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Learning from Our Mistakes — Before It’s Too Late

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Abstract

This paper considers the use of “near miss” incidents as part of a pro-active approach to breaking the chain of events that culminate in accidents. Many accidents are preceded by similar near miss incidents, yet such incidents are poorly reported and analysed. Clarifying principles related to near miss incidents, the Accident Ratio Triangle, the Accident Chain and the Accident Potential Model for analysing accidents are presented. Case studies show how near miss analysis may be used a mechanism for monitoring risk management procedures and altering them in response to the changing events and conditions to individual outdoor education programmes. This paper contends that careful reflection on near misses allows us to leam from our mistakes, and prevent their repetition before any damage is done.

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Brackenreg, M. Learning from Our Mistakes — Before It’s Too Late. Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education 3, 27–33 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03400693

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03400693

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