Near Miss - Definition of Near Miss (Hit) - OHSAS 18001

[somashekar]

I have a question on near miss recording.
Can situations like noticing of wrong storage methods, blockage of emergency exits, persons leaning over staircase railings, etc., be taken as record of near miss for addressing suitable measures ? Would such records meet the definitation of a near miss......

[BradM]

In Reply to Parent Post by somashekar

I have a question on near miss recording.
Can situations like noticing of wrong storage methods, blockage of emergency exits, persons leaning over staircase railings, etc., be taken as record of near miss for addressing suitable measures ? Would such records meet the definition of a near miss......

Interesting questions.... for some of us not intimately familiar with OSHA standards, is this a special classification for addressing something?

[Sidney Vianna]

In Reply to Parent Post by somashekar

I have a question on near miss recording.
Can situations like noticing of wrong storage methods, blockage of emergency exits, persons leaning over staircase railings, etc., be taken as record of near miss for addressing suitable measures ? Would such records meet the definitation of a near miss......

I believe you should use the word incident, rather than near-miss. That is the proper terminology in OHSAS 18001.

3.9 incident

work-related event(s) in which an injury or ill health (3.8) (regardless of severity) or fatality occurred, or could have occurred
NOTE 1 An accident is an incident which has given rise to injury, ill health or fatality.
NOTE 2 An incident where no injury, ill health, or fatality occurs may also be referred to as a "near-miss", "near-hit", "close call" or "dangerous occurrence".

NOTE 3 An emergency situation (see 4.4.7) is a particular type of incident.

And I believe the concept is like "preventive action" in ISO 9001. Actually, a much better way to present it and process it via the OHSMS.

And, in answer to your question, yes, they are applicable examples of incidents.

[Phil Fields]

So is a "near miss" really a HIT?

Phil

[SteelMaiden]

A near miss is an incident where someone or something narrowly missed injury/damage. A box falls off a shelf (incident), landing just a foot or two behind a person walking down the aisle (near miss).

In your example of the person leaning over the railing, it would be a near miss if the person slips, but doesn't actually fall. so it would probablly be an incident of an unsafe behaviour, but, at least here we wouldn't classify it as a near miss.

[Randy]

"Near miss" is one of the dumbest terms used in safety and in business and the use of it should be outlawed and any safety "professional" that uses it needs to have his tongue glued to his lips.

As previously stated a post or two above, a "near miss" is actually a hit........."Oops, oh well we nearly missed you" ...it can mean two different things

The term "near miss" creates a sense of comfort in the fact that nothing is really happening as long as we keep missing........"If we missed him, what's the big deal?".........It's a psycological thing.

Now if "near miss" is changed to "near hit" a whole new meaning and emphasis comes out......."We nearly hit a guy with a forklift".......There is no half-way or misunderstanding here........"WE NEARLY HIT.......!"

I have no probelm pointing this out in the classes I teach because there is more risk associated with nearly hitting folks than missing folks.

[Sidney Vianna]

In Reply to Parent Post by Randy

"Near miss" is one of the dumbest terms used in safety and in business and the use of it should be outlawed and any safety "professional" that uses it needs to have his tongue glued to his lips.

Come on, Randy. Near miss is not that bad...

[Randy]

Arkansas is near "Miss" as well