FREE CRST Incident Investigation Methods Questions and Answers

Question 1

A minor incident occurs where a worker slips on a small oil patch but is not injured. A supervisor cleans the spill and tells the worker to be more careful. From a modern safety management perspective, what is the primary failure in this response?

Accepted Answer

The opportunity to identify and correct the root cause of the spill was missed.

Answer

Modern incident investigation focuses on prevention, not blame. Ignoring a near miss, like a slip without injury, means failing to investigate *why* the hazard (the oil patch) existed in the first place. This misses the opportunity to correct the underlying system failure (e.g., leaking machine, poor maintenance procedure) and prevent a future, potentially serious injury.

Question 2

Which of the following is the primary objective of a root cause analysis (RCA) during an incident investigation?

Accepted Answer

To identify and correct underlying safety management system deficiencies.

Answer

The primary goal of root cause analysis is to move beyond the immediate and contributing causes to find the fundamental deficiencies in the safety management system. By correcting these systemic issues (e.g., inadequate training, poor design, lack of procedures), an organization can effectively prevent similar incidents from recurring.

Question 3

An investigator is using the "5 Whys" technique to understand an equipment failure. What is the fundamental process of this method?

Accepted Answer

Sequentially asking "Why?" to trace the cause-and-effect chain to a systemic failure.

Answer

The "5 Whys" is an iterative technique used to explore the cause-and-effect relationships underlying a problem. By repeatedly asking "Why?" (five times is a general rule), the investigation can move past the obvious symptoms and uncover the deeper, systemic root cause of the failure.

Question 4

Immediately following a serious incident involving a machine, what is the most critical first step for the responding supervisor after ensuring medical aid is provided and the scene is safe from immediate danger?

Accepted Answer

Securing the scene to preserve evidence.

Answer

After ensuring the injured are cared for and the scene is safe from further harm, the highest priority is to secure the area. This involves preventing unauthorized access and ensuring that physical evidence (e.g., equipment position, debris, controls settings) is not disturbed, moved, or cleaned up. Preserving the scene is essential for an accurate investigation.

Question 5

James Reason's "Swiss Cheese Model" is a widely used framework for analyzing incident causation. What do the "holes" in the slices of cheese represent in this model?

Accepted Answer

Failures and weaknesses in the system's layers of defence.

Answer

In the Swiss Cheese Model, each "slice" represents a layer of defence or a barrier in a system (e.g., procedures, training, equipment guards). The "holes" represent weaknesses or latent failures within these defences. An incident occurs when the holes in multiple slices align, allowing a hazard to pass through all layers and cause a loss.

CRST - Canadian Registered Safety Technician Practice Test

CRST - Canadian Registered Safety Technician Practice Test

FREE CRST Incident Investigation Methods Questions and Answers