Definition of near miss

The term "near miss" emerged in the aviation industry in the 1970s to describe aircraft incidents that didn't result in a collision or crash but came dangerously close. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) identified a near miss as a situation where two aircraft approached each other within a dangerous proximity, generally less than 1,000 feet horizontally and less than 500 feet vertically, without a collision. The term came to be widely adopted in other industries, such as shipping and nuclear power, to describe similar incidents. The concept of near misses is now accepted as an essential component of safety management system, encouraging organizations to investigate and learn from these events and prevent them from escalating into more critical incidents in the future. Near misses serve as a valuable opportunity to assess operational weaknesses, improve safety protocols, and enhance emergency response plans, ultimately paving the way for a safer and more efficient operation.