What is a near-miss and why is it important?

What is a near-miss and why is it important?

• A. An event that could have caused harm but did not due to chance or timely intervention; reporting improves prevention
• B. An event with actual injury
• C. A routine maintenance activity
• D. A hazard that was avoided last year

Answer: (A)

A near-miss is an event that could have caused harm but did not, thanks to luck, timing, or a protective action. It matters because it signals weaknesses in safety controls or exposures in the work process, offering a chance to fix problems before anyone is hurt. By reporting near-misses, teams learn what hazards exist, review procedures, and put in preventive measures, which reduces the chance of future injuries. It’s not an event with actual injury, nor a routine maintenance activity, nor simply a hazard avoided in the past—the value lies in the warning the near-miss provides and using it to prevent harm.

A near-miss is an event that could have caused harm but did not, thanks to luck, timing, or a protective action. It matters because it signals weaknesses in safety controls or exposures in the work process, offering a chance to fix problems before anyone is hurt. By reporting near-misses, teams learn what hazards exist, review procedures, and put in preventive measures, which reduces the chance of future injuries. It’s not an event with actual injury, nor a routine maintenance activity, nor simply a hazard avoided in the past—the value lies in the warning the near-miss provides and using it to prevent harm.