A near miss is an unplanned event that did not result in injury, illness, or damage but had the potential to do so. Near misses are often called "close calls" or "good catches" and represent the most valuable source of safety intelligence available to any organization. Research consistently shows that for every serious injury, there are hundreds of near misses. Capturing and acting on these events with incident management software is the single most effective way to prevent injuries before they happen.
Why Most Near Misses Go Unreported
Overcoming these barriers requires a deliberate strategy that combines leadership commitment, simple reporting tools, and visible follow-through on every report received.
The Safety Pyramid: Why Near Misses Matter
Benefits of a Near Miss Program
Identify Hazards Before They Cause Harm
Near miss reports reveal the same underlying hazards that cause injuries. Addressing these hazards proactively eliminates risks before anyone gets hurt, reducing both your injury rates and workers' compensation costs.
Build a Proactive Safety Culture
When employees see that their near miss reports lead to real changes, trust in the safety program grows. Reporting rates increase over time, creating a virtuous cycle where more hazards are identified and fixed. This cultural shift is the foundation of a world-class safety program.
Meet Regulatory and Management System Requirements
While near misses are not OSHA recordable, several standards require or recommend near miss programs. OSHA's Process Safety Management standard (29 CFR 1910.119) requires investigation of near misses. ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 both recommend near miss reporting as part of continual improvement.
Generate Leading Indicator Data
Near miss reporting rates, time-to-close on corrective actions, and repeat hazard frequencies are all powerful leading indicators. Unlike lagging indicators such as DART Rate and TRIR, leading indicators help you predict and prevent future incidents rather than simply counting past ones.
Building an Effective Near Miss Program
1. Make Reporting Simple
The easier it is to report, the more reports you will receive. Mobile reporting apps allow workers to submit a near miss in under a minute, attach a photo, and auto-capture location data. Eliminate paper forms and complex approval chains for initial reporting.
2. Allow Anonymous Reporting
When first launching a program, allowing anonymous submissions removes the fear of retaliation and significantly increases participation. As trust builds, many organizations transition to named reports to enable recognition and follow-up conversations.
3. Respond Visibly and Quickly
Nothing kills a near miss program faster than inaction. Acknowledge every report, investigate promptly, assign corrective actions, and communicate the outcome back to the workforce. Post results on safety boards or share in toolbox talks to demonstrate that reporting makes a difference.
4. Investigate for Root Causes
Treat near misses with the same root cause analysis rigor as actual incidents. Use 5-Why analysis or Fishbone diagrams to identify systemic causes rather than blaming individuals. Track corrective actions through to verified completion.
5. Track Trends and Celebrate Success
Use dashboards to monitor reporting rates by department, location, and hazard type. Recognize individuals and teams who report frequently. Celebrate when near miss data leads to hazard elimination. Set reporting goals and track them alongside injury rate goals.
What to Include in a Near Miss Report
- Date, time, and location of the event
- Description of what happened and what could have happened
- Photos of the hazard or conditions (a mobile app makes this easy)
- People involved or nearby at the time
- Immediate actions taken to address the hazard
- Potential severity if the event had resulted in an actual incident
- Suggested corrective actions from the reporter
Ecesis Incident Management Software
Incident Management
Report near misses and incidents from any device with automated routing and tracking.
Safety Inspections
Standardize hazard identification with mobile inspection checklists.
Employee Training
Train employees on near miss recognition and reporting procedures.
Task Management
Track corrective actions from near miss reports to verified completion.
Compliance Obligations
Meet PSM and ISO requirements for near miss investigation and documentation.
Mobile EHS App
Enable one-minute near miss reporting with photos and GPS from any phone.
