Near-miss training is for frontline employees who spot and report close calls. Supervisors, safety committee members and managers who investigate near misses and follow through on fixes need it too. Any workplace with moving equipment, elevated work or hazardous materials benefits. The 13-minute video is in English, with Spanish and French closed captions.

No federal OSHA standard specifically requires near misses to be reported or recorded, because OSHA injury logs cover only actual injuries and illnesses. OSHA does encourage near-miss reporting and investigation as part of a safety program. Many employers set internal rules, such as reporting a near miss to a supervisor within 24 hours.

A near miss is an unplanned event that could have caused injury or damage but did not, often because of timing or position. An incident results in actual harm, illness or property damage. Near misses often share root causes with injuries, so treating them seriously is a low-cost way to prevent harm.

A near-miss investigation follows four steps. First, preserve and document the scene. Second, gather evidence and interview witnesses. Third, identify the root cause rather than stopping at the person involved. Fourth, put corrective actions in place, track them to completion and share the findings with employees.

Employers encourage near-miss reporting by making reports quick and blame-free, recognizing employees who report, and acting visibly on what is reported. Sharing investigation results through meetings, postings or safety talks shows that near-miss reports lead to real fixes. That follow-through builds trust and keeps reports coming.