In a healthy safety culture, how should staff report near-miss events?

• A. Blame focused reporting
• B. Non-punitive reporting
• C. Delay reporting until after investigation
• D. Exclude near-misses from reporting

Answer: (B)

Non-punitive reporting is essential because it creates psychological safety, encouraging staff to share near misses without fear of blame. When reports are welcomed and investigated with a focus on learning rather than punishment, the organization gains accurate information about weaknesses in systems, processes, or conditions that could lead to harm. This timely data enables corrective actions and process improvements, reducing the chance that a similar situation escalates into actual harm. Blame-focused reporting undermines trust and silences staff, hiding hazards and slowing improvement. Waiting to report until after an investigation can drag out the process, while excluding near-misses removes valuable information entirely, leaving risks unaddressed.