Standard Operating Procedure for Documenting and Reporting Near-Miss Incidents
1) Purpose
The purpose of this SOP is to establish a standardized procedure for documenting and reporting near-miss incidents to identify potential hazards, prevent future accidents, and promote a culture of safety within the organization.
2) Scope
This SOP applies to all employees, contractors, and personnel who observe or are involved in near-miss incidents across all departments and operational areas of the organization.
3) Responsibilities
- Employees: Report near-miss incidents promptly using the designated reporting channels.
- Supervisors: Review and verify the reported incidents, and ensure proper follow-up actions are taken.
- EHS Team: Investigate reported near-miss incidents, analyze trends, and recommend corrective actions.
- Management: Support the reporting process and allocate resources for implementing corrective measures.
4) Procedure
4.1 Identifying Near-Miss Incidents
- Definition:
- A near-miss incident is an unplanned event that did not result in injury, illness, or damage but had the potential to do so.
- Examples:
- Objects falling near personnel without causing harm.
- Malfunctioning equipment detected before causing an accident.
- Encourage Reporting:
- Promote a no-blame culture to encourage employees to report near-miss incidents without fear of repercussions.
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4.2 Reporting Near-Miss Incidents
- Immediate Reporting:
- Report the near-miss incident to the supervisor or EHS representative immediately after it occurs.
- Complete the Reporting Form:
- Fill out the
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Near-Miss Reporting Form (Annexure 1) with details such as date, time, location, description, and contributing factors.
Submit the Report:
- Submit the completed form to the EHS team within 24 hours of the incident.
4.3 Investigating Near-Miss Incidents
- Assign an Investigator:
- The EHS team assigns a qualified investigator to review the reported incident.
- Conduct a Root Cause Analysis:
- Analyze the circumstances surrounding the incident to identify underlying causes and contributing factors.
- Document Findings:
- Record investigation findings in the Near-Miss Investigation Report (Annexure 2), including recommendations for corrective actions.
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4.4 Implementing Corrective Actions
- Develop Action Plans:
- Create a corrective action plan to address identified risks and prevent recurrence.
- Assign Responsibilities:
- Delegate implementation tasks to relevant personnel or departments.
- Track Progress:
- Monitor the implementation of corrective actions and document completion status.
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4.5 Reviewing and Analyzing Trends
- Compile Data:
- Aggregate near-miss reports periodically to identify patterns or recurring issues.
- Prepare Trend Analysis Reports:
- Summarize trends, root causes, and recommendations in a Near-Miss Trend Analysis Report (Annexure 3).
- Share Insights:
- Distribute findings to management and employees to raise awareness and promote preventive measures.
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4.6 Continuous Improvement
- Review Procedures:
- Regularly review and update this SOP based on lessons learned from near-miss incidents.
- Conduct Training:
- Train employees on near-miss reporting procedures and the importance of hazard prevention.
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5) Abbreviations, if any
- EHS: Environmental, Health, and Safety
6) Documents, if any
- Near-Miss Reporting Form
- Near-Miss Investigation Report
- Trend Analysis Reports
7) Reference, if any
- ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Standards
- OSHA Guidelines for Incident Reporting
- Internal Safety Policies
8) SOP Version
Version: 1.0
Annexure
Template 1: Near-Miss Reporting Form
Date | Location | Description | Contributing Factors | Reported By |
---|---|---|---|---|
DD/MM/YYYY | Warehouse A | Falling Object Near Miss | Loose Shelving | John Doe |
Template 2: Near-Miss Investigation Report
Incident ID | Root Cause | Corrective Action | Assigned To | Completion Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
NM-001 | Unsecured Shelves | Reinforce Shelving | Maintenance Team | DD/MM/YYYY |