Which description best defines a near-miss incident?

Which description best defines a near-miss incident?

• A. An event that caused significant damage.
• B. An event with no potential for harm.
• C. An event with potential for serious harm that did not cause injury or damage but could have.
• D. A routine training exercise.

Answer: (C)

A near-miss is an event in which serious harm could have occurred but did not, highlighting a safety weakness that could lead to injury if not addressed. In safety practice, recognizing near-misses helps you fix gaps in controls, procedures, or behavior before actual harm happens. The described situation fits best because it involves potential for serious harm that did not cause injury or damage, but could have. It’s not about actual damage, and it’s not a routine exercise or a risk-free event. Near-misses are warnings that something in the system could lead to injury if left unchecked, so documenting and investigating them is a key step in preventing future accidents.

A near-miss is an event in which serious harm could have occurred but did not, highlighting a safety weakness that could lead to injury if not addressed. In safety practice, recognizing near-misses helps you fix gaps in controls, procedures, or behavior before actual harm happens.

The described situation fits best because it involves potential for serious harm that did not cause injury or damage, but could have. It’s not about actual damage, and it’s not a routine exercise or a risk-free event. Near-misses are warnings that something in the system could lead to injury if left unchecked, so documenting and investigating them is a key step in preventing future accidents.