The Short Answer

What Is a Near Miss?

A near miss is an unplanned event that did not cause injury, illness, or damage but could have. Safety agencies such as OSHA encourage employers to report and investigate near misses as warnings.

Waiting for Someone to Get Hurt?

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In Plain English

Something That Almost Hurt Someone

A near miss is something that almost hurt someone. Treat it as a free warning.

Nobody got hurt, so it is easy to shrug it off. But the same hazard is still there, and next time the timing may not be so lucky.

A Real-World Example

The Box That Fell Where Someone Had Been Standing

Illustrative example

At a small warehouse in Marietta, Georgia, a box slides off a top shelf and lands where a worker was standing a second earlier. Nobody is hurt.

The manager logs it, finds the shelf has no lip, and adds guards to every top shelf that week. For a warehouse or delivery business, fixing a near miss costs far less than an injury claim.

From Dr. Paul’s Fabled Forest

Alton the Ant and the Cable Across the Tunnel

Doctor Owl was waiting at Anthill and Winding Tunnel Tech Solutions for Alton to finish fixing his computer when a young ant tripped over a cable stretched across the main tunnel.

She caught herself just in time, and the crate of glass screens in her arms wobbled but did not fall. Nobody was hurt.

Alton shrugged and went back to his work. “We need an upgrade!” he said, to nobody in particular.

Doctor Owl set down his cup of tea. “How many times has someone tripped on that cable?”

Alton stopped and counted on his legs. “Four.”

“Then it is not an accident,” Doctor Owl said. “It is a schedule.”

Before the end of the day, the cable ran along the tunnel wall, clipped down every few steps.

Want more lessons like this? This story comes from Book 3 of Dr. Paul’s Fabled Forest Business School Series.

Dr. Paul’s Insight

Dr. Paul encourages owners to treat near misses as the cheapest safety training they will ever get.

Put It to Work

A Near Miss Report and What Happens Next

Respond right away:

  1. Report it the same shift. Tell a manager and fill out the form.
  2. Assess the hazard that day. Could it happen again soon?
  3. Put a temporary control in place now. Block the area or tag the equipment if needed.
  4. Make the permanent fix. Give it an owner and a date.
  5. Verify the fix worked. Check it, and note the date and who checked.
Near miss formFacts only, no blame
Date and time
Where
What happened
Facts only
What could have happened
Cause
Equipment, layout, process, or training
Temporary control
Permanent fix and owner
Fix verified
Date and by whom

Monthly: review patterns and any open actions. The monthly meeting is not the first response. Rules: no blame for reporting, and share each fix with the team.

Watch Out

Common Mistakes With Near Misses

Watch OutWaiting for the monthly meeting to act

The hazard is there today. Fix it today.

Watch OutPunishing people who report

Punish reporting once, and nobody reports again.

Watch OutLogging it and never verifying the fix

A fix nobody checked may not be a fix.

Watch OutOnly reporting serious ones

Small near misses point to the same hazards as big ones.

Why It Matters

Benefits of Reporting Near Misses

  • Fewer injuries
  • Lower risk of claims
  • A safer, calmer workplace
  • A record that shows you take safety seriously

In Your Business Plan

How Near Miss Shows Up in a Business Plan

Lenders and insurers both read the safety section. A clear near miss process shows the business finds hazards before they cost anything.

Sample plan excerpt: Operations, Safety

“Employees report near misses the same shift with no penalty for reporting. The manager assesses each hazard that day, applies temporary controls where needed, and assigns a permanent fix with an owner and date. Fixes are verified, and the monthly safety meeting reviews patterns and open items.”

Keep Learning

Related Lessons

Chapter 19Workplace Safety Plan for a Small Business GlossarySmall Business Operations Glossary GuideSmall Business Operations: 20 Foundations TermHow to Calculate Equipment Downtime TermWhat Is Mise en Place? TermHow to Calculate Defect Rate

FAQ

Questions Owners Ask About Near Misses

What are examples of near misses at work?
A box that falls from a shelf without hitting anyone, a worker who slips on a wet floor but catches themselves, a cable someone trips over, or a forklift that nearly strikes a person. Each one points to a hazard that is still there.
Do near misses have to be reported to OSHA?
Generally, OSHA’s reporting rules cover injuries and illnesses, not near misses. OSHA does encourage employers to track and investigate near misses. Check current OSHA rules and your industry’s requirements.
How do you encourage near miss reporting?
Make it easy, with a short form or a quick verbal report. Never punish the person who reports. Fix what they found quickly, and tell the team what changed, so people see that reporting makes a difference.

More From the Series

Keep Building Your Business

Every book in Dr. Paul’s Fabled Forest Business School Series teaches one subject through short stories, real terms, and one-page worksheets.

Management and Leadership for Small Businesses book coverBook 1Management and Leadership for Small BusinessesGet it on Amazon → Strategy for Small Businesses book coverBook 6Strategy for Small BusinessesGet it on Amazon → Accounting and Finance for Small Businesses book coverBook 2Accounting and Finance for Small BusinessesGet it on Amazon →

Dr. Paul Borosky, DBA, MBA

Dr. Paul is a business consultant and author with 14+ years of experience and 1,000+ written business plans. He works with owner-run small businesses on plans, financial projections, and the systems that let a business run without the owner doing everything. This page is part of the glossary for Operations for Small Businesses, Book 3 of Dr. Paul’s Fabled Forest Business School Series.

This page is for general educational purposes only. It is not legal or safety compliance advice. Safety rules vary by industry and location. Check current OSHA and state requirements and consult a qualified safety professional.