Root Cause Analysis & Corrective Actions
Fixing the symptom stops today's problem; finding the root cause stops tomorrow's. This guide walks through a simple method any team can use after an incident or near miss.
Why Dig Past the Symptom
If you only treat what was visible, the same hazard returns in a new form. Root cause analysis (RCA) asks why the failure was possible in the first place — and whether your system allowed it.
The 5 Whys in Practice
Start from the event and ask "why" up to five times. Each answer becomes the next question.
Event: a worker slipped near the loading bay.
Why? The floor was wet.
Why? A leaky hose dripped onto the walkway.
Why? The hose hadn't been inspected in months.
Why? There was no routine inspection checklist for that area.
Why? Inspections were ad hoc, not scheduled.
Root cause: no scheduled inspection system — so the fix is a checklist and cadence, not just a mop.
Turning Findings Into Corrective Actions
Inspect to Prevent Recurrence
Use checklists to catch the conditions RCA reveals:
Close the Loop
An RCA only counts if the action is done and verified. Track open corrective actions weekly and report the closure rate back to the team — it shows the process leads to real change.