What is a near miss and why should it be reported?

• A. An accident with injuries
• B. A completed safety training
• C. An incident that could have caused injury or damage but did not; reporting enables corrective action to prevent future injuries.
• D. A minor fine

Answer: (C)

A near miss is an incident that could have caused injury or damage but did not. It serves as a warning that a hazard or weakness in controls exists, so reporting it helps safety teams identify where things went wrong and what needs to be fixed.

Reporting near misses allows investigators to look at what happened, determine root causes, and implement corrective actions—such as changing procedures, repairing or replacing equipment, or improving training—so the same situation doesn’t lead to an injury in the future.

The other options don’t fit: an accident with injuries is a real harm event; completing safety training is a preventive action, not an incident; a minor fine is a penalty, not an incident.