Which of the following is a leading indicator of process safety performance?

• A. Near misses reported and investigated
• B. Number of incidents
• C. Regulatory fines
• D. Training hours completed

Answer: (A)

Leading indicators in process safety are proactive signals that help prevent incidents, such as near misses being reported and investigated. When near misses are captured, investigated, and followed by corrective actions, it shows the organization is actively identifying hazards, learning from potential failures, and driving improvements before a real event occurs. This directly reflects hazard recognition and learning cycles that can stop problems before they escalate. In contrast, the total number of incidents is a lagging indicator, showing what has already happened. Regulatory fines point to past noncompliance, and training hours completed measure activity rather than actual safety performance. So near misses reported and investigated best represents a leading indicator of process safety performance.