When is reporting near-miss events particularly important?

• A. Only at annual safety reviews.
• B. Only when specifically instructed by a supervisor.
• C. As part of the general safety responsibility of employees.
• D. Never report near-misses to avoid blame.

Answer: (C)

Reporting near-miss events is essential because they reveal hazards and weaknesses in the system before someone gets hurt. When employees report these events, the team can investigate what happened, identify why it happened (procedures, equipment, environment, or behavior), and put corrective actions in place to prevent a real injury next time. This creates a learning loop that continuously improves safety.

Framing near-miss reporting as part of everyone’s safety responsibility builds a culture where people feel empowered and supported to speak up, without fear of blame. That ongoing, proactive approach is far more effective than treating near-misses as something to note only during a formal review, something you do only when told by a supervisor, or something to avoid reporting altogether.