Near Miss Card

A day to day safety tool!

Greg Livingstone

H&S Engineer

Montupet UKMontupet UK

Montupet UK Ltd – based in Dunmurry, Lisburn since 1989

Part of a French Multinational business

Manufacturer of cast aluminium parts for the automotive

industry – primarily cylinder heads for Ford, Peugeot, Citroen &

GM.

• Most safety activities are reactive and not proactive. Many organizations wait for losses to occur before taking steps to prevent a recurrence. Near miss incidents often precede loss producing events but are largely ignored because nothing (no injury, damage or loss) happened. Employees are not enlightened to report these close calls as there has been no disruption or loss in the form of injuries or property damage. Thus, many opportunities to prevent the accidents that the organization has not yet had are lost. Recognizing and reporting near miss incidents can make a major difference to the safety of workers within organizations. History has shown repeatedly that most loss producing events (accidents) were preceded by warnings or near accidents.

• It is a Good safety management practice as reviewing the report (at the time and/or periodically) may help to prevent a re-occurrence. Recording these near misses can also help identify any weaknesses in operational procedures as deviations from normal good practice may only happen infrequently but could have potentially high consequences. A review of near misses over time may reveal patterns from which lessons can be learned.

• Where a review of near miss information reveals that changes to ways of operating, risk assessments or safety management arrangements are needed, these changes should be put into effect.

What is a “Near Miss”?

• We don’t record our Near Misses � This is a request from insurance company and auditors.

• Captures sufficient data for statistical analysis; trending studies

• Behind each accident/incident is hiding multiple near misses � We can prevent accident/incident.

• Near-Miss reporting has been shown to increase employee relationships and encourage teamwork in creating a safer work environment

• We reinforce the idea that any dangerous situation should be dealt at the time it is observed � Don’t wait, act!

• This embodies principles of behaviour shift, responsibility sharing, awareness, and incentives

Why do we need a Near Miss system?

• H&S reps will be trained to action and record near miss accident/incident � In case of near miss situation being observed this becomes the priority for H&S reps to get it solved and recorded

• Managers will be in charge to check if they collect enough near miss cards and must support actions if necessary

• H&S department will be in charge to control records/KPI

Who is involved?

Near Miss Card

TRAINING

A tool for H&S reps/spokes

to assist with our accident reduction

challenge

Only H&S reps/spokes will be trained to deal with “Near

Miss”

STOP Vs NEAR MISS

STOP is a pre-planned audit – 1st step = decide where to do the audit

A STOP audit can be a NEAR MISS

SEE IT!

• I/he was lucky maybe next guy won’t be!

SORT IT!

• I can solve the situation by myself or I ask for support from my Supervisor/Manager

SUSTAIN

IT!

• I fill in my blue card and put it in the department box

• If �I observe a situation which could potentially create an accident/incident it is my duty to solve it quickly and record it. Near miss reporters can describe what they observed of the near miss incident, and the factors that prevented loss from occurring.

How to proceed?

Roles and responsibilities?

H&S reps/spokes

Solve and record near miss accident/incident

� In case of near miss situation being observed this

becomes the priority for H&S reps to get it solved and

recorded

Supervisors

Record Near miss electronically and support actions if

necessary

Managers

Check how many cards you have collected

and what support actions are necessary

H&S department

Control records/KPI/statistical analysis (once per quarter to be

sent to department)

NEAR MISS

MATERIAL

1. Specific blue cards will

be supplied to H&S

reps/spokes

(Similar format to the STOP

card)

2. Electronic Version is

available and data will be

entered by the supervisors

Department of the Near Miss observation

Area of the Near Miss observation

Manager of department of the Near Miss

observation

Date and Time of the Near Miss observation

Your shift and your name

Describe what you observed of the beginning of

the event, and the factors that prevented loss

from occurring (picture or sketch can be added)

Describe what you have done to sort the “Near

Miss” situation – Highlighted the danger, talked

to operator, cleaned, tidy, informed relevant

persons (Sup/RCM Board…)

Date and signature of H&S Department to

confirm record has been checked

Tick the right Observation category

If any comments, please don’t hesitate

to use available space

Electronic Data Base

TARGET - KPI

One card per week per

Rep/Spoke

Is it a Near Miss or not?

Questions to ask to yourself…

1. Is there an imminent risk of injuries? Is it potentially a hazard for the next person?

2. Can I sort it by myself? How much time it will take to sort the problem?

3. Is external help required? (sup/other department/contractors…)?

4. Do I have to report it somewhere else or to somebody else? (Sup/RCM

Board/Morning Meeting…)

It is up to you to evaluate the risk!

Level of actions

Highlight/inform about the danger/s

Clean/tidy/empty/

remove the Item from the

shop floor or talk to

operator

Ask for support

Record

If…for any reasons you can’t solve

the problem because you can’t get

support or the situation is back to

the same standard after it has been

solved

� Please come and see us

immediately

Communication

• Your H&S reps in your department have been trained specifically about H&S matters and they have been given the responsibility to deal with

safety issues within the department.

• They have been given the responsibility to sort any unsafe situation at the time of the observation and to record it.

• Montupet UK Ltd - gives them authority to approach people in case of behavioural problem related to H&S.

• It is your duty as an employee to respect the authority of H&S reps and provide the support they need.

• REMEMBER: Each individual has a safety role to play, and we all have the responsibility to keep our workplace safe and tidy.

SEE IT!

SORT IT!

SUSTAIN IT!

SEE IT!

SORT IT!

SUSTAIN IT!

Near Miss

What have we learned?

Near miss 2015

21%

34%12%

2%

7%

24%

Behaviour

Trip/slip

hazard/housekeeping

PPE

Manual Handling

Vehicles

Equipment deficiency

Has Near Miss been an effective system?

1. We have a better understanding of what is happening 24hrs /

7days / week – with regard to Health & Safety

2. Discussed at the monthly Health & Safety Committee, Daily shift

meetings

3. Highlighted - specific concerns / areas for focus

4. Greater involvement for our H&S Representatives in the Health &

Safety of everyone

5. We have a more active participation in H&S from all our

employees

6. Has been seen by our Insurers as a positive development of our

H&S culture

7. Has been adopted by our sister companies as Best Practice in

Health & Safety.

What next with our Near Miss recording?

We would like to have all employees involved in the

reporting of near misses, and will be looking at the

practicalities of this.

We are actively looking at other systems that we could

adapt for our particular business.

We are considering the introduction of:

Zero Tolerance = Zero Harm

I hope this presentation has

been of interest to you ?

Thankyou for listening.