A Near-Miss Carol

Ebeneezer Shrewd's ghostly encounter would forever change his future in workplace safety...

Once upon a time, in the bustling town of Boringstead, a region stuck in its ways, there was a company led by a stern and uncompromising man named Ebenezer Shrewd. Ebenezer ran a tight ship, but his obsession with perfection made life miserable for his workers. Mistakes were met with harsh criticism, and the word “learning” was as foreign to him as snow in summer.

One cold December night, as Ebenezer sat alone reviewing incident reports with a scowl, a chilling wind swept through his office. Suddenly, the ghostly figure of his former business partner, Jacob tardy, appeared before him, wrapped in chains forged from ignored hazards and unheeded warnings.

“Ebenezer,” Jacob moaned, “You will be visited by three workplace spirits tonight. Listen to them, or your company will never find peace.” And with that, Jacob vanished into a cloud of hazardous dust

The ghost of Near-Miss Past

The first spirit appeared at the stroke of midnight—a spry figure in an old-fashioned work apron, holding a clipboard and stopwatch. “I am the Spirit Near-miss Past,” it said.

The spirit whisked Ebenezer to a bustling factory floor. Workers moved like clockwork under the watchful eyes of timekeepers, their tasks narrowly defined to the second. Productivity was high, but so were injuries—cuts from unguarded machines, exhaustion from relentless repetition, and accidents caused by speed overtaking care.

“This is where your obsession with output began,” the spirit said. “But look closely—while the machines thrived, the workers paid the price.” Before Ebenezer could respond, the spirit vanished.

The ghost of Near-Miss Present

The second spirit arrived soon after—a figure clad in high-visibility vests and surrounded by an aura of urgency. “I am the Spirit of Near- Miss Present,” it said, leading Ebenezer to the factory floor.

There, workers struggled with faulty equipment, confusing instructions, and relentless deadlines. “They are doing their best,” the spirit said, “but look how the system sets them up to fail.” Ebenezer saw fear in their eyes—not of the tasks, but of the repercussions of making mistakes.

“Is this how you wish your legacy to be written?” the spirit asked. Ebenezer hung his head as the spirit disappeared.

The Ghost of Near-Misses Yet to Come

Finally, the room grew dark and cold as the third spirit appeared—a towering figure overalled in shadows. “I am the Spirit of Near-Miss Yet to Come,” it said in a low, echoing voice.

The spirit showed Ebenezer a grim future: an empty factory floor, workers leaving for companies where they felt valued and safe. Injuries had tarnished the company’s reputation, and the once-thriving business was now a ghost of its former self.

“Is this what will be, or what might be?” Ebenezer cried. But the spirit remained silent, pointing to a sign that read “Without Trust Workplaces Cannot Thrive.”

Ebenezer awoke with a start, the morning sun streaming through his window. “It’s not too late!” he exclaimed. From that day on, Ebenezer transformed. He banished blame from the workplace, replacing it with learning, collaboration, and trust. He sought out error-prone systems and fixed them, ensuring his workers had the tools and training they needed to succeed.

No longer did the workers fear mistakes; instead, they embraced opportunities to grow and improve. The ghosts of nearmiss never returned, for their work was done. And as for Ebenezer Shrewd, he became known as the champion of safety, leading into an era of trust, fun, learning, and an employer of choice

And the workers in Boringstead? They worked happily ever after.

What ghosts of near-misses haunt your workplace? Transform your culture today - choose learning over blame, collaboration over fear, and build a workplace where everyone can thrive.