Incident and Near-Miss Reporting

Incident and Near-Miss Reporting When Driving for Work

Incident and near-miss reporting is a vital part of driving safely at work. Reporting is not about blame or punishment. It is about learning from events, identifying risks, and preventing the same situations from happening again.

When issues are reported early, organisations can take action before someone is seriously injured or killed.

What Counts as an Incident?

An incident is any event that results in damage, injury, or a collision, no matter how minor it may seem.

This includes:

• Low-speed collisions
• Minor bumps or scrapes, including car park damage
• Damage to vehicles, property, or equipment
• Any incident involving injury

All incidents must be reported to your employer as soon as possible. Minor damage today could indicate a bigger risk tomorrow.

Understanding Near Misses

A near miss is an event where something almost went wrong, but no damage or injury occurred.

Examples include:

• Having to brake sharply to avoid a collision
• Nearly hitting another vehicle, cyclist, or pedestrian
• Losing control briefly due to road or weather conditions
• Noticing a hazard only at the last moment

Near misses are extremely valuable. They highlight hazards and weaknesses in systems before they lead to serious harm.

Driver Responsibilities for Reporting

Drivers have a responsibility to report incidents and near misses promptly and accurately.

Reporting allows the organisation to:

• Investigate what happened
• Identify root causes
• Introduce improvements to prevent recurrence

Outcomes may include additional training, vehicle repairs, changes to routes or schedules, or updates to company procedures.

Reporting Vehicle Defects

Any incident or near miss involving a vehicle defect must be acted on immediately.

This includes issues such as:

• Brake or steering problems
• Tyre damage or sudden pressure loss
• Warning lights appearing on the dashboard
• Unusual noises or handling issues

If a defect is suspected, the vehicle must not be used until it has been checked and confirmed safe by a competent person.

What to Do After a Serious Accident

In the event of a serious collision or incident, drivers must follow their organisation’s emergency procedures.

This usually includes:

• Contacting emergency services where required
• Notifying a manager or supervisor immediately
• Completing an incident report
• Providing details for insurance or investigation purposes

Building a Safer Organisation

Open and honest reporting helps build a safer workplace. When drivers report problems early, employers can respond quickly and reduce the chance of the same issue causing harm in the future.

If it gets reported, it can be fixed.