RCA RCA Prevention and Control 2

Question 1

In the Swiss Cheese Model of accident causation, holes in the cheese slices represent:

Accepted Answer

Weaknesses or failures in defensive layers

Answer

In Reason's Swiss Cheese Model, the holes represent weaknesses or gaps in each defensive layer (barrier), and an accident occurs when all holes align allowing a hazard to pass through.

Question 2

Which of the following BEST describes a 'systemic' preventive action versus a 'local' preventive action?

Accepted Answer

Systemic actions address organization-wide weaknesses; local actions fix only the immediate area

Answer

Systemic preventive actions address root causes embedded in the broader organizational system, whereas local actions only fix the specific location or equipment where the incident occurred.

Question 3

After implementing preventive actions, what is the next critical step in the RCA process?

Accepted Answer

Verifying effectiveness through monitoring and follow-up

Answer

Verifying effectiveness through monitoring confirms that the implemented actions actually prevented recurrence and that the root cause has been truly addressed.

Question 4

A 'leading indicator' used in RCA prevention monitoring is BEST described as:

Accepted Answer

A proactive metric that signals risk before an incident happens

Answer

Leading indicators are proactive, predictive metrics—such as near-miss rates or inspection findings—that signal potential problems before they result in an actual incident.

Question 5

When applying the 'Defense in Depth' principle to RCA prevention, the goal is to:

Accepted Answer

Layer multiple independent controls so failure of one does not cause an incident

Answer

Defense in Depth stacks multiple independent layers of protection so that the failure of any single control does not allow a hazard to reach a harmful outcome.

RCA - Root Cause Analysis Practice Test

RCA - Root Cause Analysis Practice Test

RCA RCA Prevention and Control 2