Ari Fatah, Technical Standards Manager at Veriforce CHAS, explains why near miss reporting strengthens workplace safety, builds trust and prevents harm.
Firstly, can you say a little about your background and what Veriforce CHAS does?
I’ve spent over 10 years in construction, corporate safety, and assurance across complex, high-risk environments. In my role, I am responsible for overseeing the development, interpretation, and application of health and safety and Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM) related standards across a national assurance and certification framework. On top of this, I have extensive Principal Designer experience, delivering CDM services across a diverse project range – from small refurbishments to multi-million-pound reinforced concrete frame developments and large multi-site London schemes.
Veriforce CHAS helps businesses strengthen their safety culture through robust compliance frameworks and risk management support. It helps to safeguard projects, reduce administrative burden, and simplify the process of demonstrating health and safety compliance to ultimately help improve safety onsite.
What are the most common warning signs that safety polices are not being implemented properly?
The most common warning signs are typically visible on the ground before they appear in formal reporting. This can include inconsistent use of PPE, incomplete site records, and risk assessments that are not being followed in practice. Another key warning is zero near miss reports, as it can indicate that workers do not understand what to report, do not trust the process, or do not believe that near miss reports will drive meaningful change. When safety policies are not being implemented properly, there is often a clear gap between what is written in the manual and what is happening at site level. The real test is often whether procedures hold up when deadlines are tight and teams are under pressure.
Why does a lack of near miss reporting signal poor workplace safety culture?
The reporting of near misses provides a clear indication that the workforce is actively identifying and responding to risks that they have observed. In terms of what to report, near miss reporting records the details of an incident, including the time, date and location, who was present, any immediate actions taken, and suggestions for improvement. This helps inform health and safety teams when they are assessing the level of risk and implement appropriate control measures to minimise further near misses. It also creates a paper trail that can be useful for audits or investigations. Where near misses go unreported, organisations may appear to have a positive safety record, whereas in reality, they can remain exposed to potential serious accidents or incidents. The risks remain, but leaders have less visibility and fewer opportunities to prevent future incidents. Therefore, proactive near miss reporting can help organisations to address potential incidents before they occur. Encouraging near miss reporting shows employees that proactive safety behaviour is recognised and valued, while also helping the organisation learn, adapt and protect its people.
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