Which statement about significant near-misses is true?

• A. Only incidents with injuries require reporting.
• B. A near-miss should never be reported.
• C. A near-miss that is significant must be reported within the specified timeframe.
• D. Near-misses do not require documentation.

Answer: (C)

Prompt reporting and documentation of significant near-misses is essential for preventing harm. Near-misses reveal weaknesses in processes or controls before real injuries occur, so recognizing their significance and acting quickly allows investigations, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions to be put in place.

The statement that is true says that a near-miss which is significant must be reported within the specified timeframe. Timely reporting ensures that issues are addressed promptly, data is collected for trend analysis, and preventative measures are implemented to stop similar events from happening in the future.

Reasons the other ideas aren’t correct: only documenting incidents with injuries misses valuable learning opportunities because near-misses show where a failure could have led to harm; encouraging reporting builds a safer culture and prevents recurrence. Saying near-misses should never be reported contradicts the purpose of safety systems, which rely on learning from all credible warnings. And claiming near-misses don’t require documentation ignores the importance of records for tracking, accountability, and ongoing safety improvements.