What it means
Root cause analysis works backward from an event. You ask why it happened, then why that happened, until you reach a cause the company controls and can change.
A simple way is to keep asking why. The worker slipped. Why? Oil on the floor. Why? A hose leaked. Why? It wasn't on the inspection list. The fix is on the list, not on the worker.
Most events have more than one cause. Look at the task, the equipment, the training, the supervision and the plan. Stopping at "the worker didn't follow the procedure" rarely gets to the root.
Why it matters
If you fix a symptom, the problem comes back. Root cause analysis points the corrective action at the thing that let the event happen, so the same one is less likely to repeat.
What it looks like on a site
- The team writes the event in one plain sentence, then asks why under it.
- Each answer is checked against facts, photos or statements, not guesses.
- The chain stops at a cause the company can change, like a missing check or unclear step.
- The team writes down every cause it finds, not just one.
- Each cause gets a corrective action with an owner.
This is general information, not legal advice. Check the current rule and your own procedures. Back to the glossary