What is a near-miss?

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

Answer: (A)

A near-miss is a safety warning: a situation in which harm or damage could have occurred to people or equipment, but didn’t, because of chance, luck, or protective controls working. It highlights a hazard or weakness in procedures, training, equipment, or the work environment that could lead to an injury if not addressed. Treating near-misses seriously helps prevent real accidents by prompting corrective actions, such as modifying processes, reinforcing safety practices, or fixing faulty equipment before harm happens.

The other options don’t fit because they describe different outcomes. An incident that caused harm involves actual injury or damage. A routine maintenance event is a planned activity and not inherently a warning sign of a hazard. A minor delay in the work schedule is about timing, not safety or potential harm.