Most employers will only review their Health & Safety systems after a serious accident, to try and reduce chances of future accidents by identifying what went wrong. But taking a far more proactive approach in using near miss reporting systems to identify risks can help prevent serious work-related accidents before they ever happen.
What Is A Near Miss?
A near miss is defined by the HSE as “an incident which has potential to result in on site injury but doesn’t cause any harm”. So if an employee almost trips over a loose cable left across a walk way but manages to stop themselves falling and is not injured, that would be an example of a near miss.
Why Create A Reporting Procedure?
Research suggests that for every workplace accident there are approximately 90 near misses a system for reporting of near misses can only help to foster and encourage a safer working environment for all.
A proactive system should help to keep workplace risk assessments up to date and relevant, produce important documentation to review, and, importantly assist in preventing similar accidents occurring.
How Do We Put A System In Place?
Use the following guidance and tips to implement an effective near miss reporting system:
- Documentation – it’s important to have an incident report form that is easy for employees to access and complete whenever a near miss occurs. This form should include; names of workers involved, along with their roles, date and time that the incident took place, where it occurred, type of incident, and what work duties took place when it happened.
- Training – regular routine training for all employees to ensure that understand how to complete the near miss report form and who to contact after an incident as well as where to store the report.
- Legal requirements –some near misses legally have to be reported to the HSE under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR). Click here for further details.
Contact Bullerwell & Co Ltd today for more guidance on client-specific insurance solutions and advice to help protect your employees and business.
