What describes a basic approach to performing a root cause analysis on a near-miss event?

What describes a basic approach to performing a root cause analysis on a near-miss event?

• A. Immediately implement corrective actions without analysis.
• B. Guess the root cause based on experience only.
• C. Skip collecting facts and move to reporting.
• D. Collect facts, identify contributing factors, apply RCA method (5 Whys or Ishikawa), determine root causes, implement corrective actions.

Answer: (D)

Root cause analysis for a near-miss starts with gathering facts and examining what happened, when, where, and who was involved, so you have an accurate picture to work from. You then identify contributing factors—the sequence of events, equipment, human actions, procedures, and environmental conditions that enabled the near-miss. By applying a structured RCA method such as the 5 Whys or an Ishikawa diagram, you trace back from the near-miss to the underlying causes, separating contributing factors from true root causes. Once those root causes are found, you implement corrective actions designed to address them and prevent recurrence, and you verify that those actions work. This approach is best because it uses evidence, follows a clear process, and ensures actions target the real underlying issues rather than just treating symptoms. Skipping analysis or guessing, or moving straight to reporting without collecting facts, risks addressing the wrong problem and missing opportunities to prevent future incidents.

Root cause analysis for a near-miss starts with gathering facts and examining what happened, when, where, and who was involved, so you have an accurate picture to work from. You then identify contributing factors—the sequence of events, equipment, human actions, procedures, and environmental conditions that enabled the near-miss. By applying a structured RCA method such as the 5 Whys or an Ishikawa diagram, you trace back from the near-miss to the underlying causes, separating contributing factors from true root causes. Once those root causes are found, you implement corrective actions designed to address them and prevent recurrence, and you verify that those actions work. This approach is best because it uses evidence, follows a clear process, and ensures actions target the real underlying issues rather than just treating symptoms. Skipping analysis or guessing, or moving straight to reporting without collecting facts, risks addressing the wrong problem and missing opportunities to prevent future incidents.