What is a near miss?
A near miss is an event that could have caused injury or damage but did not, either by chance or because someone intervened in time. Although nobody was hurt, it reveals a workplace hazard. Reporting and investigating near misses helps identify causes and choose preventive measures before a similar event results in harm.
Key facts
- In Québec, the CNESST defines an incident, also called a quasi-accident, as an event that could have caused injuries.
- Under Québec’s Act respecting occupational health and safety, the health and safety representative and committee investigate incidents as well as accidents.
- CCOHS recommends scaling an investigation to the near miss’s potential severity.
- CNESST recommends looking for causes beyond a worker’s behaviour.
What should an investigation document?
CNESST’s investigation checklist recommends recording the date, time, location, tasks performed and the facts about the work situation, then the causes identified and the preventive measures chosen.
How can employers encourage reporting?
CCOHS recommends letting workers report without fear of blame or reprisal. Focus on prevention, explain how reports are used, and give workers and supervisors the time and support needed to complete investigations and corrective actions.
Frequently asked questions
Should every investigation have the same scope?
No. CCOHS recommends matching the investigation’s scope to the near miss’s potential severity: a frayed carpet needs less than a load falling in a busy walkway.
Is identifying an unsafe action enough?
No. CNESST recommends investigating why the action occurred, for example a lack of training or a procedure that cannot be applied for technical reasons.
Sources
- Act respecting occupational health and safety (chapter S-2.1), Légis Québec (Publications du Québec) (accessed October 28, 2026)
- Aide-mémoire : Enquête et analyse d’accident/incident dans un établissement, CNESST (accessed October 28, 2026)
- Understanding Near Misses to Help Build a Safer Workplace (Health and Safety Report, Vol. 23, No. 04), Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (accessed October 28, 2026)
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