On the work floor, safety is everything. Most of the time, things go just fine. And when something really goes wrong, everyone takes action. Reports are written, investigations happen, and changes are made. That all makes sense.
But what about the things that almost go wrong? The near misses, the small slips, the moments where someone caught an issue just in time? There’s often more value in those than we think.
In this blog, we’ll explain why it’s important to look beyond the big accidents. Because it’s the small stuff — the near misses and minor issues — that can give you real insight. When you take those seriously, you can stop bigger problems before they start.
Incident data is more than just accident reports
A lot of companies only record serious incidents. But when you do that, you’re only seeing part of the picture. Incident data includes anything that’s off from normal. A near miss or a small deviation matters too.
It’s like hearing a strange sound in your car. Nothing has broken yet, but it’s a sign. The same goes for safety. When workers report the small stuff, you get a much better idea of what’s really going on.
It also shows that safety is something everyone’s involved in. That builds trust, encourages people to speak up, and creates a stronger safety culture overall.
Spotting Patterns Before Trouble Starts
Let’s say three people almost trip over the same step in a single month. Nobody gets hurt, so nothing happens. Then the fourth person does fall. That’s a missed chance. Those earlier reports were warning signs.
When you collect all those little signals in one place, patterns start to appear. If the same type of near miss keeps happening in one area, it’s time to dig deeper. If issues pop up around certain equipment, you might have a maintenance problem.
That’s where having a clear overview, like a dashboard or a simple report, really helps. It gives you the chance to fix things before someone gets hurt.
Near misses are full of clues
The problem with near misses is that they often go unreported. People think, “It didn’t turn into anything, so it doesn’t matter.” But those are actually some of the most useful reports you can get. They show you where the cracks are before something breaks.
If you want more of these reports, you have to make it easy. No long forms, no finger-pointing, no stress. Some companies even allow anonymous reporting.
One company saw its near miss reports go through the roof just by putting a simple tablet in the break room. That small change made a big difference. And their workplace got safer as a result.
Turn Insight Into Action
Collecting reports is just the start. What you do with the information is what really counts. You don’t need a huge plan. Just take action, check if it works, and adjust as needed.
And don’t forget to follow up with the people who reported the issue. Let them know what changed because of their input. Even a simple “Thanks, we added more lighting in that area” makes a big impact. It shows that reports matter. Sharing those lessons in team talks or short training sessions helps everyone learn and grow.
Small signals make a big difference
Safety is often in the little things. The close calls. The small fixes. By noticing and acting on those early signs, you can avoid major problems later. You build a culture where people feel heard and involved. And you show that every voice matters.
Want to take a closer look at how your team handles reports? Or use your incident data more effectively? Download our free checklist for smarter incident analysis. Small changes lead to big results.
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