What is a near miss is an event that had the makings of an injury and stopped short: the dropped tool that landed beside someone, the excavation side that slumped after the crew stepped out, the vehicle that reversed into an empty exclusion zone. It is recorded on the incident report like an injury, analysed against the RAMS the same way, and counted. The HSE's RIDDOR page, cited below, says work-related accidents must be reported where they result in a worker being away from work or unable to do their normal duties for more than 7 consecutive days, not counting the day of the accident but including weekends and rest days, with the report made within 15 days, and recorded where the absence is more than 3 consecutive days. Some near misses are dangerous occurrences the HSE lists as reportable regardless of injury. The incident report template on this site prints the record, free.
Recording it
The same fields as an injury, with the injury section empty: what happened, where, when, who was near, what stopped it, the equipment, the RAMS in force. Filled by whoever saw it, the same day. The daily activity report on this site is where it is first noted; the incident report is where it is recorded.
Analysing it
Was the hazard assessed, was the control in the method, in place, followed, enough. The near miss answers the same five questions the injury would have, for free. The first no is the finding, and the finding is a change to the RAMS, the training or the plant.
Counting it
Per site per month beside the injuries. A site with near misses recorded and no injuries has a crew that reports; one with neither is silent, not safe. The count is read monthly beside the injuries, and a site whose near misses fall to zero is asked why.
Reporting it, where the law says
The dangerous occurrences on the HSE's RIDDOR page, cited below, are reportable whether or not anyone was hurt. DailyLogDesk Pro keeps the near-miss record with the incidents; the template prints it. From the vendors' own pricing pages, cited below: SafetyCulture lists its Premium plan at $29 per seat per month billed monthly or $24 billed annually, with a free plan for small teams; Contractor Foreman lists its Basic plan at $49 per month for one user. DailyLogDesk Pro is $29 per month for the whole site team.
Questions people ask about what is a near miss
Should every near miss be written up?
Every one someone saw; the writing takes a minute and the pattern takes a month to appear.
Is a near miss an accident?
It is an incident without the injury; the record treats it as the same event with a different outcome.
Is the template free?
Yes, without an account.