Evaluate Root Cause Analysis in Incident Investigation

Evaluate Root Cause Analysis in Incident Investigation  

Scenario: Warehouse Incident

In a busy warehouse used to store food items in large quantities, a new employee Mr. Lee was appointed to help with logistical management of the warehouse. His primary role was as a data entry clerk. He was also charged with other office administration duties. Mr Lee did not attend any orientation nor was he given any safety briefing because of recent budget cutbacks by senior management.

During the first day of work he found a number of work hazards in the warehouse. There has not been any safety audit for the last two years. He found a number of safety breaches such as rubbish and equipment blocking fire exit doors, old gas cylinders lying in the sun, and he noticed that there was a lack of safety signage in regards to how traffic would move around the warehouse. For example, there were no speed signs, no safety barriers or indicated walkways for pedestrians.

Even though Mr Lee was primarily charged with office duties, he took it upon himself to start fixing some of the safety hazards. As he was installing a safety sign while on a ladder, a forklift driver turned into the corner of the aisle and hit the ladder Mr Lee was working on. Mr Lee suffered a broken leg due to the fall from the ladder. The forklift driver was also injured.

An initial investigation into the incident showed the following:

·         no safety cones or safety barriers in place around Mr Lee’s work area;

·         poor planning by Mr Lee as there was no communication between him and other workers at the warehouse;and

·         no prior risk assessment of the job prior to it being done.

To View Complete Question See Below