Near Miss
A near miss is an unplanned event that did not result in injury, illness, or damage but had the potential to do so under slightly different circumstances.
What Is a Near Miss?
A near miss (also called a "close call" or "near hit") is an event where no injury or damage occurred, but the potential was present. For example, a tool falls from scaffolding and lands inches from a worker - no one was hurt, but the outcome could have been severe.
Why Near-Miss Reporting Matters
Studies based on Heinrich's Triangle suggest that for every serious injury, there are approximately 300 near misses. Reporting and investigating near misses gives organizations the opportunity to fix hazards before they cause real harm. Near-miss data is a powerful leading indicator of safety performance.
Building a Near-Miss Reporting Culture
- Make reporting easy and accessible (mobile forms, QR codes).
- Ensure reporting is non-punitive - workers must feel safe to report.
- Acknowledge every report and communicate corrective actions taken.
- Track trends and share learnings during toolbox talks.
Near-Miss Reporting on Make Safety Easy
Make Safety Easy makes near-miss reporting effortless: workers submit reports from their phone with photos and location data, supervisors are notified instantly and trend analytics highlight recurring hazards.