Toolbox talk · People and work practices
Reporting near misses
A near miss is when something almost goes wrong and nobody gets hurt this time. A dropped tool that lands next to someone, a ladder that slips, a truck backing up that almost hits a worker. Each one is a free warning, and if we report it, we can fix the problem before someone gets hurt.
Published 2026-10-23
Key points
- 1If something almost hurts you or someone else, tell me or your lead the same day. Don't wait until the end of the week.
- 2Report what happened, where, and what caused it. Simple facts are enough, no need for a long story.
- 3If the hazard is still there, make it safe if you can, or block it off and warn others before you go report it.
- 4Nobody gets in trouble for reporting a near miss. We are looking for the cause, not someone to blame.
- 5Report small things too, like a loose guardrail, an unsecured load, or a cord in a walkway. Small problems lead to big injuries.
- 6If you see a coworker have a close call, check on them and make sure it gets reported, even if they say it was nothing.
- 7When we fix something because of your report, we will tell the crew, so everyone learns from it.
Talk it over
- What close call have you seen on this job that never got reported?
- What keeps people from reporting near misses here, and how can we make it easier?
- Where on this site do you think the next near miss is most likely to happen?
Remember
A near miss is a warning. Report it today so nobody gets hurt tomorrow.
Also in the other language: Reportar casi-accidentes
Official sources
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General information, not legal advice. Templates and examples should be reviewed by a competent person before use. HardHat Binder is not affiliated with or endorsed by OSHA.