Near Miss

Near Miss is a term used in risk management and safety fields to describe an incident that could have resulted in harm, but did not. Near misses are often used as indicators of potential future incidents and are therefore important for preventive measures and risk assessment.

Definition

A Near Miss is an unplanned event that did not result in injury, illness, or damage – but had the potential to do so. Only a fortunate break in the chain of events prevented an injury, fatality or damage; in other words, a miss that was nonetheless very near. The term is used in occupational health and safety, aviation, healthcare, emergency service organizations, and military.

Importance

Near misses are often seen as a warning sign and an opportunity for learning. They are key pieces of information in risk assessment and safety management systems. By studying near misses, organizations can identify weaknesses in their safety systems before a serious incident occurs.

Reporting

Reporting of near misses by employees is a vital part of safety assurance. However, there can be barriers to reporting, such as fear of blame. Therefore, it is important to create a safety culture where employees feel able to report near misses without fear of reprisal.

See also

• Accident
• Incident (disambiguation)
• Safety culture
• Risk management

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