The Phoenix Water Services Department Case Study

The Phoenix Water Services Department Case Study 

The following case study is from the City of Phoenix Water Services Department s Near Miss Program (Nevitt, 2011), which is one element of their Five-Star Safety and Health Management System consisting of 73 elements. 

Based on the concept that for every serious injury there are 600 near misses that occur prior to the injury, the City of Phoenix Water Services Department (PWSD) implemented a near miss program as part of its Safety Management System. 

Under the Five Star approach, reporting, investigating, and addressing near misses provides opportunities to evaluate the unsafe acts and unsafe conditions that can lead to losses before they actually occur. In 2010, the PWSD reported 10 serious injuries. This correlates to more than 6,000 near misses or missed opportunities to correct the unsafe act or condition and prevent the injuries. 

The components of the PWSD s Near Miss Program include three sections reporting, investigation, and correction. The PWSD developed a reporting form that enables an employee, supervisor, or manager to report an unsafe act or unsafe condition that could lead to an injury, property damage, or loss of process. The form also provides the employee with an option to indicate the potential severity (magnitude of the loss), the likely recurrence of the near miss, and any action taken to eliminate the unsafe condition or act. 

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Nevitt, L. 2011. The Phoenix Water Services Department Case Study. Phoenix, AZ. Phoenix Water Services Department. 

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