Is your near miss data giving you the full picture?
Recording and analysing near miss data is an important part of identifying safety issues so they can be addressed and the associated risks mitigated.
But how do you ensure that the picture being painted by your near miss data is accurate and that the picture it is giving you of your workplace’s safety is a good one?
What is a near miss?
In order to start capturing good data on a workplace’s near misses, there must first be a definition of what constitutes one that everyone works to.
A near miss is any situation where an accident came close to occurring but, through either chance or timely intervention, did not.
Having a strong definition of a near miss is important because the very existence of near misses shows that processes and procedures do not cover all the risks that can exist at a workplace.
What can make near miss reporting unreliable
There are a range of factors that can influence the reporting, or more importantly the not-reporting, of near misses.
Perhaps the most troubling reason that a near miss is not reported is that the near miss is not identified or considered as being a near miss in the first place.
But aspects like the reporting mechanisms for near misses can contribute to a culture where near misses are seen as “business as usual”, and not something indicative of a potential safety issue.
Similarly, a “well, no one got hurt” attitude can also contribute to a lack of reporting of a near miss. While a vast majority of accidents resulting in some sort of harm or injury are reported, those where no injury or perhaps a very minor cut or scrape occurs might get overlooked. They can be treated as significantly less serious than they may indicate.
Why poor near miss data can be misleading
Not having comprehensive or accurate reporting around near misses can create a misleading and inaccurate picture around the general level of safety at a workplace. Broadly speaking, if an issue is going to be addressed and a situation improved then the issue must first be identified.
There are other flow-on effects as well. Identification and reporting of a near miss can mean that a thorough check of systems and equipment is undertaken. This can include a review of physical equipment like PPE or installed safety systems to ensure they are in good working order and in a state of compliance. It could also be a review of the company’s training matrix to identify knowledge gaps or lapsed qualifications.
Over time, the risks posed by not having near misses recorded in a timely and accurate manner compound, typically until an accident finally occurs.
Genuinely reducing near misses
Taking a proactive approach to safety is the biggest step a business can take in genuinely reducing the occurrence of near misses.
When it comes to near misses relating to work at height or other areas where a fall is a possibility there are some simple steps that can be taken.
This is where Height Safety Engineers can assist businesses and PCBUs build systems and culture that create genuine worker safety and see improvement in processes become business as usual.
Permanent fall protection systems – like anchor points and horizontal lifeline systems – need to be inspected and certified as compliant on at least an annual basis. The same type of inspection needs to be completed on PPE items like harnesses, lanyards, straps and SRL devices at least every six months.
Workers themselves should also have been made to undergo suitable training for the work they are doing and the environment in which they are doing it. Recording this training and ensuring skills stay current can be managed with a training matrix.
As a registered training organisation with over twenty years’ experience, Height Safety Engineers is uniquely qualified to assist businesses and PCBUs in making sure workers are provided with the skills they need to safely go about their jobs.
Partners in protecting people
Height Safety Engineers have been protecting people working at heights and in high-risk environments for over 20 years now.
From fall protection system design, installation, inspections and maintenance, our team have the expertise and know-how to make sure your team is protected.
Start your safety journey with us today by calling 1300 884 978, emailing enquiries@heightsafety.net or you can just click here to drop us a line.
