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Near Misses: A Lifeline of Learning if You're Paying Attention

Milton Bell

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Published in Anesthesia In Low Resourced Settings: Near Misses And Lessons Learned

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A near miss is an incident that has the potential to cause harm but does not result in injury, illness, or damage. Near misses can occur in any setting, from the workplace to the home. They are often overlooked, but they can be a valuable source of learning.

By investigating near misses, we can identify hazards and risks that we may not have otherwise been aware of. This information can then be used to improve our safety procedures and prevent future incidents.

Anesthesia in Low-Resourced Settings: Near Misses and Lessons Learned

by John G. Brock-Utne

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Print length	:	465 pages

How to Investigate a Near Miss

There are a few key steps to investigating a near miss:

Gather information. Talk to the people involved in the incident, as well as any witnesses. Collect any physical evidence, such as photos or videos.
Analyze the information. Determine what happened, why it happened, and what could have been done to prevent it.
Take action. Based on your analysis, make recommendations to improve your safety procedures.

Benefits of Investigating Near Misses

There are many benefits to investigating near misses, including:

Identifying hazards and risks. Near misses can help you identify hazards and risks that you may not have otherwise been aware of.
Preventing future incidents. By investigating near misses, you can learn from them and take steps to prevent future incidents from happening.
Improving safety procedures. Near misses can help you identify areas where your safety procedures can be improved.
Raising awareness of safety. Investigating near misses can help raise awareness of safety among your employees or colleagues.

Examples of Near Misses

Near misses can occur in any setting. Here are a few examples:

A worker almost falls from a ladder.
A car almost hits a pedestrian.
A chemical spill is narrowly avoided.
A fire is extinguished before it can spread.

Near misses are a valuable source of learning. By investigating near misses, we can identify hazards and risks, prevent future incidents, improve our safety procedures, and raise awareness of safety. If we pay attention to near misses, they can help us create a safer environment for everyone.

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* A worker is standing on a ladder, reaching for a tool. The ladder is not secured, and the worker is at risk of falling.

Anesthesia in Low-Resourced Settings: Near Misses and Lessons Learned

by John G. Brock-Utne

4.8 out of 5