Near Miss Card

A day to day safety tool!

Greg Livingstone
H&S Engineer
Montupet
MontupetUK
UK
Montupet UK Ltd – based in Dunmurry, Lisburn since 1989
Part of a French Multinational business
Manufacturer of cast aluminium parts for the automotive
industry – primarily cylinder heads for Ford, Peugeot, Citroen &
GM.
 What is a “Near Miss”?
• Most safety activities are reactive and not proactive. Many organizations wait for losses
to occur before taking steps to prevent a recurrence. Near miss incidents often precede
loss producing events but are largely ignored because nothing (no injury, damage or
loss) happened. Employees are not enlightened to report these close calls as there has
been no disruption or loss in the form of injuries or property damage. Thus, many
opportunities to prevent the accidents that the organization has not yet had are lost.
Recognizing and reporting near miss incidents can make a major difference to the safety
of workers within organizations. History has shown repeatedly that most loss producing
events (accidents) were preceded by warnings or near accidents.

• It is a Good safety management practice as reviewing the report (at the time and/or
periodically) may help to prevent a re-occurrence. Recording these near misses can also
help identify any weaknesses in operational procedures as deviations from normal good
practice may only happen infrequently but could have potentially high consequences. A
review of near misses over time may reveal patterns from which lessons can be learned.

• Where a review of near miss information reveals that changes to ways of operating, risk
assessments or safety management arrangements are needed, these changes should be
put into effect.
 Why do we need a Near Miss system?

• We don’t record our Near Misses
This is a request from insurance

company and auditors.
• Captures sufficient data for statistical analysis; trending studies

• Behind each accident/incident is hiding multiple near misses
We can

prevent accident/incident.
• Near-Miss reporting has been shown to increase employee relationships and
encourage teamwork in creating a safer work environment

• We reinforce the idea that any dangerous situation should be dealt at the
time it is observed
Don’t wait, act!
• This embodies principles of behaviour shift, responsibility sharing, awareness,
and incentives
 Who is involved?
• H&S reps will be trained to action and record near
miss accident/incident
In case of near miss
situation being observed this becomes the priority
for H&S reps to get it solved and recorded

• Managers will be in charge to check if they collect

enough near miss cards and must support actions if
necessary

• H&S department will be in charge to control

records/KPI
 TRAINING

Near Miss Card

Only H&S reps/spokes will be trained to deal with “Near
Miss”

STOP Vs NEAR MISS

STOP is a pre-planned audit – 1st step = decide where to do the audit
A STOP audit can be a NEAR MISS

A tool for H&S reps/spokes

to assist with our accident reduction
challenge
 • I/he was lucky maybe next guy won’t be!
SEE IT!

• I can solve the situation by myself or I ask for support

SORT IT! from my Supervisor/Manager

SUSTAIN • I fill in my blue card and put it in the department box

IT!
• If
I observe a situation which could potentially create an
accident/incident it is my duty to solve it quickly and
record it. Near miss reporters can describe what they
observed of the near miss incident, and the factors that
prevented loss from occurring.

How to proceed?
 H&S reps/spokes Managers
H&S department
Solve and record near miss Supervisors Check how
accident/incident many cards you Control
Record Near miss have collected records/KPI/statisti

In case of near miss electronically and cal analysis (once
situation being observed this and what
support actions if support actions per quarter to be
becomes the priority for necessary sent to
H&S reps to get it solved and are necessary
department)
recorded

Roles and responsibilities?

 1. Specific blue cards will
be supplied to H&S
reps/spokes
(Similar format to the STOP
card)

2. Electronic Version is
available and data will be
entered by the supervisors

NEAR MISS
MATERIAL
 Department of the Near Miss observation

Area of the Near Miss observation

Manager of department of the Near Miss
observation
Date and Time of the Near Miss observation

Your shift and your name

Describe what you observed of the beginning of

the event, and the factors that prevented loss
from occurring (picture or sketch can be added)

Describe what you have done to sort the “Near

Miss” situation – Highlighted the danger, talked
to operator, cleaned, tidy, informed relevant
persons (Sup/RCM Board…)

Date and signature of H&S Department to

confirm record has been checked
 Tick the right Observation category

If any comments, please don’t hesitate

to use available space
Electronic Data Base
One card per week per
Rep/Spoke

TARGET - KPI
 Questions to ask to yourself…

1. Is there an imminent risk of injuries? Is it potentially a hazard for the next person?
2. Can I sort it by myself? How much time it will take to sort the problem?
3. Is external help required? (sup/other department/contractors…)?
4. Do I have to report it somewhere else or to somebody else? (Sup/RCM
Board/Morning Meeting…)

It is up to you to evaluate the risk!

Is it a Near Miss or not?

 Level of actions

Highlight/inform about the danger/s

Clean/tidy/empty/
remove the Item from the
shop floor or talk to
operator

Ask for support

Record
 If…for any reasons you can’t solve
the problem because you can’t get
support or the situation is back to
the same standard after it has been
solved

Please come and see us
immediately
 Communication
• Your H&S reps in your department have been trained specifically about
H&S matters and they have been given the responsibility to deal with
safety issues within the department.

• They have been given the responsibility to sort any unsafe situation at the
time of the observation and to record it.

• Montupet UK Ltd - gives them authority to approach people in case of

behavioural problem related to H&S.

• It is your duty as an employee to respect the authority of H&S reps and

provide the support they need.

• REMEMBER: Each individual has a safety role to play, and we all have the
responsibility to keep our workplace safe and tidy.
 SEE IT!
SORT IT!
SUSTAIN IT!
 Near Miss

What have we learned?

 Near miss 2015
Behaviour

21% Trip/slip
24%
hazard/housekeeping

PPE

7% Manual Handling

2% 34% Vehicles
12%

Equipment deficiency
Has Near Miss been an effective system?

1. We have a better understanding of what is happening 24hrs /

7days / week – with regard to Health & Safety
2. Discussed at the monthly Health & Safety Committee, Daily shift
meetings
3. Highlighted - specific concerns / areas for focus
4. Greater involvement for our H&S Representatives in the Health &
Safety of everyone
5. We have a more active participation in H&S from all our
employees
6. Has been seen by our Insurers as a positive development of our
H&S culture
7. Has been adopted by our sister companies as Best Practice in
Health & Safety.
What next with our Near Miss recording?

We would like to have all employees involved in the

reporting of near misses, and will be looking at the
practicalities of this.

We are actively looking at other systems that we could

adapt for our particular business.

We are considering the introduction of:

Zero Tolerance = Zero Harm

I hope this presentation has
been of interest to you ?

Thankyou for listening.