A near-miss is defined as which of the following?

• A. A routine maintenance event
• B. An incident where harm actually occurred
• C. A situation where people or equipment could have been harmed but weren't
• D. A minor delay in project schedule

Answer: (C)

A near-miss is a safety concept that focuses on exposure to hazards without injury or damage. It describes a situation where people or equipment could have been harmed but weren’t, due to chance, quick reaction, or effective controls. This distinction matters because near-misses highlight real hazards in the work environment, giving you a chance to address the risk before something actual happens. Reporting and investigating near-misses helps implement fixes, reinforce safe practices, and prevent future injuries. The other scenarios don’t fit: a routine maintenance event is normal activity, an incident where harm occurred is an actual injury or damage, and a minor delay in schedule isn’t about safety exposure.