2. What Is An Incident?

An incident (also known as a near miss) is an occurrence which could have resulted in injury, but, by chance, did not.

It can be hard to decide what constitutes an incident which needs to be recorded.  Generally speaking, if the incident (near miss, occurrence) could have resulted in injury, or worse, then it must be recorded.  For example, if someone slips at the top of a staircase but manages to steady himself/herself and avoid a fall down the stairs – that is an incident.  A fall downstairs could be fatal, and so it has to be recorded.

Reporting Incidents

It can be difficult to persuade people to record incidents. Accidents are easier: first aid is applied, the first aid kit has to be replenished, other people may have helped the casualty and there is more of a “buzz” in the workplace about what happened.

Incidents, on the other hand, can easily go unnoticed and usually, no first aid is required. But if an incident such as the one described above goes unreported, and the same thing happens to someone else, there is clearly a problem.  Maybe the floor at the top of the stairs is wet, maybe the carpet is frayed, maybe the cleaner isn’t putting out warning signs.  Whatever the cause, it is likely that eventually someone really will fall down the stairs and suffer very bad consequences.  And this could have been prevented if the first time it happened, it had been reported and investigated.

Encouraging Reporting of Incidents

Most people are aware of the “Accident Book” and understand that they must report an injury.  Far fewer however are aware of the need to report incidents/near misses.  And some people don’t like to be seen to be making a fuss.  So it is important, very important actually, to get the message across to staff that such occurrences must be reported.  Any incident which could have ended up causing an injury must be reported, recorded and investigated.  And just as with accident reports, the statistics will be examined and analysed in the annual audit.

Health and Safety Myth

Bunting to celebrate the Jubilee – could be dangerous!

An email was circulated regarding the use of bunting to decorate the office as part of the Jubilee celebrations.  More specifically, that the method employed by staff to fasten bunting from light fittings within the office raised health and safety concerns. The enquirer has asked if standing on a chair to put up / take down bunting is a valid health and safety concern, and whether attaching bunting to a "light fitting" is a valid health and safety concern.

There is no reason at all for health and safety to get in the way of putting bunting up - or taking it down - as long as a few sensible precautions are taken.  It is not possible to know the details of every office environment, but would expect people to exercise simple common sense in deciding how to hang up bunting and decorations.  There seems to be an element of "kill-joy" mentality hiding behind health and safety in this particular case.