2022 MWEA WW ADMINISTRATORS CONFERENCE - PRESENTED BY AL COLTER, CSP, CHMM VEOLIA NORTH AMERICA AND GARY TIMMER, OHST SUEZ ON BEHALF OF THE MWEA ...

2022 MWEA WW ADMINISTRATORS CONFERENCE

PRESENTED BY AL COLTER, CSP, CHMM VEOLIA NORTH AMERICA AND GARY TIMMER, OHST SUEZ
                                  ON BEHALF OF
                            THE MWEA H&S COMMITTEE
                                  JANUARY 28, 2022

Near Miss Reporting Basics

Overview of an Effective Near Miss Process

    1. Identification and Recognition of a Near Miss
    2. Reporting of Information
    3. Prioritization and Classification of Information
    4. Analyzing Causes of the Problem
    5. Identifying Solutions
    6. Delegation, Resolution and Tracking of Actions
    7. Communication

Near Miss Definition

                A near miss is an unplanned event that did
                not result in injury, illness, or damage, but
                had the potential to do so.

What is a Near Miss? Other Definitions

Only a fortunate break in the chain of
events prevented an injury, fatality or
damage; in other words, a miss that was
nonetheless very near.

A near miss describes incidents where,
given a slight shift in time or distance,
an injury, ill-health, or damage easily
could have occurred but didn't this time.

Close Call

Oops
 5I

Leading and Lagging Indicators
LEADING INDICATOR            LAGGING INDICATOR

   Something done to          Something done as the
prevent an incident form       result of an incident
       occurring

     Measure Inputs and         Measures Outcomes
        Conditions
      NEAR MISSES CAN BE VIEWED AS LEADING INDICATORS
6I

Why Do We Report Them?
Prevent future incidents and
injuries

Improves Morale

Financial Impact

Establishes Trends

 7I

Why Do We Report Them? (Cont.)

Increases Employee
Involvement

Avoids Complacency

Demonstrates Management
Commitment

There is less fear to report than
if there was an incident
  8I

When do we report them?

As soon possible (Make a
guideline/policy)

• Especially if it could impact
  others

• Follow your Plan

 9I

Who do we report it to?

Depends:

• Crew

• Department

• Organization

• Beyond

10 I

Ideas for Tracking a Near Miss

Enter Work Orders in CMMS

Using EHS Software (Intelex,
Enablon, HACH, etc.

Excel or Google Sheets

Hand Written Log

The Key is to Track Them!
11 I

Near Miss Reporting Killers

Not providing adequate training

Employees Fear Discipline

Don’t want to “Rat-Out” a coworker

Employees are ridiculed for turning
in items that don’t meet the true
Near Miss definition

Unsafe Conditions aren’t Corrected
12 I

Should We have a requirement for reporting?
             (Number to report)
There should be a requirement
to report all unsafe acts and
conditions found

Consider a requirement to
report Leading Indicators
• Near Miss/Unsafe Conditions
• Field Observations
• Inspections
13 I

Hierarchy of Controls (Best Way to Fix stuff)

  The main purpose of this step is looking for
  a solution for each identified cause.

  Elimination, Substitution and Engineering
  Controls are the most effective means of
  hazard control.
  Administrative controls do not remove hazards;
  rather, they limit or prevent people's exposure to
  the hazards.
  PPE is the least effective means of controlling
  hazards because it relies on employees wearing it.

Layers of Protection “Swiss Cheese” Model

    • To prevent a hazard from turning into an incident it is important to put
      several “layers of protection” between the two. These protective
      “Controls” are typically Equipment, Process or People related.
    • In an ideal world each layer would be solid, but in life each layer can
      have holes or weak spots.
    • A near miss or unsafe condition reported is an important way to
      identify and seal the holes before line up and incident occurs.

The Different Outcomes

REMEMBER:
       Focusing on identifying and
       correcting Near Miss and Unsafe
       Conditions can reduce the number
       of future incidents!

2022                 2023                 2024

Questions?

     Al Colter CSP, CHMM                      Gary J. Timmer, OHST
     Health and Safety Manager                EHS&S Manager
     alan.colter@Veolia.com                   gary.timmer@suez.com

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The MWEA H&S Committee

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