Are you
missing
your near
misses?
By Jacob Worek
It goes without saying
that you
should be performing a thorough investigation of
all accidents that occur on your worksite. But are
you taking the time to investigate all near-miss incidents, as well?
By definition, a near-miss incident is an unplanned
event that does not result in an injury or damage,
but has the potential to do so. Such events are more
common than you may think. A dropped tool that
mercifully avoids striking anyone...a stagehand
who just manages to dodge a quick-turning forklift...a stair rail that collapses without causing a fall.
Each of these cases present a critical opportunity
to identify weaknesses in your operation that may
compromise safety at your event.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and National Safety Council both state
that near-miss reporting can significantly improve
worker safety and enhance an organization’s safety culture. Unfortunately, most near-miss incidents
go unnoticed and unreported. With no immediate
consequences experienced, many people simply
shrug off the incident and get back to work. Others may forgo reporting an incident due to fear of
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