Flow chart - near misses

A near miss is an incident which did not result in an injury, illness or damage, but had the potential to do so. If you are unsure how best to deal with such events our flow chart will help.

Why record them?

A near miss is an opportunity to understand where your next accident might come from without having to suffer an injury or property damage. Our Flow Chart - Near Misses will show you how to proceed.

Legally required or not?

Certain types of more serious near miss are reportable to the HSE under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR). These are known as dangerous occurrences and include explosions, building collapses and overturning cranes.

If the incident meets the criteria requiring a RIDDOR report, you will need to follow the left-hand side of the flow chart. This shows that it needs to be reported to your health and safety advisor and senior management so that they can investigate and produce a full report.

Once initial details have been gathered, submit a RIDDOR report online and alert any relevant insurance companies.