EHS Insider Blog

What is A Near Miss?

What is a Near Miss? OSHA defines a near miss as an incident where no property was damaged and no personal injury was sustained, but where given a slight shift in time or position damage and/or injury easily could have occurred. Merriam-Webster's definition is "an accident that is just barely avoided." Near miss incidents occur every day in the workplace and can be anything from a simple stumble over an electrical cord to a hand narrowly escaping amputation.
Topics: Near Misses Safety Training