Accident book - near misses
- Quick and easy to fill in
- HSE compliant
- Spot trends and problems early
This template accident book for near misses is for you to keep a record of any incidents that constitute a near miss. These are events that do not cause any actual illness or injury, but have the potential to be serious.
You are legally required to record and report some types of near miss, known as dangerous occurrences. These include things like failures of lifting equipment or substantial scaffolding, or accidental fires and explosions.
Consider recording less serious near misses too for your own purposes. They can help you get a picture of how well your systems and equipment are working, potentially allowing you to stop any serious problems from arising with prompt action. A near miss accident book is a great way to do this.
For near misses that must be reported to the HSE, this accident book covers all the legally required information.
Q&A
When should I use this document?
You can use this accident book template for near misses to record incidents which could have caused injury or illness. Fill in a fresh page for each near miss and keep them securely. They will likely contain personal data which is protected by the UK GDPR, so data security for your accident book entries is important.
What does this document cover?
This accident book for near misses covers all the information that you need to record for the most serious types of near miss which you also have to report to the HSE.
Why do I need this document?
It is good practice to keep an accident book record of any near misses that could have resulted in illness or injury to an employee or member of the public. If the incident is not a serious one that is reportable to the HSE, it is up to you whether you record it or not.
Keeping a record means you can potentially spot problems sooner if you have repeated near misses. Finding hazards and reducing any risks they pose as much as possible is an important part of your core health and safety obligations.
Failure to properly report dangerous occurrences to the HSE is a criminal offence which is punishable by a fine or even imprisonment in the most serious cases. This accident book for near misses covers all the details you need to report.
Where can I find out more?
Additional information about keeping an accident book and your obligations for reporting serious matters to the HSE, see Dealing with accidents and illness.
As well as this accident book for near misses, you should also look at:
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