Heinrich’s Law, Near Misses: Protecting Safety in the Workplace

One important concept for working safely is “Heinrich’s Law.”
This principle was proposed by Heinrich, who worked for an American insurance company. It states that behind one major accident are 29 minor accidents, and behind those are 300 near misses. In other words, serious accidents do not occur suddenly; they are often the results of many small risks that have accumulated over time.

This law highlights the importance of not ignoring small dangers around us. For example, imagine standing on a chair to reach something on a high shelf. You might lose your balance for a moment and sense a sudden danger—but nothing actually happens. If experiences like this are ignored, however, they could eventually lead to a real injury.
In many fields, these moments of “that was close” are considered very important from a safety management perspective. They are commonly referred to as near misses. Ignoring near misses is essentially the same as overlooking the warning signs of a future accident.

Near Misses in Manufacturing Environments/Production Site

Near misses can occur during everyday operations in manufacturing environments. For example, a worker might almost reach into a point where a machine could pinch their hand, or nearly operate the wrong switch by mistake.
Reviewing and sharing these experiences one by one with colleagues is the first step toward creating a safer workplace. If near misses are identified early and appropriate measures are taken, serious accidents can often be prevented.

Creating a Workplace Where Near Misses Do Not Occur

To reduce near misses, it is important not to rely solely on workers’ attention or caution. It is even more important to utilize “safety products” and “machine safety systems” effectively.
For example, safety switches and safety light curtains are essential devices designed to prevent machines from operating in dangerous conditions. By using these devices correctly, it becomes possible to prevent near misses before they occur and maintain a working environment where people can operate safely and with confidence.

Recognizing small dangers when something feels “close to risky” and supporting safety through proper systems—this is the kind of “safety culture” that modern manufacturers should strive to build.

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