What does a ‘near miss’ refer to in health and safety?

A 'near miss' is defined as an incident that could have resulted in injury or damage but ultimately did not. This concept is critical in health and safety management because near misses serve as valuable indicators of potential hazards within a workplace. By analyzing near misses, organizations can identify weaknesses in their safety protocols and implement preventive measures to avoid actual accidents in the future. Recognizing and reporting near misses can help create a safer working environment, as it encourages proactive management of risks before they escalate into more serious incidents.

In contrast, the other definitions do not encompass the proactive nature and importance of near misses in safety practice. Incidents that cause injury refer to actual accidents, and minor injuries with no damage do not highlight the broader implications of potential risks. Similarly, situations that do not require reporting would omit vital data that might assist in enhancing safety measures, thus failing to address the learning opportunity that near misses provide.