What is considered a near-miss?

Asked by: Demetrius Dietrich  |  Last update: April 10, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (25 votes)

A near-miss is a potential hazard or 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 also may be referred to as close calls, near accidents, or injury-free events.

What qualifies as a near miss?

What is a near miss? A near miss in workplace health and safety is commonly defined as an unexpected event when someone could have gotten hurt but didn't. Yet, the same situation could pose a risk in the future.

What is one example of near miss?

Poor lighting resulting in an employee tripping, and almost falling over an undetected extension cord. A leaky air conditioner drips onto a walkway resulting in an employee slipping and nearly falling. A missing or worn step marker resulting in an employee tripping over a step.

What is the near miss rule?

Every incident that does not result in injury or property damage can be referred to as a “near miss”. Recognised and recorded as such, a near miss represents an equivalent learning opportunity as an accident, but without the injury or damage associated with the more severe occurrences.

How do you classify a near miss?

A near miss is a safety incident that did not result in injury, illness, or death but had the potential to do so. This near miss definition is similar to that of a near hit, but Pettinger differentiates the two in this way: A wrench falling from scaffolding and nearly hitting a worker below is an example of a near hit.

TakTik No. 3.3 - Near miss onboard

20 related questions found

What is not an example of a near miss?

Take, for example, a missing hazard label. The missing label itself is not a near miss, but if an employee is nearly injured by the improperly labeled substance, the event would be considered a near miss.

What is a reportable near miss?

A near miss is an incident that did not result in injury or property damage but would have if it had not been addressed in a timely manner. Though the worst possible outcomes of a near miss are not realized, affected employees should still report it as an unsafe event.

How do you determine if an incident is a near miss?

According to ISO 45001, a near miss is “a work-related incident where no injury or ill health occurs, but which has the potential to cause these.” Both a near miss and an accident are incidents. But unlike an accident, a near miss is an incident that did not result in a fatality, injury, illness, or property damage.

What is the three miss rule?

Failure to hit a ball "on" three times in a row, if the player has a clear sight of the ball. The referee will warn a player after a second such miss that a third miss will mean that the opponent will be awarded the frame.

What is a near miss requirement?

This means that near-misses should be reported immediately to management or a supervisor, just like an accident would be. OSHA also requires that employers investigate all near-misses to determine the root cause and take corrective action to prevent it from happening again.

What best describes a near miss?

Simply put, a near miss is any unplanned event that could've caused physical injury or property loss but didn't. A common example of a near miss is a worker slipping on a wet floor with no sign, but not falling. The incident reporting procedure in most organizations should record the following: Adverse occurrences.

What is an unsafe condition?

Unsafe conditions refer to physical or environmental factors in the workplace that increase the risk of accidents or injuries. These can include poorly maintained equipment, inadequate lighting, slippery floors, or exposure to hazardous materials.

Is a spill a near miss?

Near misses are accidents that did not result in an injury. Reporting near misses assists in creating a safe work environment for students, employees and visitors. Typical near-miss accidents are: Minor chemical or biological spills.

What is a near miss example?

If a heavy load being lifted by a crane swings unexpectedly close to a group of workers but stops just short of hitting them, that would be an example of a near miss. If the crane actually hit the workers, that would be a safety event.

Can you sue someone for a near miss?

In order to make out a Near Miss Case you must prove: That you were in the “zone of danger,” meaning that you very narrowly escaped injury; That you suffer from some physical manifestation of your mental anguish that is diagnosed and treated by a doctor.

What is a critical near miss?

Minor incidents/injuries that had potential to be more serious. Events where injury could have occurred but didn't. Events where property damage could have resulted but didn't.

What is the 3 times rule?

The 3 Times Rule is a systematic method of solving recurring problems or optimizing tasks that you regularly repeat. Simply put, when you recognize anything that bothers you three times, you find a systematic and permanent solution to it.

What is the rule 7 for Miss America?

The pageant's infamous “Rule No. 7” specified that “contestants must be of good health and of the white race.” Although the rule was repealed in 1950, it wasn't until 1971 that an African American competitor appeared in the national pageant. No black woman won the Miss America crown until Vanessa Williams in 1984.

What is the 2 day rule don't miss twice?

The Two-Day Rule means never taking off more than a one-day break from a good habit or a productive routine. Even though you may have adopted a number of productive habits, there may come a time when suddenly you drop the ball.

What is not considered a near miss?

Incidents that almost caused an injury or fatality are labeled as near-misses. Incidents that resulted in an injury or fatality are called accidents.

What is the difference between an incident and a near miss?

Definitions of terms

An accident is an unexpected event that causes, damage, injury, or harm. An incident is any injury, loss, damage or abuse to older person, volunteer, or staff member, or to property or equipment. A near miss in an incident that had the potential to cause harm, loss or injury but was prevented.

Do near misses need to be reported to OSHA?

OSHA's regulations do not specifically require employers to report near-misses, but they do require employers to report certain types of incidents. This includes incidents that result in death, in-patient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye.

What is an unsafe act near miss?

While a near miss is an event that could have led to harm but didn't, an unsafe act is any behaviour that deviates from a generally accepted safe procedure or standard. Recognising the difference helps organisations tailor their safety strategies and interventions more effectively.

What is the difference between a near miss and a near hit?

When a devastating event comes close to happening but does not, we might say it was a near miss. For some people, the logic of near miss suggests that it was the miss that was avoided, and so it must be a hit. But the near in near miss suggests something in proximity rather than something narrowly avoided.

What is the near miss theory?

The concept behind this is called the Near Miss Theory. The basic concept behind this theory, as cited in this study called The Psychology of the Near Miss by R.L. Reid is found in three key statements: A near miss is a special kind of failure to reach a goal, one that comes close to being successful.