From: Ray Cook <raycook**At_Symbol_Here**APEXHSE.COM>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] near-miss reporting form
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 2016 14:58:33 -0600
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: 5AC463C1-6C4E-47D9-AC28-3F6427F1ECAD**At_Symbol_Here**apexhse.com
In-Reply-To


Actually, a near-miss is an incident, with little or no consequence. I agree with some of the definitions to a point, but our human nature has us classify types of incidents by consequences rather than causes. The result is a focus on preventing or mitigating the consequence in most cases, rather than preventing a reoccurrence of the cause.

An example would be failure of a ventilation system resulting in a consequence. Could be fire, explosion, or evacuation, or nothing if caught promptly. Same incident, different outcomes, but if it had been an explosion, classification would be of explosion, not ventilation failure. In this case you might look to improve system maintenance & testing (good) or focus on preventing explosion if vent system failed (bad, if only thing done). The latter is consequence mitigation, rather than a true corrective action to prevent the cause. I specialize in this area.

Regards,

Ray Cook, CIH, CSP
ApexHSE.com
832-477-4454
**At_Symbol_Here**apexhse (Twitter)
I Cor 1:18
Sent from my iPhone


On Jan 12, 2016, at 2:12 PM, Charles Corey <charles.corey**At_Symbol_Here**BELL.NET> wrote:

I would consider a chemical spill an " accident" ; if the container fell on the floor; was picked up and placed back on the bench or in the fume hood and research or work continued , that I would consider an incident.

Charles 


Date: Tue, 12 Jan 2016 19:34:47 +0000
From: ms.alnajjar**At_Symbol_Here**PNNL.GOV
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] near-miss reporting form
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU

Combining the good definitions (modified) that have already been submitted, how about the set below:

 

Definition of a near miss, unsafe working condition, or hazardous condition

Near miss - is an event or condition that has occurred, but did not result in personal injury or property damage because of intervening factors.  A chemical spills that does not result in a personal injury or property damage will be classified as a near miss. 

 

Unsafe working condition - is a condition that is only slightly different from near miss in that the sequence of events that would lead to a near miss has not yet been put into motion (e.g., unsafe employee work habits, use of malfunctioning equipment, improper use of PPE or lack off, etc.).  These would fall under safety observation reporting.

 

Hazardous condition - is a condition, event, circumstance, or action of a person, which could lead to an injury or property damage.

 

M

 

 

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**med.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Wilhelm, Monique
Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2016 10:39 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] near-miss reporting form

 

Hi Neal,

 

This is a great question.  I was just discussing this with my colleagues last week.  Basically, it is left to the person reviewing a report (me) to determine if it is an incident versus a near miss in my dept.  However, I want to capture more near misses.  We came up with the statement below, which may have been taken and edited from something found on the great www.  I would love some feedback from this group.

 

all unplanned fires or other precursors to actual incidents, whether or not an injury or other damage occurred

 

Thanks,

Monique Wilhelm

Laboratory Manager

Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry

University of Michigan - Flint

 

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**med.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of NEAL LANGERMAN
Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2016 1:18 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] near-miss reporting form

 

How about discussing how to define a Near Miss?
Sent from Neal Langerman's NEXUS 6.
Standard client confidentiality terms apply.

On Jan 12, 2016 09:10, "Debbie M. Decker" <dmdecker**At_Symbol_Here**ucdavis.edu> wrote:

Hi:

 

Seeking to not reinvent the wheel, does anyone have a near-miss reporting form they like?  I have one but I'm not happy with it.

 

Thanks!

 

Debbie

 

Debbie M. Decker, CCHO, ACS Fellow

Immediate Past Chair, Division of Chemical Health and Safety

University of California, Davis

(530)754-7964

(530)304-6728

dmdecker**At_Symbol_Here**ucdavis.edu

 

Birkett's hypothesis: "Any chemical reaction

that proceeds smoothly under normal conditions,

can proceed violently in the presence of an idiot."

 

 

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