In many workplaces, near-misses happen far more often than actual incidents. A slipping hazard that’s spotted just in time, a piece of equipment that almost fails, or a lapse in concentration that could have led to injury — these moments are valuable opportunities to improve health and safety.
Yet despite their importance, near-misses often go unreported.
Why?
Because people worry about blame. We will come on to that shortly but let’s start with an explanation.
What Is a Near-Miss — and Why Does It Matter?
A near-miss is any unplanned event that didn’t result in injury, damage, or loss — but had the potential to do so.
Think of it as a warning sign. It’s your chance to fix something before it becomes a problem.
Organisations that actively encourage near-miss reporting often see:
- Fewer accidents and incidents
- Better hazard awareness
- A stronger health and safety culture
- Increased employee engagement
The Problem with Blame and Shame
If employees believe they’ll be blamed, criticised, or even disciplined for reporting a near-miss, they simply won’t report it. Some people don’t have the confidence to report as they can feel embarrassed or worry of reprisal this then leads to shame
This creates a dangerous gap:
- Hazards remain unidentified
- Risks go unmanaged
- Opportunities for improvement are missed
Building an accountable Reporting Culture
1. Lead from the Top
Managers and leaders must set the tone. When a near-miss is reported, the response should be focused on learning — not fault-finding.
Create a culture without judgement, encourage open dialogue around the items the teams are seeing in their working day, communication is key!
2. Make Reporting Simple
If reporting a near-miss is time-consuming or complicated, people won’t bother. Also consider access to resources – make it easy!
3. Provide Positive Reinforcement
Recognise and thank employees who report near-misses. This reinforces that reporting is a good thing.
4. Close the Feedback Loop
Make sure you acknowledge the report, share what action was taken, or if no action was taken, explain why. It’s important to highlight improvements made as a result of the report and potential time scales so the team can see that near misses are taken seriously.
5. Focus on Systems, Not Individuals
Most near-misses are the result of system failures — not individual mistakes.
6. Be mindful of introducing KPI’s
Near miss reporting is not about chasing numbers — it is about preventing the next incident. KPIs should support learning, awareness, and action, not become the goal themselves.
Turning Near-Misses into Opportunities
Every near-miss is a chance to learn. Organisations that treat them as such don’t just prevent incidents — they build a culture where safety is everyone’s responsibility.
A strong health and safety culture isn’t built on perfection — it’s built on openness. When employees feel safe to speak up, you gain insight into the real risks in your workplace.
In addition, if you are considering any form of accreditation you will need to provide evidence of continual improvement, near-miss reporting is a great way of demonstrating this
A wise woman once said, “I would rather have 100 near misses on my desk rather than 1 accident” Jane Patching
We can help you to create a blameless culture
Please do not hesitate to contact either Leanne on 07709 675925, or Tracey on 07872 589286. Alternatively, you can drop us a message at hello@influentialmg.com.
Share this post: