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What is a close call?
A close call, also known as a near miss, occurs when an incident almost happens but is avoided at the last moment. It might be avoided by just seconds or centimetres.
A close call may involve a situation that could have caused injury or harm to people or resulted in significant damage to property.
Close calls are valuable learning opportunities. They help organisations identify hazards, manage risks more effectively, and reduce the likelihood of similar incidents occurring in the future.
Close call examples in the workplace
There are countless examples of close calls and near misses in the workplace. These will vary depending on the nature of the work environment, but we’ve highlighted some common examples below.
Slips, trips, and falls
Example: Someone slips on oil that has been spilled on a garage floor.
Outcome: They manage to regain their balance and avoid falling.
Prevention: Use appropriate signage to highlight spills immediately and ensure the area is cleaned promptly to prevent accidents.
Example: A worker trips on a loose printer cable trailing across the office floor.
Outcome: They manage to steady themselves by grabbing a nearby desk.
Prevention: Cables should never trail across walkways. Secure them properly or mark the area with hazard tape if the wire’s temporary placement can’t be avoided.
Example: Lighting in a stairwell is not working, and someone stumbles down a couple of steps.
Outcome: They manage to catch themselves using the handrail.
Prevention: Regularly check and maintain lighting in all areas. Implement a routine inspection schedule to ensure bulbs are replaced promptly when they fail.
Equipment and machinery
Example: A forklift narrowly misses a worker on foot on the factory floor when reversing, due to a blind spot.
Outcome: The worker jumps back just in time and the forklift driver breaks.
Prevention: Implement a traffic management system, such as designated pedestrian walkways, mirrors, and warning lights, to prevent forklift and pedestrian interactions.
Example: A dump truck’s tailgate suddenly releases rubble while a worker is walking behind the vehicle.
Outcome: The worker notices and jumps clear before being hit.
Prevention: Ensure an audible warning sounds before tailgate release and that exclusion zones are clearly marked and enforced.
Example: An employee nearly catches loose clothing in a drill press after leaning too close while it’s running.
Outcome: Their overalls are ripped but no injury occurs.
Prevention: Always wear fitted, approved workwear when operating rotating machinery, and maintain a safe distance from moving parts.
Hazardous substances
Example: While diluting acid, a splash occurs due to the worker adding water to acid, instead of acid to water.
Outcome: Safety glasses prevent an eye injury, but the worker’s gloves are slightly damaged.
Prevention: Provide refresher training on the correct chemical dilution procedures and always wear appropriate PPE when handling hazardous chemicals.
Example: Solvent containers are left open near a portable heat source.
Outcome: A strong smell alerts staff and the containers are sealed before ignition occurs.
Prevention: Always keep flammable substances away from heat or sparks and ensure lids are secured immediately after use.
Example: A lab technician almost mixes incompatible chemicals due to mislabelled containers.
Outcome: Fumes begin to form, but the technician detects a strong odour, stops immediately, and evacuates safely.
Prevention: Reinforce clear labelling and proper segregation of incompatible substances.
Human error/risk taking
Example: A pallet isn’t properly secured in a truck before departure.
Outcome: It shifts during transport but doesn’t fall or cause injury.
Prevention: Always double-check load restraints before departure to prevent movement.
Example: A forklift driver is texting while turning a corner in a warehouse.
Outcome: The forklift narrowly misses a pedestrian.
Prevention: Mobile phones must never be used while operating vehicles or machinery.
Example: The guard on an angle grinder is removed for ‘easier access.’
Outcome: The disk shatters, and fragments fly past the worker’s face.
Prevention: Never remove safety guards from machinery. Always wear appropriate PPE when operating cutting tools.
Preventing close calls effectively
Close calls and near misses in workplace health and safety are valuable indicators of underlying safety risks. Preventing them begins with a proactive approach, that encourages open communication, continuous learning, and regular reviews of workplace practices.
1. Reporting
The most effective way to prevent close calls is by ensuring all incidents (no matter how minor) are reported. Reporting close calls allows each event to be investigated, understood, and learned from before it leads to harm.
Notify’s Incident Reporting Software and mobile app empowers your workforce to capture and report any type of safety, health, environmental, or quality event in real time, from any location.
All close calls should be reported internally. In the UK, some cases may also need to be reported under RIDDOR if they qualify as ‘dangerous occurrences.’ Put simply, these are near misses with the potential to cause serious injury or ill health.
Creating an open and transparent reporting culture is essential. Employees should feel confident to speak up, raise concerns, and share feedback without fear of blame. This approach helps management identify issues early, take corrective action, and communicate improvements back to the workforce.
Want to empower your workforce to quickly and easily report close calls? Try Notify for free.
2. Training
Training plays a vital role in preventing close calls and maintaining workplace safety. Well-designed training ensures employees understand how to:
- Recognise hazards and unsafe conditions
- Follow safe work procedures and use PPE correctly
- Report incidents and near misses effectively
- Take personal responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment
Regular refresher training helps reinforce good habits and keeps safety front of mind across all levels of the organisation.
3. Regular audits and inspections
Conducting regular safety audits and workplace inspections is a key preventive measure. These systematic reviews help:
- Identify potential hazards before they cause harm
- Reduce risk by implementing corrective or preventative actions
- Verify that safety controls and procedures are effective
- Highlight trends or recurring issues that may indicate deeper risks
Audits also demonstrate management’s commitment to safety, helping to build trust and accountability throughout the organisation.
FAQs
What’s the difference between a close call and an incident?
A close call (also known as a near miss) is an event that could have caused harm or damage but didn’t.
An incident is any unplanned event that disrupts normal operations.
For example, if someone narrowly avoids being hit by a forklift by jumping out of the way, that’s a close call. If the person is actually struck by the forklift, that’s an incident.
It’s important to note that not all incidents result in injury – ‘incident’ is the broader term that includes everything from close calls through to accidents.
Do close calls need to be reported under RIDDOR?
Close calls don’t usually need to be reported under RIDDOR. However, some may qualify if they meet the criteria for a ‘dangerous occurrence’ – essentially, a near miss with the potential to cause serious injury or ill health. View the HSE guidance on reportable incidents.
Why are close calls important in safety culture?
Close calls are valuable early warning signs of hazards that could cause harm if left unaddressed. When they’re reported, the organisation has the opportunity to investigate, learn, and take action to prevent future incidents.
Encouraging people to report close calls helps build a proactive safety culture — one that focuses on prevention, continuous improvement, and shared responsibility for keeping everyone safe.
How do you investigate a close call?
To effectively investigate a close call, start by securing the area and ensuring it is safe for everyone involved.
If an incident report has been submitted, review it carefully – it should include key details about what happened. If a report hasn’t been submitted, you’ll need to actively gather information by speaking with witnesses or those involved to collect additional details and context.
Next, conduct a root cause analysis to identify the underlying factors that led to the close call – not just what happened, but why it happened.
Once your investigation is complete, share your findings with employees and close the feedback loop. Communicating outcomes fosters openness, transparency, and trust — and helps encourage ongoing reporting of close calls and incidents in the future.
Book a free demo today to discover how Notify can help you build a proactive safety culture, where close calls and near misses are reported and investigated quickly and effectively, without fear or blame.