Near miss (Beinaheunfall)
Also: Beinaheunfall, near accident, close call
Definition
A near miss is an event that could have led to an accident but in which nobody was injured – such as a falling load that lands just next to a person. Near misses are valuable indications of hazards before something happens.
There is no duty to report them, but companies with a good safety culture record near misses systematically and analyse them like accidents: identify the cause, define a measure, check its effectiveness. According to the iceberg model, for every serious accident there are many minor ones and even more near misses – tackling the base prevents the tip.
This requires a culture in which reports are not punished. Simple reporting channels – via an app with a photo, anonymously if desired – significantly increase the number of reports.
Safety inspections in AMS GoInspections should be recorded where they take place: on site. With our mobile app and predefined checklists you record checkpoints, document deficiencies with photos and assign actions directly – without media breaks or transferring data afterwards.Learn more
Related terms
This glossary entry gives a general overview of German occupational safety law and does not replace legal advice. The regulations in force and the rules of the statutory accident insurance institutions are authoritative.
