Near Miss Reporting – Why It’s Just as Important as an Accident Stats and Facts

FACTS

1. Ignoring near misses can result in missing critical indicators of future accidents.
2. A lack of near-miss reporting can create a false sense of security in the workplace.
3. Each unreported near miss is a lost chance to identify and mitigate hazards.
4. When near misses aren’t reported, hazardous conditions may go unaddressed.
5. Without near-miss data, training programs may not reflect real-world risks.
6. Repeated near misses are often precursors to major incidents if left unresolved.

STATS

• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) highlights that for every 300 near misses, there are 29 minor injuries and 1 serious injury, illustrating their predictive value.
• A National Safety Council study found that companies that actively track and investigate near misses report 30% fewer serious injuries over three years.
• A NIOSH study revealed that facilities with high near-miss reporting rates experience 37% fewer recordable injuries.
• WorkSafeBC reports that organizations with strong near-miss reporting protocols see up to 25% fewer workplace injury claims.
• According to Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, workplaces that emphasize near-miss reporting show a 35% increase in hazard remediation actions.
• The CDC’s 2023 NIOSH Safety Report estimated that workplaces with robust near-miss reporting reduced accident rates by 20–30%, compared to those relying solely on accident reporting.