Definition(s)
Near miss
“Near-miss” means an event that would likely cause an event set out in paragraph (a) of the definition of “incident”, but does not due to particular circumstances (quasi-incident).
Source: Canada Oil and Gas Drilling and Production Regulations, SOR/2009-315, February 2013. Regulations
Source: Drilling and Production Guidelines, The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board and Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board, Canada, March 31, 2011. Regulatory Guidance
Source: Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Drilling and Production Regulations, SOR/2009-317, Canada, current to May 31, 2012. Regulations
Near miss
All incidents that, if under slightly different circumstances, would likely have had potential to result in the following on an installation, vessel or aircraft shall be reported as near misses:
• An occupational injury/illness which could be classified as at least a lost/restricted workday injury
• Unauthorized discharge or spill
• Hydrocarbon release
• Fire/explosion
• Major impairment/damage to safety or environmentally critical equipment. Note: OSH (NL) 15.4, OSH (NS) Element 2, Part 15, Section 15.4; INST 70; DPR 1(1) definition of ”incident” and “near-miss”; DPR 76.
Examples of near misses include, but are not limited to the following:
• Missing or ineffective safety or environmentally critical barrier This would include, but not be limited to failures in personal protective equipment and failures in management system elements such as control of work, management of change, maintenance, competence assurance, etc. Note: A barrier is a technical, human or organizational safeguard that is put in place to prevent, mitigate or control health, safety or environmental risks. Barriers can be equipment, personnel or procedures identified during both major and on-site risk assessments which must be implemented to reduce risk to as low as reasonably practicable. This includes the design, maintenance and inspection of equipment, implementation of operating and maintenance procedures and training and competency of personnel. Barriers can also be those elements of a management system that are put in place to reduce risk by seeking to identify and improve deficiencies within a management system.
• Dropped objects in areas where personnel could be present.
• A large object drifting in an uncontrolled manner in dangerous proximity to an installation.
• Free fall of elevating devices. Note: OSH (NL) Part 4; Section 15.4.
• Unplanned musters in response to the emergency shutdown of a facility for false alarms.
Source: Incident Reporting and Investigation Guidelines, The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board and Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board, Canada, November 30, 2012. Regulatory Guidance
Near miss
An event or chain of events that has not resulted in recordable injury, illness or physical damage or environmental damage but had the potential to do so in other circumstances.
Source: OGP Report No. 456, Process Safety – Recommended Practice on Key Performance Indicators, International Association of Oil & Gas Producers, November 2011. Global Standards