Free tools · Any workplace

Near miss report form template. Catch the warning.

Record what happened and what could have happened. The report builds itself as you type. Add photos, then download it as a PDF or copy the text.

  • Two minutes
  • Potential severity built in
  • Nothing leaves your browser
How it works1Say what happened2Say what could have happened3Suggest a fix
  1. 1Say what happenedWhat you saw, where and when, as facts.
  2. 2Say what could have happenedThe outcome luck prevented, and how bad it could have been.
  3. 3Suggest a fixThen download the PDF or copy the report and pass it on.
Near miss report formCapture the warning before it fades Nothing leaves your browser

The rules it follows

  • A near miss is an unplanned event that did not cause harm but could have.
  • Potential severity is the field that turns a near miss from trivia into a warning.
  • Most near misses are not reportable to HSE, but some dangerous occurrences are. The RIDDOR checker tells you which.
  • Anonymous reporting is allowed: leave the reported-by field blank.

Checked September 2026 against: Our guide: what is a near miss · HSE: dangerous occurrences. A guide, not legal advice.

The full guide

What is a near miss?

How near misses differ from hazards and incidents, real examples, and how to make reporting actually happen.

Read the guide

Frequently asked questions

Do near misses have to be reported to HSE?

Most do not, because no one was hurt. Certain dangerous occurrences, such as the collapse or failure of a load-bearing part of lifting equipment, or the collapse of a substantial part of a scaffold more than five metres high, must be reported under RIDDOR even when no one is injured. Use the RIDDOR checker if you are unsure.

Why record what could have happened?

Because it is the difference between a trivial event and a serious warning. Two near misses can look the same until you ask how bad the outcome could have been.

Is anything I type saved?

Nothing is uploaded or sent. While you work, the text is kept in this browser tab so a refresh does not lose it; closing the tab or pressing Clear removes it. Photos stay on your device and are never stored. If you accept analytics cookies, we count when the tool is used and a PDF is made, never what you type.

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Turn the answer into a record

Logincident captures what happens on a phone, a QR code or the web, with photos and the time it happened, then shows the trends on your dashboards.

See digital reporting