Identifying and Controlling Hazards.

Identifying and Controlling Hazards
Course 101
Safety Certified Supervisor Series

MODULE SIX: PROBLEM SOLVING TECHNIQUES

Solving safety problems

Getting to the facts with 5-W Analysis

One technique used in conducting root cause analysis when hazards are identified or when incidents/accidents occur is called "5W Analysis." This simple technique combines the traditional who, when, where, what and why method of questioning with the more contemporary continuous quality improvement Five Whys technique.

This method asks:

Who was the victim? Not just his/her name, but a more detailed description of the victim's experience, training, expertise.
When did the accident occur? Date, time. During heavy workload or under stress?
Where did the accident happen? In, or out of the victim's regular work area? At what machine?
What directly caused the injury or illness? What kind of excessive force or exposure caused the trauma or disease?
Why...? did the excessive force or exposure occur?
Why...? Will probably be a hazardous condition or unsafe work practice.
Why...? May be an inadequate/missing procedure, process, or miscommunication.
Why...? May be missing or inadequate development or implementation of policies.
Why...? May be missing or inadequate programs or culture.

As you can see, the first set of questions get at the surface cause(s) related to an actual or potential accident.

Once we know what directly caused the injury or illness, we begin to ask why to arrive at root causes. Each time a why question is asked, a deeper root cause is uncovered.