ABSTRACT
The cause and effect of accidental loss (CECAL) sequence has shown that failure to identify hazards, assess, and control the risks creates accident root causes that cause an environment that promotes high-risk behavior and high-risk conditions. These, as determined by Luck Factor 1, either result in a contact (exposure, impact, or exchange of energy) or a near-miss incident. An accident is an undesired event that results in harm to people, damage to property, or loss to process. A near-miss incident is an undesired event, which under slightly different circumstances, could have resulted in harm to people, damage to property, or loss to process.
The minute there is an unplanned, uncontrolled flow of energy (with potential to cause loss), but no exposure, impact, or contact with this source of energy, arising from high-risk behaviors or conditions, then we experience a near-miss incident. A near-miss incident requires the presence of a flow of energy, whereas a high-risk behavior or high-risk condition has not yet created an energy flow. Therefore, a high-risk situation is not a near-miss incident. Near-miss incidents are warnings of a failure in the management system, and they should be treated with the same vigor as an accident. High potential near-miss incidents should also be investigated, and the root causes identified and eliminated; this will reduce the number and frequency of accidents.
