In health and safety, the terms close call and near miss are used for slightly different events. We’ll explain the differences between the two and discuss the importance of reporting close calls and the advatnages of establishing a culture and a simple system to make reporting close calls quick and straightforward.
Close Calls vs. Near Misses
Let’s start by discussing the difference between close calls and near misses. Although the terms are often used interchangeably, they have distinct meanings:
– Near Miss: This term typically refers to a physical event where property damage or personal injury was narrowly avoided. It often involves a physical object or hazard – e.g. ‘A fitting fell from the ceiling and nearly struck a member of staff’.
– Close Call: A broader term that describes any situation where harm or injury was almost experienced, regardless of whether a physical object or hazard was involved. It can include psychological or emotional distress – e.g. ‘Workers were nervous about the security of the fittings having seen some corrosion around the bolts’.
Here’s a diagram to explain how close calls and near-misses relate to incidents.
The Importance of Both
Both near misses and close calls are valuable indicators of potential hazards and unsafe behaviours. If we understand these distinctions and recognise the importance of both, we can take proactive steps to prevent future incidents. Because close calls are a bit broader in their scope, and perhaps a little more subjective in certain circumstances, there’s often a temptation to pay them less attention than their high profile in-laws! We’re hopefully going to change that.
Why Should We Report Close Calls?
Reporting close calls is crucial for several reasons:
– Identifying Hazards: By analysing close calls, organisations can identify potential hazards and take steps to eliminate or mitigate them.
– Preventing Future Incidents: Learning from close-calls helps organisations take measures to avoid near-misses.
– Compliance with Regulations: In some industries, close calls are categorised as incidents and must be reported.
Benefits of Close-Call Reporting
Benefits may include:
– Reduced Accidents: By addressing the underlying issues identified through close call reports, organisations can potentially reduce the frequency and severity of near-misses and incidents.
– Increased Employee Morale: A culture of safety where employees feel valued and heard can boost morale and job satisfaction.
– Enhanced Reputation: A strong safety record can enhance an organisation’s reputation and attract customers and investors. The fact that a business is prepared to take action on close-calls shows a commitment to safety.
– Cost Savings: Of course preventing incidents can save organisations significant costs associated with injuries, property damage, and legal fees.
Barriers to Close Call Reporting
Despite the benefits, there are several barriers to effective close call reporting:
– Fear of Retribution: Employees may fear being blamed or punished for reporting close calls.
– Lack of Awareness: Employees may not understand the importance of reporting close calls or the process for doing so. They may also require training on how to identify close calls
– Time Constraints: Busy employees may find it difficult to take the time to report close calls.
– Cultural Barriers: In some cultures, reporting what amounts to an organisational issue may be seen as a sign of weakness or incompetence.
How to Encourage Close Call Reporting
So hopefully we’ve decided that reporting close calls is a good thing – how do we get started. The barriers are big ones but they’re not insurmountable and the benefits are potentially huge. Here are some ideas:
– Create a Safe Culture: Foster a culture where employees feel comfortable reporting safety concerns without fear of reprisal.
– Simplify the Reporting Process: Make the reporting process as easy and straightforward as possible, such as using online reporting tools or mobile apps.
– Provide Training: Educate employees about the importance of close call reporting and how to identify and report potential hazards.
– Recognise and Reward Reporting: Acknowledge and reward employees who report close calls to show appreciation for their contributions to safety.
– Conduct Regular Safety Meetings: Use safety meetings to discuss close calls, share lessons learned, and reinforce the importance of reporting.
Effective Close Call Investigation
It won’t be a surprise that close call investigation is pretty similar to incident investigation, however because there may be less visible data (since nothing has happened yet) it is important to be aware of the qualitative data which is available.
Once a close call is reported, it is essential to conduct a thorough investigation to identify the root causes and implement corrective actions. Effective investigations should:
– Gather Information: Collect information from all relevant sources, including eyewitnesses, supervisors, and documentation.
– Identify Root Causes: Determine the underlying factors that contributed to the close-call – e.g. in the case of our light fitting example the root cause was the corrosion which was observed
– Develop Corrective Actions: Implement measures to address the concerns raised.
– Communicate Findings: Share the findings of the investigation with employees to raise awareness and reinforce the culture of reporting.
Implementing a Close Call Reporting System
To effectively manage close call reporting, consider implementing a formal reporting system that includes:
– Clear Reporting Procedures: Establish clear guidelines for how and when to report close calls.
– Training and Education: Provide training to all employees on the importance of close call reporting and the reporting process.
– Data Collection and Analysis: Use data to track trends, identify problem areas, and measure the effectiveness of safety initiatives.
– Regular Reviews: Conduct regular reviews of close call reports to identify patterns and emerging trends.
Although it is possible to run a system using paper forms or the omnipresent excel spreadsheets, we’d suggest that a cloud-based system will be the most suitable platform to ensure data integrity and ease of reporting.
The Future?
Clearly the ability to gather and analyse data has taken a huge step forward with improved AI tools. It is likely that prediction of incidents will be made much easier by integrating AI capability into existing platforms