Root Cause Analysis
Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is a structured investigation method that identifies the fundamental underlying causes of an incident or problem, rather than just addressing surface-level symptoms.
What Is Root Cause Analysis?
Root Cause Analysis (RCA) goes beyond the immediate or obvious cause of an incident to uncover the systemic factors that allowed it to happen. The goal is not to assign blame but to identify what can be changed to prevent recurrence.
Common RCA Methods
- 5 Whys: Ask "why" repeatedly (typically five times) to drill down from the symptom to the root cause.
- Fishbone (Ishikawa) Diagram: Categorize potential causes into groups (People, Process, Equipment, Materials, Environment, Management) and analyze each branch.
- Fault Tree Analysis: A top-down, deductive approach that maps all possible failure paths leading to an incident.
- SCAT (Systematic Cause Analysis Technique): Traces causes through contact, immediate causes, basic causes and management system failures.
RCA Best Practices
- Investigate promptly while evidence and memories are fresh.
- Involve a multidisciplinary team including frontline workers.
- Look for systemic causes, not just individual errors.
- Assign specific, measurable corrective actions with deadlines and owners.
RCA on Make Safety Easy
Make Safety Easy includes built-in RCA tools with 5 Whys and fishbone templates. Investigation findings link directly to corrective actions with automated follow-up reminders.