Accidents and near misses can occur in any workplace or in our daily lives. However, it is essential to understand the difference between them to avoid future incidents.
In this article, we’ll discuss the differences and their impacts on workplace safety.
Accident Vs. Near Miss
Accidents and near misses are two incidents that can occur within an enterprise, and although they may seem similar, there are apparent differences between them. To differentiate between the two, let’s create a table highlighting their distinctions below:
| ACCIDENT | NEAR MISS |
| Results in injury, illness, or death to a person or damage to property | An incident where no injury, illness or damage occurred but had the potential to do so |
| Disrupts the usual routine of work and production | Does not cause any disruption to the routine of work and production |
| Caused by machinery failure, environmental factors, inadequate safety procedures, negligence, or a combination of these factors | Caused by a failure to follow safe work procedures or human error |
| Can have costly consequences for both the individual involved and the organization as a whole | May not have any direct monetary impact on the organization |
| Can be reported and investigated to prevent similar accidents from occurring in the future | Can be reported and investigated to identify potential hazards, and develop preventative measures to avoid future incidents |
It is crucial to understand and differentiate between accidents and near misses within an enterprise to prevent potential injuries or damages from occurring. Both incidents, if left unaddressed, can have significant monetary and productivity consequences for an organization and can significantly impact individual employees. By encouraging the reporting of near misses and investigating their root causes, enterprises can work towards creating a safer and more productive work environment.
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Near-miss reporting for everyone – Anytime and anywhere.
We empower EVERYONE to initiate and create positive change to improve the company’s safety records no matter where you are. The only way to keep up with the speed at which the world moves today is to empower everyone from the front-line worker to the executive.
Data powerhouse – Keeping everything in one place.
Data are stored in the cloud and available in real-time to everyone who needs it. All your up-to-date safety work instructions and training content are available across any device as employees perform the work.
Advanced Analytics- What gets measured, gets managed.
Every single piece of information captured by FAT FINGER users will feed your company analytics in real time. FAT FINGER provides you with valuable insights to help improve your workplace safety. With detailed dashboards, you can quickly identify areas of improvement and track your progress over time.
