Near Misses and Incident Reporting

Why near misses matter

A near miss is an event that could have caused harm but did not. A dropped tool, a missed lock, a ladder that slipped. The same conditions that cause a near miss can cause an injury next time. Near misses are free lessons, if people report them.

If people only report injuries, the company only learns after the damage is done. Reports of close calls give us an earlier warning.

Building a reporting culture

People report when they believe it will lead to a fix, not to blame. Leaders at HSM thank people who speak up and act on what they hear. Reporting is made simple, and crews are told what was done as a result.

Because most of our workers are our own employees, they know who to tell and trust that the message will reach the right person.

Reports are acknowledged quickly, and the person who raised the issue hears what was done about it. That feedback is what keeps people reporting.

Investigations that look for causes

When an incident or near miss is serious enough, we investigate. The goal is to find out why it happened, not only what happened. We look at planning, equipment, training, supervision, scheduling and conditions on site. If the answer is simply that someone made a mistake, we ask why the system allowed it.

• Gather facts from the people involved
• Identify contributing causes
• Decide on corrective actions
• Follow up to check they worked

Sharing what we learn

Lessons are shared with the crew involved and, where useful, with other crews and projects. A short toolbox talk, a change to a planning checklist or a new rule for a specific task can prevent the same event elsewhere. Our Director of Health & Safety, Ghilda Gaber, helps make sure lessons travel across the company.

Where required, incidents are reported to the appropriate authorities and the client.