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Accidents rarely come out of nowhere.

Almost every serious incident has a history: a cable that had been lying there for weeks, scaffolding everyone just walked around, a "that always turns out fine". Whoever picks up on those signals in time prevents the accident. That's what reporting is about.

1
serious injury
10
minor injury
30
property damage
600
near misses and unsafe situations

The bottom of the pyramid is where you win.

In 1969, Frank E. Bird analyzed nearly 1.8 million incident reports. His conclusion: for every serious accident, there are roughly 600 near misses and unsafe situations. The exact numbers vary by sector, but the principle still holds today.

If you only record accidents, you're looking at the tip. If you have near misses and unsafe situations reported, you see the causes and can step in before anyone gets hurt.

A near-miss report isn't bad news. It's free learning.

Four types of reports that matter.

Not sure whether something is worth reporting? The answer is almost always yes. These are the reports that come up most often.

Happened, but turned out fine

Near miss

An event that could have caused injury or damage but happened to turn out fine. For example, a falling tool that didn't hit anyone. How to report a near miss.

Hasn't happened yet

Unsafe situation

A circumstance that could lead to an accident: a missing handrail, a loose cable, a blocked escape route, or a broken ladder.

Behavior

Unsafe act

Working without fall protection, not locking out a machine, or skipping personal protective equipment. Report the act, not the person.

Good example

Positive observation

Someone taking a last-minute risk assessment (LMRA) seriously, or speaking up to a colleague. Naming what goes well makes it happen more often.

Reporting isn't just smart. Some of it is mandatory.

Under Article 9 of the Dutch Working Conditions Act (Arbowet), an employer must immediately report serious workplace accidents (resulting in death, permanent injury, or hospitalization) to the Dutch Labour Inspectorate (Nederlandse Arbeidsinspectie). The employer must also keep a record of workplace accidents that caused more than three working days of absence.

Near misses and unsafe situations don't have to be reported by law. But recording and following up on them prevents things from ever reaching that point. Certifications such as VCA and ISO 45001 do require a working reporting system.

This is general information, not legal advice. If in doubt, consult your occupational health service or the Dutch Labour Inspectorate.

Everyone wants to work safely. Yet reports often don't come in.

That's rarely down to unwillingness. It's down to barriers. SafetyPulse removes them one by one.

Barrier"I don't have time for that."Long forms, logging in on a PC in the site office, paper that gets lost.
SafetyPulseReport in under a minute from your phone, or via a QR code with no account needed.
Barrier"I'll get the blame for this."Or a colleague will. Reporting feels like snitching in a culture of blame.
SafetyPulseFocused on situations, not people. With room for positive observations, and always a thank-you.
Barrier"Nothing's going to happen with it anyway."If you never hear what happened to your report, you stop reporting.
SafetyPulseThe reporter sees who picked it up, what's happening, and when it's resolved.

Not: who did this?
But: how do we prevent it?

A strong reporting culture starts with that one question. With every report, at every level, every day.

More reports is a good sign.

Sounds counterintuitive, but a rising number of reports usually doesn't mean things are getting less safe. It means people feel safe enough to speak up and believe it's worth the effort.

Two construction workers in safety vests on a building site
You spot risks earlierPatterns become visible: the same location, the same type of work, the same time of day. You step in before things go wrong.
Safety becomes everyone's jobIt's not just the HSE coordinator keeping watch. Everyone looks out, including the contractor who only started today.
Trust growsWhen people see something happens with their report, they report again. That's how a culture where openness is normal takes root.
Demonstrably thoroughEvery report, with its progress and resolution, in one place. That helps with audits, certifications like VCA and ISO 45001, and whenever you need to show what you've done.

Start at the bottom of the pyramid.

We'll help you with your first form, the QR code at the gate, and the kickoff in your toolbox talk.

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