RCAT: all you’ll need for investigation and analysis
Accident scenes are not a pretty sight – that is why IRCA Global would like to introduce you to the Root Cause Analysis Technique (RCATTM).
IRCA Global launched its well-known and internationally used RCATTM methodology in a web application during the first week of August. The application is the culmination of almost three decades of experience in the use of the RCATTM methodology into a software system. It will meet the needs and requirements of organisations from small business to large corporate companies, from beginner to advanced incident investigators – thanks to its simplicity of use and proven ability to uncover fundamental root causes of incidents and accidents.
The RCATTM methodology has been in use for almost thirty years, and is backed by the RCATTM training course – one of IRCA’s most attended training courses. It is supported by personnel who have extensive experience in facilitating third-party investigations into fatal injuries, major incidents and even close calls, for clients who wish to bring in an independent incident investigation facilitator, such as BP, Scaw Metals, Eskom, Anglo Platinum or Aveng Grinaker LTA.
The RCATTM methodology has proved to be effective for the investigation and cause analysis of accidents such as vehicle collisions, as well as occupational accidents such as contact with electricity, or being caught by rotating equipment.
RCAT Web synopsis
RCATTM Web will be available for purchase, or clients may opt for a hosted version. For the hosted version, the client has all the benefits of a web application without the capital expenditure for hardware. IRCA ensures the integrity, security, availability and back-up of data.
RCATTM Web provides an integrated and comprehensive incident recording, analysis and follow-up system for the recording, investigation and cause analysis of incidents. These could include: accidents, equipment failure, environmental incidents, quality non-conformance and crime.
The application is workflow enabled, allowing for the system to automatically monitor responses to incidents that have been reported, and completion of corrective action. The fully customisable security feature of the system allows the administrator to allow or disallow viewing and editing rights to each component of the system.
The application incorporates an audit-trail function to record all changes made to accident records and user permissions, thus promoting data integrity and accountability.
Incident reporting
RCATTM Web provides four options for reporting of accidents and incidents, including:
• Reporting via Rapid Incident Reporting, a function that allows persons to report incidents into RCATTM Web without being a user of the system. It is a simple process intended to encourage reporting of incidents and can be done by smartphone or any web browser. It provides for reporting by employees, non-employees (including the public) and anonymous reporting (anonymous reporting can facilitate reporting of crime incidents such as fraud and theft).
• Reporting by RCATTM users after logging on.
In all cases, the incident report is a single-screen incident report that simplifies reporting.
Incident investigation
The incident investigation phase involves collating of information about the incident from five different sources – also known as the five Ps.
RCATTM Web has a full investigation function, allowing for uploading of evidence documents and multimedia files, intended to be the master database for incident information – and to reduce the liability risk by maintaining records (for example of injuries).
Root cause analysis
The core of the application is the root-cause analysis function. The methodology is based on the well-known Causation Model.
During the initial investigation process, a risk analysis is done of the reported incident – using customer defined risk matrix, which guides the user in terms of the level of investigation detail according to the degree of risk, and suggests the level of management involvement in the investigation process. Through a risk-based approach, one is able to determine which incidents require more investigation detail.
Three levels of investigation can be selected:
• Initial investigation;
• Causal analysis; using the well-known RCATTM chart for medium risk incidents;
• Full RCATTM process for incidents that caused, or had potential for, major loss.
The on-screen facilitation-enabled cause analysis is a simple, step-by-step questioning of investigation information. It facilitates improved quality and consistency of investigation and corrective action.
Other features of the software include the full Action Manager (incidents and general).This records and tracks actions through to completion. The customisable workflow function will monitor and remind responsible persons about actions assigned to them and escalate to higher authority where appropriate. The application provides for acceptance and sign-off by the responsible person as well as reporting on performance.
RCATTM Web monitors and reports on performance regarding completion of actions. Action status is indicated as:
• Recommendation – Responsible person is prompted to consider and accept, reject or change the recommendation;
• Action – Responsible person accepted recommendation;
• Overdue – Responsible person failed to complete the action by the agreed date.
RCATTM Web is customisable to client specifics and the dashboard screen, which opens when the user logs on, provides pertinent information such as incidents reported to the user since the last log-on, request for accepting recommendations, etc.
Reports and trend analysis
RCATTM Web has an arsenal of reports and data analysis including Flash Report, Major Loss Announcement, Automated RCATTM Report and Trend Analysis, such as:
• Injury frequency rates (LTIFR, etc.);
• Incident analysis;
• Injuries/illness – part of body affected;
• Types of incident/event;
• Incident risk analysis;
• Trend analysis of immediate cause;
• Trend analysis of root causes;
• Trend analysis of systems deficiencies;
• Trend analysis of risk assessment deficiencies.
Other benefits of RCATTM Web include:
• Centralising of incident reporting/database;
• Standardising of incident investigation and cause analysis throughout the organisation;
• Improving quality of investigations and cause analysis;
• Development of effective corrective actions;
• Reduction of liabilities;
• Risk based approach;
• Costing of losses.