Incident Investigation Flashcards
7 cards from real SAF practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Incident Investigation flashcards as text
In the context of incident investigation, what does 'energy trace and barrier analysis' examine?
Answer: The flow of hazardous energy and the controls that failed to prevent harm
Energy trace and barrier analysis tracks the flow of hazardous energy (mechanical, chemical, electrical, etc.) and identifies which barriers failed to interrupt it.
Which of the following best describes 'human error' as a cause category in incident investigation?
Answer: A symptom of deeper system failures such as inadequate training, procedures, or work design
Human error is typically a symptom of underlying system deficiencies — investigators should ask why the error was possible or likely, not just who made it.
What is the role of a 'causal factor' tree (fault tree) in incident investigation?
Answer: To graphically map the logical relationships between causes and the incident outcome
A fault tree uses Boolean logic to diagram how combinations of failures and conditions interact to produce an incident, aiding root cause identification.
When an investigation reveals that a safety procedure existed but was routinely bypassed, the most effective corrective action is to:
Answer: Analyze why the procedure was bypassed and revise it to be practical and enforceable
Procedures that are routinely bypassed often contain design flaws — effective correction means understanding the bypass reason and fixing the procedure itself.
Which principle requires that incident investigations focus on system improvement rather than individual blame?
Answer: Just culture principle
Just culture distinguishes between human error, at-risk behavior, and reckless behavior — focusing on system improvement while maintaining individual accountability appropriately.
What information should be collected as part of the physical evidence phase of an incident investigation?
Answer: Photographs, measurements, equipment condition, environmental conditions, and material samples
Physical evidence — photos, measurements, equipment states, and environmental data — captures the scene before conditions change and is critical to accurate analysis.
Why is it important to track the status of corrective actions after an incident investigation?
Answer: To ensure recommended actions are actually implemented and verify their effectiveness
Tracking corrective action status ensures that identified solutions are actually carried out and allows verification that they effectively prevent recurrence.