Click here for the Near Misses TBT Script in English

Click here for the Near Misses TBT Poster in English

Toolbox Talk – Best Practices in Near Miss Reporting

A near miss in the workplace should be considered an important warning to the employer and the workforce.  75% of all workplace incidents are preceded by at least one or more near misses, according to the U.S. National Safety Council.   Letting a near miss go unreported provides an opportunity for a serious incident to occur with potentially devastating results.   

Unsafe conditions or work practices properly reported as a near miss to the management team provides positive, timely and helpful insight to the issue and allows for corrective actions to be implemented, thereby removing the hazard or addressing the unsafe work practice.   

Sometimes near misses result in damaged equipment or infrastructure, which by itself can present a serious hazard to the workplace.  If gone unreported, this unsafe condition could lead to a serious incident or injury.

Reporting of near misses should be encouraged and even rewarded as positive safety engaging behavior by our workforce.  

Remember… a close call is a call for action!   By reporting near misses and close calls, you can:

• Help identify and change unsafe work procedures or hazardous conditions in the workplace
• Help improve your company’s safety culture and employee engagement
• Help prevent an injury or death

Safety is a team effort and without the knowledge of the near miss scenario, the unsafe condition may go unaddressed. 

All RPM operating companies have near miss reporting requirements and procedures, but at the very least, make sure the near miss is reported to your direct supervisor.