First published on Thursday, Oct 26, 2023
Last updated on Thursday, Oct 26, 2023
With Halloween just around the corner, it’s the time of year that things go bump in the night… or should we say bump on your head?
The world of health and safety is one full of jump scares. One wrong move and you could find yourself face-to-face with a nasty injury – or worse, death. And no, we’re not being dramatic.
It may surprise you, but near miss incidents can even exhibit some likenesses with your favourite horror film…
So, here are some of the petrifying near misses that real clients have logged on our BrightSafe software which makes keeping your business and your people safe and on the right side of health & safety laws quick and easy.
So, pass the popcorn because these will have you on the edge of your seat…
The close encounter
The horror fans among us will be familiar with the Saw franchise, and the torturous scenes inflicted on viewers. Believe it or not, they bear some similarities to real-life health & safety near misses.
For example, one employee of a client narrowly avoided a gory situation when he reflexively went to retrieve something he’d dropped at the bottom of an acid tank.
Thankfully, his elbow-length latex gloves saved him from much harm. But imagine what could have happened were it not for the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)…
The dismemberment (almost)
If that’s not enough to make you recoil, how about this client’s employee, a gardener who found himself face to face—or should we say toe-to-toe—with danger when he used his BOOT to remove some debris from the spinning wheel of a stump grinder.
Thankfully his foot remained intact. But the same can’t be said for the boot…
The eerie escape from death
Reminiscent of a Final Destination film, one client’s employee avoided tragedy when an unsecured box fell from a height, narrowly missing their head. We all know a stressful working day can turn into a real headache. But that takes the biscuit!
Though they only suffered a mild case of shock, this serves as a valuable reminder that a little bit of caution goes a long way, like making sure all pallets are secured properly, and that workers wear PPE, like hard hats where required.
The unwanted intruder
With all good thrillers, there’s usually a twist. Perhaps an unexpected guest makes an appearance.
Just like in this case, a family was enjoying lunch at the local pub when they got a little more than they bargained for in their bowl of chips, and we’re not talking about a tasty BBQ dip. Instead, they narrowly avoided chowing down on some glass. Cue the establishment’s investigation as to how the mysterious intruder got there…
The dreaded detonation
Of course, no blockbuster is complete without an explosion… and one client almost got one when their employee set out to cut an oxygen cylinder in half with a hack saw, to check if there was any oxygen left inside…
You don’t need a degree in chemistry to know that this is fraught with risk—and a serious blast.
Thankfully, he was stopped by a manager in the nick of time who logged the issue as a near miss, reinstated additional training for the team, and reiterated the safety procedures that must be followed.
Avoiding the scare of startling near misses
As all movies have takeaway messages, there are many learnings from these logged near miss incidents, namely the importance of following robust health & safety practices and the need for employers to take proactive measures to maintain the safety and wellbeing of their employees.
That’s why you should prioritise conducting regular risk assessments, provide proper training and protective equipment, and encourage open communication with your staff to correctly identify potential hazards.
By implementing these measures, and by logging all near miss incidents, you can create a safer work environment and prevent accidents from happening.
BrightSafe software, helps you safeguard your business from over 600 risks, reduce hazards and prevent accidents with real-time reporting and, make sure you’re meeting your legal obligations with an accurate digital paper trail.
Plus, our e-learning platform, BrightLearn is loaded with RoSPA and CDP-accredited health & safety e-courses, to make sure your employees are aware of all potential workplace health & safety incidents.
To learn more about BrightSafe book a free demo today.