A near miss is an unplanned event that has the potential to cause harm, but does not actually result in human injury, environmental or equipment damage, or an interruption to normal operation). According to OSHA, a near miss is an incident in which no property was damaged and no personal injury was sustained, but where, given a slight shift in time or position, damage or injury easily could have occurred). Near misses are often errors, with harm prevented by other considerations and circumstances). They can also be referred to as near accidents, accident precursors, injury-free events, close calls, or near collisions).
Reporting near misses is important because they can help identify potential hazards and prevent future incidents). Recognizing and reporting near miss incidents can make a major difference to the safety of workers within organizations). In the heavy construction industry, near miss reporting software allows crews to find and document opportunities that help reduce safety risks as the software tracks, analyzes and calls attention to near misses on the job site to help prevent future incidents). In healthcare, near-miss reporting systems are important for improving patient safety. Successful implementation of near-miss reporting requires leadership commitment, incentives for staff, periodic reminders, and a system that allows reporting to be easy and anonymous.
