharmed for being safe.
So, they continue their work, and the actual hazard (the overloaded shelf) goes unreported. Days later, another employee isn’t so lucky. The high shelf is still overloaded, and another box falls. This time, it strikes the worker.
Had the initial incident been reported using a near miss form, the second worker would never have been injured. The overloaded shelf would have been checked and corrected, preventing the second accident.
What is a Near Miss Form?
A near miss form is a document that captures detailed information about incidents that almost caused harm but were narrowly avoided. It serves as a structured way to record and review these events, helping identify potential workplace hazards. A typical form should include:
- Name and position of the employee who experienced the near miss.
- Date, time and location where the incident happened.
- A detailed account of what happened, including the sequence of events leading up to the near miss.
- Details of any witnesses.
Additionally, the form can include space for photos or diagrams of the incident. These can offer valuable context and aid in understanding the event more clearly. By collecting this information, a near miss form ensures that all relevant details are documented, making it easier to analyse the incident and take corrective actions.
Recording near misses isn’t a requirement like some workplace accidents. But it is good practice and can help save money, improve performance and prevent accidents.
The Benefits of Using a Near Miss Form
1. Accident Prevention
Accident prevention is the primary benefit of using near miss forms to monitor and analyse adverse events. They can be used to identify unsafe conditions before anyone is injured.
Near miss forms also help you identify hidden issues. An isolated event might not reveal much, but patterns and trends can begin to emerge when multiple reports are collected and compared. This gives you a deeper analysis of workplace safety.
2. Improving Safety Culture
Encouraging employees to report any near misses helps promote a culture of safety. When workers feel comfortable reporting close calls without fear of blame, they are more honest. Honest reports are more accurate, so they provide better insights.
Over time, this cultural shift can result in a more alert and responsible workforce dedicated to safety for themselves and their colleagues.
3. Easier Reporting
We all like things to be easy. Near miss forms make it straightforward for employees to document close calls, which should increase the quantity and quality of submitted reports.
Supervisors also benefit. Standardised report forms make it easier to collate incident data. This simplicity enables faster and better insights into safety performance.
How to Use Near Miss Forms Successfully
Encourage Reporting
Many employees are reluctant to report near misses for fear of blame. They might water down reports or skip them entirely, leaving supervisors in the dark.
Make it clear to your employees that near miss reporting is about preventing future accidents, not about assigning blame. This no-blame approach encourages more honest and frequent reporting, giving you better data to work with.
Make Reporting Easy
Simplify the process of reporting near misses. Use straightforward forms that are easy to fill out, whether on paper or digitally. Provide clear instructions and ensure that forms are readily accessible to all employees. The easier it is to report a near miss, the more likely employees will do it promptly.
Review and Act on Reports
Collecting near miss reports is only useful if you review and act on them. Regularly analyse the reports to identify patterns and underlying issues. Use this information to make necessary changes to your safety protocols and procedures. Show your employees that their reports lead to real improvements, which will encourage participation in the process.
Overcoming Common Challenges
Implementing near miss forms in the workplace can significantly enhance safety, but it’s not without challenges. One of the main obstacles is avoiding a tick-box mentality where incident forms are filled out just for the sake of compliance. To make near miss reporting truly effective, it’s essential to go beyond collecting forms.
Each report should be followed by a thorough investigation and meaningful action to address the identified hazards. This approach ensures that the process is not just about paperwork but about genuinely improving workplace safety. By focusing on real safety improvements rather than just ticking boxes, you can create a more effective and impactful near miss reporting system.
Key Takeaways
- Near miss forms help identify and address potential hazards before they result in injury.
- Effective near miss reporting processes increase the number and quality of reports.
- Near miss forms provide valuable information that aids thorough and effective investigations.
- Avoiding a tick-box mentality ensures that near miss reports lead to real safety improvements.
Near Miss Training
Training can help you get the most out of your near miss reports. We offer a comprehensive six-module Near Miss Training course designed to help you and your team understand and implement effective near miss reporting systems.
The online course explains how to unearth the meaningful data in your near miss reports. You’ll develop the skills to analyse incidents and identify underlying safety issues. This insight lets you enhance overall workplace safety and reduce the risk of accidents.
The course also covers how to encourage reporting and work with staff to find and fix unsafe conditions.
Remember, there’s an average of 90 close calls before every accident. Don’t count on there being 91. Sign up for our Near Miss Training course today.
About the author(s)
Jonathan Goby