Reporting Incidents & Near Misses

Incidents and Injuries

Near Misses

A near miss is an unplanned event or situation that could have resulted in injury, illness, or damage but did not. It's a "close call" or “lucky escape” that serves as a critical warning sign, offering a valuable opportunity to identify and address hazards. Near misses are leading indicators that may point to underlying safety issues that can be addressed and improved before an accident occurs. 

Reporting near misses is an educational opportunity for our field research community to share lessons learned. Fieldwork is inherently dispersed and varied in geographic location, activities, and conditions, and often requires troubleshooting and making decisions in the field due to changing conditions and unforeseen challenges. Reporting near misses provides a mechanism to communicate and learn from “close calls” and situations that could have led to an injury, illness, equipment failure, property damage, or other form of harm. Encouraging the reporting and analysis of near misses promotes a culture where faculty, staff and students are proactive about safety and contribute to a safer learning environment.

The UC Field Safety community is piloting a Near Miss Reporting Form that you can use to report near-misses to the University and aid in reflection about the event. In addition, it is recommended that you keep physical Near Miss forms in the field  that any member of your crew can use (see example below). Reviewing near misses often, as a group, allows for us to learn and improve our safety plans without experiencing any injuries.  

Parts of above text were taken from the UC Field Safety Near Miss Reporting Document.