When it comes to Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), most professionals are well-versed in reporting workplace incidents. But what about the accidents that almost happened?
Near misses—those close calls that don’t result in injury or damage—are often overlooked. But they’re a goldmine of safety insights that can prevent future incidents, reduce risk, and improve your safety culture.
Top Benefits of Reporting Near Misses
- Increased Safety Awareness: When employees report near misses, it raises awareness across your organization. Acknowledging what could have gone wrong keeps safety top of mind and encourages a proactive approach to hazard identification.
- Opportunity for Preventive Action: Near miss data reveals risks that haven’t yet caused harm—but easily could. By analyzing these situations, EHS teams can take corrective action before minor oversights become major issues.
- Stronger Employee Engagement: Building a near miss reporting culture fosters collaboration. When employees feel empowered to speak up, they become active participants in your safety program—not just bystanders. This shared responsibility helps build a safer workplace for everyone.
How to Implement a Successful Near Miss Reporting Program
If you haven’t already integrated near miss reporting into your EHS program, now’s the time. Follow these proven steps to build a system that actually works:
- Communicate the “Why”: Before launching your program, communicate the purpose behind it. Let employees know you’re developing a strategy to improve safety and invite feedback to gain early buy-in.
- Define What a Near Miss Is: Clarity is key. Don’t assume everyone understands the term the same way. Provide clear definitions and examples so employees know what to report.
- Simplify the Reporting Process: Remove barriers. Use a simple, mobile-friendly form or integrate near miss reporting into your existing EHS software to make it fast and easy for employees to submit observations in real time.
Make Near Miss Reporting Part of Your Safety Culture
A strong EHS program includes more than just reacting to incidents—it means preventing them. With the right tools and strategy, near miss reporting can become second nature across your organization.
Ready to improve safety with smarter reporting?
Start your free trial of EHS Insight and see how easy it is to track, manage, and learn from near misses—before they become incidents.
