What distinguishes a near-miss from an actual incident, and why is reporting near-misses important?

• A. A near-miss is an event with potential for injury or damage that did not result in harm; reporting near-misses helps prevent recurrence and informs risk controls.
• B. A near-miss is a minor injury.
• C. A near-miss always results in damage.
• D. A near-miss is the same as an actual incident.

Answer: (A)

Near-misses reveal vulnerabilities in how work is done by showing a situation where something could have caused harm or damage, but didn’t. They aren’t injuries themselves, and they don’t necessarily involve damage, yet they signal real risks in the system. Why reporting matters is that it turns those warning signs into actionable insights. When a near-miss is documented and investigated, supervisors and safety teams can identify root causes, uncover patterns, and put preventive controls in place—such as changes to procedures, better maintenance, improved training, or enhanced safeguards. This proactive learning helps prevent the same risk from producing an actual incident in the future and strengthens the overall safety culture.