Safety Technician how-to

How to Investigate a Near-Miss

Near-misses are free lessons. Investigating them prevents injuries.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
Quick answer

Near-misses are free lessons. Investigating them prevents injuries. In short: make; interview; photograph, then complete the remaining steps below.

Step by step

  1. Make the area safe.

  2. Interview the people involved and witnesses separately.

  3. Photograph the scene and equipment.

  4. Identify what happened and the contributing causes.

  5. Recommend controls using the hierarchy of controls.

  6. Share the lessons and track corrective actions.

Safety reminders for safety technicians

  • Wear the PPE required in every area you inspect
  • Never enter confined spaces without a permit and monitoring
  • Stay alert around moving equipment during inspections
  • Model safe behavior at all times

Hazard · OSHA 300 log · Recordable injury · Near-miss · JHA · PPE: see the full safety technician glossary.

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