Title: Collect and Utilize Near Miss Data
Presenter(s):
Meghan Fox (she/her)
Jairo Cruz (he/him)
Room: Juan Ramon Jimenez 2208
Session Block(s): Session II
Time: 11:35 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.
Duration: 60 minutes
Program Abstract:
Often, we wait to modify our policies and procedures until we have a critical incident, or something goes wrong. This presentation will discuss a proactive approach to risk management through the collection of near miss data by student employees. This approach helps student employees increase their level of awareness and further develop their ability to manage risk, and at a program level, this approach helps to inform policies, procedures, and training for student employees so that we can get ahead of potential critical incidents.
Program Description:
In this presentation, we will introduce the concept of collecting near miss data as scholar practitioners. The theory behind collecting near miss data was initially presented in the early to mid 1900s by several prominent figures in workplace health and safety. The model we looked at is the accident ratio, which was presented in its most expanded form in the 1986 book, “Practical Loss Control Leadership” by Frank Bird and George Germain, which is seen as a key work in the field of industrial safety and accident prevention.
Bird & Germain showed a relationship between the number of reported near misses and the number of major accidents and claimed that the majority of accidents could be predicted and prevented by an appropriate intervention. For every serious injury there were 10 cases of minor injury, 30 cases of property damage, and 600 of what we would call near misses or close calls
While this work was centered in industrial safety, in the Adventure Program, we have applied this same perspective to accidents in our outdoor programs, and I'd like to demonstrate how other programs in Student Affairs can benefit from this practice.
First, we'll introduce the theory and discuss data collection. Then we'll share our data analyzation practices and how near miss data has been used at UMD's RecWell Adventure Program. Finally, Jairo will share how he forsees utilizing this practice in his role as a facility manager, demonstrating this practice isn't just for outdoor recreation folks or program managers.