What defines a High Potential Incident?

• A. An event that would have been a dangerous incident if a person were nearby.
• B. Any incident causing damage.
• C. An incident with no injuries.
• D. An incident requiring only medical treatment.

Answer: (A)

High Potential Incident centers on what could have happened, not just what did happen. It describes a near-miss where the potential consequences are severe if a person had been present. The best answer captures that idea by focusing on the scenario “would have been dangerous if a person were nearby,” which reflects the significant risk even though no one was actually harmed. The other statements describe events that involve actual damage, no injuries, or only minor medical treatment, which don’t address the important dimension of potential severity sensitive to a person’s presence. Recognizing an HPI matters because it prompts thorough investigation and corrective actions to prevent a similar near-miss from turning into a real incident.