How should you document a near-miss on the service?

• A. Submit an incident report with details and follow-up actions.
• B. Record it in personal notes only.
• C. Do not report unless there is injury.
• D. Tell a coworker and forget.

Answer: (A)

Documenting a near-miss is about following formal safety reporting procedures so events are officially captured, investigated, and used to prevent recurrence. Submitting an incident report with details and follow-up actions is the best approach because it creates an official record, prompts investigation, and triggers corrective measures to stop a similar incident from happening again.

Keeping notes only on your own is not enough because those records aren’t shared or reviewed, so lessons aren’t learned or tracked. Not reporting at all unless someone is injured misses opportunities to fix problems before they cause harm. Telling a coworker and forgetting leaves no formal record or accountability, and nothing will be done to address the underlying issue.

When you document, include what happened, where and when it occurred, who was involved, the equipment or trains involved, the sequence of events, any contributing factors, any injuries or equipment damage (even if minor), immediate actions taken, and any recommended corrective actions or follow-up steps. Always follow your railroad’s specific near-miss reporting process to ensure timely review and learning.