What term describes an unintentional unsafe occurrence that could have led to injury or damage, but did not?

The term that accurately describes an unintentional unsafe occurrence that could have potentially resulted in injury or damage, but ultimately did not, is "near miss." A near miss reflects a situation where an unsafe condition or behavior was present, but no harm occurred, highlighting a lapse in safety that could have had serious consequences. This term is often used in safety management systems to identify and analyze risk areas, encouraging proactive measures to prevent future incidents.

In safety training and assessment, recognizing near misses is crucial because those situations provide valuable insight into potential hazards and allow for corrective actions to be implemented before an accident occurs. Addressing near misses can significantly enhance workplace safety culture and help to prevent more serious incidents down the line.