Icologiq Knowledge · Event
Near Miss
An event that did not result in injury, damage or loss but had the potential to do so under slightly different circumstances.
Also known as:
close call, near-miss incident
At a glance
Type
Event
Topic
Incident Management
Applies to
Tank Terminals & Chemicals, Food & Agriculture
Current version
Status
Last reviewed
September 14, 2026
Definition
A near miss is an unplanned event where harmful consequences were avoided, often by chance or timely intervention. Recording and reviewing near misses can provide an early signal of hazards and control weaknesses before a more serious incident occurs.
Why it matters
Near misses matter because they reveal hazards and weaknesses before they result in injury, damage or other significant consequences. Capturing and reviewing them can help organizations identify patterns and take preventive action earlier.
Capture what nearly happened, where and under what conditions without discouraging reporting through blame or unnecessary complexity.
Report the event promptly
1
Consider credible worst-case impact and recurrence likelihood rather than rating only the actual no-harm outcome.
Assess potential consequence
2
Examine which barriers, procedures or decisions allowed the event sequence to progress as far as it did.
Identify failed or weak controls
3
Use deeper Incident Investigation when the potential consequence, recurrence or uncertainty justifies it.
Investigate proportionately
4
Address the identified weakness before similar conditions combine with less favorable circumstances.
Take corrective or preventive action
5
Event explained
Learning from a Near Miss before harm occurs
A Near Miss provides evidence that controls were challenged even though serious harm or loss did not occur. Treating it as a learning opportunity can expose weak barriers and unsafe conditions before a similar sequence produces a worse outcome.
An unplanned event or condition that resulted in, or could contribute to, harm, loss, nonconformance or operational disruption.
Incident
Event
· Incident Management
The structured process for reporting, assessing, investigating, following up and learning from incidents and related events.
Incident Management
Process
· Incident Management
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