{"id":32233,"date":"2026-05-27T09:30:58","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T07:30:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ursa-chemie.de\/?p=32233"},"modified":"2026-07-30T16:46:36","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T14:46:36","slug":"near-misses-when-almost-happening-is-the-best-indicator-of-true-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ursa-chemie.de\/en\/2026\/05\/27\/near-misses-when-almost-happening-is-the-best-indicator-of-true-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"Near misses: When \u2018almost happening\u2019 is the best indicator of true safety"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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In day-to-day working life, there are situations that seem harmless at first glance \u2013 because nothing has happened. Yet this is precisely where a crucial aspect of modern health and safety lies: near misses. <\/p>

A so-called \u2018near miss\u2019 refers to an undesirable incident that almost resulted in an accident causing injury or damage to property \u2013 but fortunately had no consequences.<\/p>

And it is precisely these situations that are extremely valuable.<\/p>

Why near-misses are so important<\/strong><\/p>

Near-misses are not mere footnotes, but early warning signs of real dangers.<\/p>

The so-called accident pyramid (according to Bird) clearly shows that:A very large number of near-misses are followed by only a few, but often serious, workplace accidents.<\/p>

In other words:What \u2018just about went okay\u2019 today could turn into a proper accident tomorrow.<\/p>

Examples from everyday working life<\/strong><\/p>

Near-misses happen faster than you might think:\u2022 Someone slips on a wet surface but manages to regain their balance\u2022 An object falls and narrowly misses a person\u2022 An open area is overlooked, and no one falls into it<\/p>

What matters here is not the result \u2013 but the realisation:Something could have happened here.<\/p>

Our approach at Ursa-Chemie<\/strong><\/p>

The issue of near misses fits perfectly with our safety culture \u2013 and is firmly embedded in our understanding of health and safety at work.<\/p>

One of the foundations for this is our BG Quality Seal certificate, which confirms our high standards in occupational health and safety and accident prevention.<\/p>

For us, one thing is clear:Every observation can help prevent future accidents.<\/p>

Reporting without obstacles or fear<\/strong><\/p>

A key factor in dealing with near-misses is the reporting culture.After all, no one should be afraid to report an incident.That is why we have deliberately opted for a simple and anonymous reporting system:<\/p>

This is how it works here:<\/strong><\/p>

\u2022 QR codes are displayed in every department\u2022 Scanning the code takes you to a digital form\u2022 Reports are submitted completely anonymously\u2022 Once submitted, the health and safety officer automatically receives an email\u2022 The report is processed directly in the system via a link<\/p>

Objective: To improve safety, not to judge people<\/strong><\/p>

Very important: near-misses are not intended to embarrass or criticise anyone.<\/p>

Im Gegenteil:Sie sollen helfen,\u2022 Risiken sichtbar zu machen\u2022 unsicheres Verhalten zu erkennen\u2022 Arbeitsbedingungen zu verbessern\u2022 echte Unf\u00e4lle zu verhindern<\/p>

These reports therefore make an active contribution to the safety of all staff.<\/p>

An example from everyday life<\/strong><\/p>

A typical scenario:An employee is walking behind a forklift without the required high-visibility vest.A colleague notices the situation \u2013 and recognises the risk.<\/p>

Instead of ignoring it, he reports the incident as a near-miss using the QR code.<\/p>

In this way, what could have been a dangerous situation becomes a valuable lesson for improvement.<\/p>

Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>

Near-misses are no accident \u2013 they are an opportunity.<\/p>

An opportunity to\u2022 identify risks at an early stage\u2022 improve processes\u2022 and proactively shape security<\/p>

Or to put it another way:Every near-miss is a step towards a genuinely safe working environment.<\/p>

And that is precisely why our motto is:Look, report, learn \u2013 before anything happens.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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