Near Miss recording and management with a simple setup
Recording a near miss is an important part of managing workplace safety. By recording details and data of every reported incident, employers can isolate risks and create mitigating actions in response. Mobile forms make this process more efficient, allowing employers to easily document and track potential problems before an accident occurs.
Increase Safety and reduce response time
Pisys Near-Miss manager allows easy near miss recording and tracks mitigation through a powerful and configurable workflow. All data relating to a near-miss can be captured at the worksite and is instantly available for review by HSE management. A configurable alert system notifies appropriate responders and any actions relating to the near-miss can be quickly created, assigned and tracked through the simple interface. The benefit of being able to capture data from the precise scene and close to the time of the event allows a highly reliable description of the near-miss to be recorded. The system supports attachments so photos, documents etc can be included both as part of the initial data gathering and also as part of any mitigation actions.
Crucially the actions raised are then tracked to closure, with appropriate alerts as they reach or pass their prescribed due-date for closure. As mitigation progresses actions can be reviewed and approved, with an unlimited number of review stages. Key external stakeholders can also be informed at critical points in the process without compromising any confidential data which is being managed internally.
Easy access from the worksite
Capture important data on-site. Personnel can use tablets or mobiles to record any potential hazards or incidents that they encounter in their day-do day roles, allowing rapid mitigation to take place. All required data can be captured on a simple form which reflects your specific needs rather than a generic template. If the device has a camera this can be used to take photographs which can be included as attachments to support the evidence gathering process. Once data has been recorded, the near-miss can be managed from any browser.
Full Near-Miss Reporting
dashboard shows key statistics in an easily understood format. A powerful API allows near-miss data to be accessed by a wide range of external systems. Custom reports can be created for one-off analysis while an excel export allows easy manipulation of data.
Performance, Integrity and Reliability
Near Miss Manager is hosted on Amazon Web Services which helps to ensure the highest levels of performance and availability. We are certified under the ISO27001:2013 standard for Information Security Management Systems which holds us accountable for the Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability of the data which we store on our servers.
Near-Miss Manager also Integrates with Pisys ATMS, Task Risk Manager and Permit to Work system
Blog
Near Misses – The Basics
As a health and safety specialist, understanding the concept of near misses is crucial for effectively identifying and managing workplace hazards. Near misses are incidents or events that have the potential to cause harm, injury, or damage but fortunately do not result in any immediate negative consequences. These incidents are often considered as warnings or close calls, highlighting the need for preventive measures to avoid future accidents.
Significance of Near Misses:
Near misses play a vital role in proactive safety management. While they may not cause immediate harm, they provide valuable opportunities to learn from mistakes, identify potential hazards, and prevent future incidents. By analyzing near misses, organizations can identify underlying causes and implement control measures to mitigate risks effectively. Recognizing the significance of near misses can help create a safer work environment and reduce the likelihood of accidents and injuries.
Reporting Near Misses:
Reporting near misses is a critical aspect of safety culture within an organization. Encouraging employees to report near misses fosters a proactive approach to safety. When near misses are reported, they can be properly investigated, and appropriate preventive actions can be taken. Employees should feel comfortable reporting near misses without the fear of blame or punishment. It is essential to emphasize that reporting near misses is not an admission of incompetence but a commitment to improving safety.
Investigating Near Misses:
Investigating near misses involves a systematic approach to identify the root causes and contributing factors. It is crucial to understand why the near miss occurred and what could have led to a more severe incident. An effective investigation includes collecting information about the event, interviewing witnesses, examining the work environment, and reviewing relevant procedures and practices. The objective is to identify the underlying hazards and implement control measures to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
Learning from Near Misses:
Near misses provide valuable learning opportunities. They offer insights into potential hazards and vulnerabilities within an organization. By analyzing near misses, patterns and trends can be identified, enabling organizations to make informed decisions to improve safety. Lessons learned from near misses should be shared across the organization, ensuring that the knowledge gained is disseminated, and preventive measures are implemented. Learning from near misses helps create a safety-conscious culture where everyone actively identifies and addresses potential risks.
Examples of Near Misses:
1. Slip and Fall: Imagine a scenario where a worker is walking in a manufacturing facility and almost slips on a wet floor. However, they manage to regain their balance at the last moment and avoid falling. This near miss highlights the need to address the issue of wet floors promptly, such as implementing proper drainage systems, providing anti-slip mats, or establishing clear protocols for cleaning up spills.
2. Equipment Malfunction: Suppose an operator is working with a machine, and suddenly, there is a loud noise and sparks coming from the equipment. The operator quickly shuts down the machine, preventing any further damage or injury. This near miss alerts the organization to inspect and maintain equipment regularly to prevent unexpected failures and potential accidents.
3. Chemical Spill: In a laboratory setting, a technician accidentally knocks over a container of corrosive chemicals. However, they swiftly react and neutralize the spill before it spreads, preventing harm to themselves and others. This near miss emphasizes the importance of proper storage, handling, and training when working with hazardous substances.
4. Vehicle Incident: Consider a situation where a forklift operator is moving pallets in a busy warehouse. The operator narrowly avoids colliding with another forklift due to quick reflexes and proper communication. This near miss highlights the need for clear traffic management procedures, adequate training, and regular maintenance of vehicles to prevent collisions and injuries.
Preventing Near Misses:
The goal of safety management is to prevent incidents and near
misses. Several strategies can be implemented to reduce the likelihood of near misses and promote a safer work environment:
1. Risk Assessments: Conducting thorough risk assessments allows organizations to identify potential hazards and assess their severity. By understanding the risks, appropriate control measures can be implemented to minimize the probability of near misses.
2. Training and Awareness: Providing comprehensive training programs to employees regarding safety procedures, hazard recognition, and risk mitigation is crucial. Enhancing awareness about potential hazards helps individuals proactively identify and report near misses.
3. Effective Communication: Establishing clear communication channels enables employees to report near misses and share safety-related information. Regular safety meetings, toolbox talks, and feedback systems promote open communication, ensuring that near misses are effectively communicated and addressed.
4. Safety Policies and Procedures: Developing and implementing robust safety policies and procedures sets the foundation for a safe work environment. Regularly reviewing and updating these policies ensures they remain relevant and effective in preventing near misses.
5. Continuous Improvement: Organizations should strive for continuous improvement in safety practices. Analyzing trends from near misses, conducting incident investigations, and implementing corrective actions help identify areas for improvement and strengthen safety measures.
Conclusion:
Near misses are incidents or events that have the potential to cause harm but do not result in immediate consequences. Understanding and learning from near misses is vital for a health and safety engineer to create a safer work environment. By encouraging reporting, investigating incidents, and implementing preventive measures, organizations can proactively manage risks, prevent accidents, and continuously improve safety practices. Near misses serve as valuable opportunities to identify hazards, assess risks, and protect employees from future incidents. Embracing a culture that values near miss reporting and learning promotes a proactive and safety-conscious work environment.
How to Improve Safety Culture and Prevent Future Accidents by Investigating Near-Miss Incidents
Introduction
Near-misses are incidents that could have resulted in injury but did not. Information relating to the near-miss can be used to prevent future accidents and incidents. Follow-up of near-misses is a crucial aspect of safety management and can help promote a proactive safety approach.
Importance of Investigating Near-Misses
There are several reasons why follow-up is important
1. It can assist in the identification of potential hazards and risk factors that can result in accidents and incidents.
2. It can enhance the safety culture by encouraging employees to report near-misses and
3. Promoting a proactive safety approach. Identifying and addressing potential hazards can help prevent future accidents and incidents.
Follow-Up Measures for Near-Misses
There are a number of measures organisations can take to investigate near-misses. The initial phase involves identifying and reporting near-misses. This can be accomplished by implementing a reporting system that encourages employees to disclose near-misses without fear of retaliation.
The next stage involves investigating and analysing the near-miss. This includes gathering information on the events leading up to the near-miss, prospective consequences, and contributing factors. This information can be analysed to help identify potential dangers and primary causes.
The third stage is to create and implement corrective measures based on the investigation’s findings. The objective of corrective actions should be to eliminate or manage the identified hazards. Communication of the investigation’s findings and corrective actions is crucial to ensuring that employees comprehend the risks and the measures being taken to prevent future incidents. Monitoring the progress of corrective actions towards close-out can help ensure that they are effective in preventing future incidents.
Integration of near-miss management into the corporate safety management system is vital. This involves encouraging the reporting of near-misses and continuously investigating and addressing potential hazards. Organisations are then able to continuously improve their safety culture and reduce the likelihood of accidents and incidents.
Advantages of Investigating Near-Misses
A safety culture promoting a proactive approach to safety which encourages employees to report potential hazards can reduce the likelihood of accidents and incidents by dealing with issues before they cause harm or damage. Following up on near-misses can also enhance hazard identification and risk assessment.
The practicalities of near-miss reporting
It’s pretty obvious that the best people to report near-misses on the worksite are the people on the worksite. They are generally closest to both cause and effect of any near-miss and can provide a rich set of data which can help to understand and mitigate any future incidents
However – there are also some obvious issues when we rely on staff to report near misses:
Staff are too busy to report near-misses
If a near-miss is not deemed important enough by staff then it may not be reported – staff are constantly juggling priorities and getting the job done can often trump safety considerations. Any reporting system must be low-friction – easy to access and fast and simple to use.
Staff have no easy way to report near-misses
If a near miss occurs on a worksite staff may have to go to another location to report them – or even worse there may not be any system for reporting in place. These are all obstacles to effective reporting
Paper based near-miss reporting systems are too cumbersome
Many businesses rely on paper based reporting systems – so when a near miss is observed a form must be completed and processed. This leads to obvious questions – where are the forms stored, how quickly are they processed, how is data analysed. There are many flaws with paper based systems – not least the fac that they often end up in a folder with no clear record of associated actions taken to address the original report
Whatever form is used to report a near miss a key output of the reporting process should be some kind of follow-up – generally an individual or group of people should be allocated actions which will help to mitigate the effect of future similar events. Actions should be centrally managed and action owners should be made aware when they receive actions and when actions are overdue
We’re not claiming that our near-miss reporting system is the answer to every issue around near-miss reporting, but we do believe it will significantly improve the frequency, accuracy and effectiveness of reporting on any worksite
Additional Near Miss event descriptors
HSE professionals are familiar with the meaning and use of the term ‘Near Miss’ but it’s interesting to consider whether further descriptors are required.
in a 2013 article Chuck Pettinger suggests that near-miss events should be further categorised as they appear along a continuum.
Near Hit
A near hit is an incident where an injury or fatality is narrowly avoided
e.g. A worker steps out of the way of a falling drum which has been dislodged from a rack by a forklift truck.
Near hits should be immediately reported and a full investigation to undertaken with implementation of appropriate safety measures to prevent re-occurrence
Near Miss
A near miss is a safety incident that did not result in injury, illness, or death but had potential to do so. A drum falling from a warehouse shelf and nearly hitting a worker below would be classified as a near hit. In a near miss, the drum falls to the ground just the same, but no-one is close to the drum when it falls.
Like Near Hits, Near misses should be addressed quickly.
Good Catch
A good catch describes a situation where someone notices a situation with the potential to cause harm.
For example:
A manager notices that a load has not been appropriately secured before a lifting operation.
No-one was injured or even close to being injured in this example but the potential for harm is present. Good catches are also referred to as hazards or safety concerns, They can be forewarnings of future incidents.
Error Likely
The lowest severity safety incident, an error likely instance would happen before any type of incident occurs or sometimes before work has even commenced. For example a manager might notice that subcontractors are scheduled to perform a short job on site involving working at height. Because the job is short, there may be a likelihood that appropriate stabilisation using toe boards may not be performed. The HSE manager may then decide to attend the on-site toolbox talk or job brief to ensure compliance.
Effectively tracking all these events will identify shortcomings in processes and allow future incidents to be prevented.