Health and Safety ReportVolume 23, Issue 04

Near misses (also referred to as close calls) and the incident investigations that follow can be a valuable indicator of safety in the work environment. To make use of this information, workplaces should encourage workers to report near misses and have a thorough incident investigation process in place.

Understanding near misses

A near miss is an event that could have resulted in injury or damage but did not, either by chance or through timely intervention. Near misses can be a warning sign that something in the operating procedure needs adjusting. While it might be tempting for workers who experience a near miss to breathe a sigh of relief and move on, reporting them means the organization gets a chance to identify hazards to prevent a similar serious incident from occurring and potentially causing harm.

Workers should be able to report near misses without fear of reprisal and blame. Employers can encourage reporting by investigating these events thoroughly to determine the root cause. In addition to preventing future incidents, reporting near misses can lead to a better understanding of unsafe conditions. Focusing on prevention, not blame, can help workers feel safe to report, which in turn helps to prevent injuries and promote a safer work environment.

Setting up for an effective investigation

Incident investigations follow a standard process to determine the root causes of an event and how to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The scale of the investigation depends on the potential severity of the near miss. For example, if someone trips on a frayed carpet in the workplace, it will require a smaller investigation and could have an immediate corrective action. If a hoist lifts a heavy load and it falls in a busy pedestrian walkway, the potential severity is much greater, and the investigation should reflect that. Both situations should be investigated to identify unsafe conditions and recommend corrective actions.

Investigations are conducted by a person or team of people with experience in incident causation models and investigative techniques, as well as knowledge of legal or organizational requirements and occupational health and safety fundamentals. This team may include the supervisor, workers, a committee member or representative, or anyone else who may have knowledge that can help prevent a reoccurrence. The goal of an investigation is to determine the root cause of the incident and to make recommendations to correct the unsafe condition.  

Addressing the challenges

Encouraging everyone to report near misses can come with challenges, no matter how beneficial the information could be to the organization. One challenge is the perceived loss of productivity. Investigations take time and resources, and processes may need to pause until they are completed. There may also be a reluctance to complete the associated paperwork.

Other common concerns are who should investigate, and why incidents should be reported if no one was hurt. Workers may worry about negative consequences, while managers and supervisors may fear being held responsible. Lack of awareness about the importance of investigations and reporting near misses is another potential roadblock. Without a strong safety culture, workers may not see the value in reporting issues that did not result in injury.

To overcome these challenges, employers can explain that near miss investigations are opportunities to prevent more serious incidents. Clearly communicate that near miss reporting is about learning and improving safety for everyone, not about finding fault. Providing workers and supervisors with the time and support to complete investigations properly and implement corrective actions can also help reinforce that reporting is valued. Making it standard procedure for incidents to be investigated by a team who can work together to conduct the investigation, review findings, and present unified recommendations, can also help.

Good practices to get your workplace on board

Promote a culture that welcomes reporting so that workers feel safe to report near misses and incidents without fear of reprisal. It helps build trust and ensures that valuable safety information gets shared with the employer.  

Provide regular training sessions to help workers understand how to identify potential hazards and report near misses correctly. Training should also cover the proper steps to follow when an incident occurs.

Consider using digital tools such as reporting systems that can simplify the process of documenting and tracking near misses and incidents. These tools make it easier to analyze trends over time and implement corrective measures.

Communicate clearly and often to reinforce the importance of near miss reporting and incident investigations. Update workers’ training regularly and ensure safety information is accessible and easy to understand.

Near miss reporting and incident investigations are critical parts of a health and safety program. They provide opportunities to learn from close calls, understand the underlying issues, and take steps to prevent future incidents and injuries. Promote a culture where workers feel safe to report incidents and provide clear, structured investigation processes to reduce workplace risks and keep everyone safe.

Resources

• Incident Investigations, CCOHS
• Incident Investigations infographic, CCOHS
• Incident Investigations, WorkSafeBC
• Never Miss Reporting a Near Miss, Infrastructure Health and Safety Association

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) has partnered with CCOHS to provide WSIB-registered businesses in Ontario free access to the new CCOHS Business Safety Portal.

The Portal is an easy-to-use online solution to help business owners and employers meet their legal obligations and protect workers from injuries and illnesses on the job.

The Portal offers:

• health and safety guidance specific to industry and location
• templates for policies and programs needed to run a healthy and safe business
• courses on health and safety topics and legal responsibilities
• checklists to help identify and address concerns and hazards
• a digital file cabinet to store important documents and records in the event of a health and safety inspection

WSIB-registered businesses can sign up for the Portal for free by logging in to or signing up for their WSIB account, then selecting “access free health and safety resources”.

Learn more about the Business Safety Portal and how it can help businesses in Canada.

Featured podcast: Day of Mourning: Tracey Csordas’ Story  

Tracey Csordas’ life changed forever the day her brother Bryn died in a preventable workplace tragedy. She shares her powerful story and what motivated her to become an ambassador for Threads of Life, a charity that supports families impacted by a workplace fatality, life-altering injury or occupational disease.   

Listen to the podcast now.

Encore podcast: Day of Mourning: Eugene Gutierrez’ Story 

Eugene Gutierrez joins CCOHS to talk about the day his father Bot didn't come home from work, the importance of workplace safety, and how Threads of Life supports families affected by workplace tragedies. 

Listen to the podcast now. 

See the complete list of podcast topics or, better yet, subscribe to the series on iTunes or Spotify and don't miss a single episode.

Women pursuing a career in occupational health and safety are encouraged to apply for the Chad Bradley Scholarship for an opportunity to win $3,000.  

The scholarship is available to women enrolled in either a full-time or part-time health and safety related program leading to an occupational health and safety certificate, diploma, or degree at an accredited college or university in Canada. 

To apply, you must submit a completed application form and an essay detailing the following: 

• why you’re pursuing education in occupational health and safety
• your motivation and inspiration
• how you expect to contribute to the field and/or safe work
• other achievements and activities that demonstrate a commitment to and involvement in your community, workplace, or school 

Not sure if your course or program is eligible? Qualifying programs include occupational or industrial health and safety, industrial hygiene, safety management or other related safety degree program. 

The entry deadline is August 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. 

Learn more about the scholarship, eligibility criteria, and how to apply.

Steps for Life and Safety and Health Week are right around the corner. Find out how you can participate in this year’s events.  

Steps for Life walk 
Join thousands of walkers across Canada or organize a team for your local Steps for Life walk. This annual event helps Threads of Life support families impacted by a workplace fatality, life-altering injury or occupational disease. 

Safety and Health Week: May 5 to 10 
Learn about the importance of preventing injury and illness in the workplace, at home, and in the community with these free online events.   

Safety and Health Week National Launch 
Monday, May 5 | 11 am EDT 

Our national partners, Health and Safety Professionals Canada (HSPC), and Threads of Life, will help us kick off Safety and Health Week 2025 virtually. Hear from a Threads of Life family speaker, who will share how they have been impacted by the loss of a family member due to a workplace-related tragedy and find out who will be crowned the winner of the Focus on Safety National Youth Video Contest. 

Beyond the Assessment – Psychosocial Safety, Risk and Control 
Tuesday, May 6 | 11 am EDT 

Everyone deserves the right to stay safe at work from physical and psychosocial hazards. Learn how risk assessment and hierarchy of controls principles fit into effective psychosocial risk management, and how these methods can be applied to foster psychological safety at your workplace. 

The Good, the Bad and the Hazardous – Let’s Talk Identification and Assessment  
Wednesday, May 7 | 11 am EDT 

Explore the potential hazards of hazard identification and the risk assessment process and how to overcome barriers. Plus, learn about the impact of risk perceptions, and why psychological safety is needed in all aspects of our work. 

Live French audio interpretation is available for all sessions. More information about these events is available at www.ccohs.ca/events/safety-and-health-week.  

For more ideas on how to celebrate Safety and Health Week in your workplace, visit safetyandhealthweek.ca. 

Thanks to overwhelming interest, registration for CCOHS Forum 2025: The Changing World of Work is closed and the waitlist is now full.  

Tune in to our latest podcasts for topic teasers from our Forum speakers.   

Climate Change Impacts on Workplace Health and Safety with Dr. Sarah Henderson

Extreme weather events driven by climate change are happening across Canada with increasing frequency. Dr. Sarah Henderson joins us to discuss the potential impacts on workers and how workplaces can build more climate resiliency.

Addressing Inequities in Personal Protective Equipment with Amin Yazdani

When personal protective equipment is designed with diverse body types in mind, everyone in the workplace benefits. Dr. Amin Yazdani joins us to discuss how using breakthrough technology can shape the design of more inclusive personal protective equipment for workers in Canada.

Health Impacts of Physically Demanding Work with Avi Biswas

Do physically active occupations make for healthier workers? Not necessarily. In this episode, Dr. Avi Biswas shares recommendations for safe, practical physical activity designed to meet the diverse needs of workers. 

Special thanks 

Welcome to our latest sponsor, STP ComplianceEHS, and thank you to all our Forum sponsors for your support. 

Every year in Canada, there are hundreds of work-related fatalities and thousands of claims for lost time due to an injury or illness.

The National Day of Morning on April 28 is a chance to honour those who have died or suffered injury or illness due to a workplace tragedy. It’s also a chance to renew your commitment to improving health and safety, and to preventing further tragedies.  

We offer resources to help observe the Day of Mourning, including social media cards, podcasts, and this year’s poster – a powerful reminder to forget-them-not. The poster artwork is available to download, print and share widely.

Organizations are also encouraged to pause and reflect on April 28 at 11 a.m. Consider sharing or playing our video to observe this moment of silence, and to remind others about the vital role health and safety plays in preventing work-related injuries, illnesses and loss of life.

Learn more about Day of Mourning
Download the Day of Mourning poster