Another year, another Work and Safety Analysis (WASA) Report from IRATA International, and yet again …. It has been noted that companies are under reporting.

If you didn’t know, Member Companies of IRATA International (the worlds leading authority on industrial rope access), are required to report any serious accident, incident, or a ‘dangerous occurrence’ within 7 days. It’s been a long-standing requirement of IRATA, and over the years … it would seem that the vast majority of Member Companies still struggle with this requirement.

During my time on the IRATA International Health & Safety Committee I spoke about it during multiple RAC meetings and challenged our region to do better. We did – for a period of time. But there is still a lag in accident and incident reporting.

2011 WASA Report – “The increasing trend to report dangerous occurrences should be encourages, particularly when relevant to rope access.”

2014 WASA Report – “Members should be reminded of the requirement to report all accidents and incidents, however trivial.”

2017 WASA Report – “The low level of reported events, particularly ‘dangerous occurrences’, in relation to the over employment level and hours worked, continues to be of concern.”

2024 WASA Report – “Of the 267 accidents and incidents analysed, 124 reports (46.4%) were linked to 7 companies. These 7 companies account for just 4.78% of all hours worked. It seems likely that this is due to the lack of reporting by the majority as opposed to poor performance by the few.”

IRATA have identified under-reporting as an issue for the Association, again and again. To the point where they published two Topic Sheets, one on Accident and Incident Reporting (No. 23) and another on Near Miss and Under Reporting (No. 27) in 2022.

Despite each region having its own legal requirements, the principles of reportable incidents remain the same.

In broad terms, a “reportable accident” is:

• The death of a person.
• A serious injury, e.g. a fracture, loss of consciousness, etc.
• Incapacitation, e.g. injured and away from work for over 7 days.
• Some occupational diseases, e.g. hand arm vibration syndrome, or.
• Certain dangerous occurrences.

So why is under reporting still occurring?

Companies and individuals may underreport incidents for several reasons:

One of the most common reasons is fear of negative consequences.

Companies may fear that reporting incidents could lead to financial penalties, increased insurance premiums, or scrutiny from regulatory bodies. This fear sometimes motivates companies to avoid reporting to minimize perceived negative outcomes.

For individuals, the fear may be loss of job, or other penalties or restrictions applied to the worker, impacting their income or standing at work.

Reporting incidents provides IRATA with valuable data; data that can be evaluated and resources created to increase awareness and help prevent accidents from occurring again in the future. Lessons can be learned from accidents. Reporting them ensures a business doesn’t become complacent or dismissive of its personnel. Reporting promotes a positive safety culture within the organisation. The more people who report incidents, more serious accidents – and fatalities – can be prevented.

Companies and individuals may also have a concern for their reputation.

A company’s public image and reputation are vital in competitive industries. It is perceived that by reporting incidents, especially serious ones, it can affect how clients, stakeholders, and the public view the company’s commitment to safety. Likewise, how a person is perceived at work, their reputation in a niche industry, and how there are treated may impact their decision to report incidents or safety concerns.

IRATA do not disclose names or company details. The data that is reported is reviewed by the Health & Safety Committee – who all bound to a code of conduct and a non-disclosure agreement. The data is anonymised when it is reported in the WASA or stripped back to a case study for Topic Sheets and Safety Bulletins.

Another deterrent of incident reporting is a ‘Blame Culture’. Why report it if the company blames someone for it occurring in the first place? As noted in the IRATA International Work and Safety Analysis report of 2024, some companies may operate within a “blame culture” where incidents are seen as failures that should be hidden rather than learning opportunities. This culture discourages open reporting and reduces transparency around safety.

There is also the educational piece: people simply may not know they are to report incidents or safety concerns (and loop back to being afraid of reporting something if they are new to the business). Lack of awareness of reporting requirements should be an easy one to tackle for Member Companies – every induction should cover off on the importance of incident reporting. But in some organizations, there may be limited understanding of the value of thorough incident reporting as part of a safety management system. Without robust training on incident reporting’s role in improving safety, workers and management may not prioritize it.

There may also be an inadequate reporting system in place. Companies without streamlined, accessible reporting systems may find that employees and supervisors overlook reporting requirements, especially if reporting is seen as complex or time-consuming.

So how can a company (and individuals) improve on incident reporting?

To improve incident reporting, you can take several practical steps:

1. Cultivate a Safety Culture: Encourage a “just culture” over a blame culture, where employees feel safe to report incidents without fear of blame or punishment. Emphasize that incidents and near-misses are learning opportunities, not failures. Management should lead by example, discussing safety openly and rewarding transparency.

2. Simplify Reporting Processes: Make the reporting process straightforward and accessible. Implement an easy-to-use digital platform or app for incident reporting, reducing the effort and time required. This increases the likelihood that employees will report incidents, particularly near-misses.

3. Train Employees on Reporting Importance: Educate all employees on the value of incident reporting for both individual and organizational safety. Training should highlight how reporting helps prevent future incidents and contributes to everyone’s well-being.

4. Use Leading and Lagging Indicators: Incorporate both lagging indicators (such as the number of reported incidents) and leading indicators (like safety observations, near-miss reporting, and training participation). Focusing on both types of data helps companies assess safety culture and make proactive improvements.

5. Conduct Safety Conversations and Observations: Regular “safety conversations” between supervisors and employees encourage ongoing dialogue about risks and safety practices. Routine observations also help supervisors identify unreported hazards and address them before they lead to incidents.

6. Provide Feedback and Recognition: Share feedback with employees on reported incidents, including actions taken to resolve issues and improve safety. Recognizing and rewarding those who report incidents, especially near-misses, reinforces the message that reporting is valued.

7. Benchmark and Set Reporting Goals: Benchmark incident reporting rates against industry standards to identify gaps. Set achievable goals for incident reporting and monitor progress over time. This encourages teams to view reporting as part of a larger safety objective rather than an isolated activity.

By focusing on these steps, companies can make incident reporting more consistent, transparent, and beneficial for improving workplace safety.

See it. Report it. Prevent it.

Yours in Safety,

Deborah Chick

CEO of Ascend QM