PreAccident Investigation Podcast PAPod 577 - Near Misses: The Unexpected Gift That Keeps Workers Safe
Dec 20, 2025
Discover why near-miss reporting is crucial for workplace safety and communication. Todd Conklin highlights how these incidents offer invaluable lessons without the mess of actual accidents. He shares a gripping near-miss investigation story that underscores the importance of organizational response. Learn to differentiate between lucky events and instances where safety measures succeeded. Emphasizing a culture of gratitude, he advocates for celebrating reports as learning opportunities, fostering continuous improvement in safety practices.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Near Misses Reveal Safety Culture
- Near-miss reporting is a high-value indicator of communication and psychological safety in an organization.
- It shows whether workers feel safe bringing bad news and lets leaders monitor safety culture effectively.
Respond With Gratitude Not Punishment
- Treat each near miss as a gift and respond with gratitude, not punishment.
- Use the report to learn and improve systems rather than to blame the reporter.
Classified Near Miss That Backfired
- Todd Conklin recounts a classified electrical near miss that turned into an inquisition-like investigation.
- The reporting worker felt punished and wished he hadn't reported, exposing a broken response process.