Industrial accident near-miss reporting can miss the mark: Expert

September 18, 2025

DENVER — Tracking workplace accident “near misses” has long been considered an effective way for safety professionals to ensure problems are fixed before an actual incident occurs. Still, the practice has its own shortfalls, according to a safety expert who says the definition itself is problematic.

“It’s not even understood, what is a near miss?,” said Jean Ndana, Warren, Michigan-based environmental, health and safety director at Bull Moose Tube, a steel tube manufacturer, who spoke Wednesday during the National Safety Council Congress and Expo, calling on a “paradigm shift” on how employers manage incidents that could have led to accidents.

Mr. Ndana described the 31-word definition of “near miss” by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration as confusing, and not applicable to a wide range of industries, as it describes the scenario of a near miss as a “slight shift in time or position” where “damage or injury could easily have occurred.”

Such an incident is hard to visualize, especially for newer workers unaccustomed to what could have gone wrong, he said. Instead, Mr. Ndana proposes that industries view and train such instances as “any opportunity to make things safer, healthier or better.”

“You don’t have to wait until someone trips on a wire,” he said, showing photos taken of a steel plant, where loose cords, dirty gauges and broken machine guards weren’t merely sites of near-misses, as traditionally defined, but areas where issues need to be addressed.

Another problem with reporting near misses is in the training — it’s often not considered when onboarding workers, he said. The paperwork is another concern, he said, adding that a white sheet of paper can easily get lost in the shuffle. At Bull Moose Tube, Mr. Ndana has made all the forms yellow and on cardstock and placed them throughout the plant. He doesn’t call them “near miss” forms, either. He suggested companies use terms such as “opportunities for improvement” or the more catchy “Good catch!”

He also suggested that safety professionals hold weekly meetings to discuss near misses, which would help prevent late reporting. A recognition or awards program for reporting areas of concern is another tip.

At Bull Moose Tube, a “Near Miss Hall of Fame” features photos of workers who reported concerns and had them addressed, as Mr. Ndana showed in his presentation.

“Positive reinforcement is a powerful tool,” he said.