INC/General/TBT-INC-017
Near Miss Reporting Culture and Learning
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Toolbox Talk
Near Miss Reporting Culture and Learning
A near miss is an unplanned event that had the potential to cause injury, illness, or damage but did not. Near misses are the most valuable source of safety intelligence on any construction site because they reveal hazards before someone gets hurt. For every serious injury, there are hundreds of near misses that went unreported. Building a culture where people report near misses willingly and without fear is essential for preventing the next serious incident.
Key Hazards
Repeat incidents occurring because warning signs from near misses were ignored
Hazards remaining uncontrolled because nobody reported the precursor events
Blame culture preventing workers from speaking up about unsafe conditions
Loss of learning opportunities that could have prevented future serious injuries
Control Measures
- Report every near miss to your supervisor as soon as it happens, no matter how minor it seems.
- Use the site near miss reporting system — cards, apps, or verbal reporting as available.
- Describe what happened, where, when, and what could have resulted if circumstances were different.
- Support colleagues who report near misses and never criticise them for speaking up.
- Participate in near miss reviews and toolbox talks where lessons learned are shared with the team.
- Treat every near miss as a free warning and an opportunity to fix a problem before it causes harm.
- Ensure supervisors respond visibly to near miss reports so reporters see their concerns being acted on.
- Track near miss trends to identify recurring hazards that need systemic control improvements.
- Recognise and praise individuals and teams who actively report near misses and contribute to learning.
Remember
- Near misses are free lessons — they tell you where the next serious injury will come from.
- For every major injury on site, there are typically hundreds of unreported near misses.
- Reporting a near miss is not a sign of weakness — it is professional and responsible behaviour.
- A blame-free reporting culture is essential because fear of punishment silences vital safety information.
- Supervisors must act visibly on reports so workers see that their concerns make a real difference.
- If nobody is reporting near misses, it does not mean the site is safe — it means the culture needs work.
Applicable Legislation: Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 · Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 · CDM Regulations 2015
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