Root Cause Analysis Template

Why You Need a Root Cause Analysis Template

When a safety incident, equipment failure, or process deviation occurs, identifying the root cause is essential to prevent recurrence. Root cause analysis (RCA) goes beyond treating symptoms to uncover the underlying issues that led to the problem. A standardized root cause analysis template helps ensure that your team’s investigations are thorough, consistent, and actionable.

Without a structured approach, your efforts to find root causes can become disorganized or biased. Your team might miss key facts and jump to conclusions without fully understanding the contributing factors. A good template promotes a step-by-step process for gathering data, analyzing causes, and assigning corrective actions so you can turn incidents into improvement opportunities.

What to Include in an RCA Template

The root cause analysis template you use should walk through every phase of the investigation, from initial discovery to final follow-up. It should also provide enough flexibility to handle different types of incidents while keeping the format consistent. Consider having these pieces of information listed in your template:

• Incident description and timeline of events
• Individuals involved or affected by the issue
• Immediate actions taken at the time of the incident
• Evidence collected (photos, witness statements, equipment data)
• Root cause identification using methods (5 Whys or fishbone diagram)
• Corrective and preventive actions to address the root causes
• Responsible parties and deadlines for each action
• Verification steps to ensure actions were effective
• Lessons learned and recommendations shared with other teams

How to Use the Template for Better Investigations

Use the template during any incident investigation that requires formal follow-up. Begin by assembling a cross-functional team to gather facts and analyze the sequence of events. Be sure to involve personnel familiar with the work environment where the incident occurred.

Encourage the team to focus on systems and processes and not just individual behaviors. Document your entire analysis in the template and track action items to completion. Keep the completed forms on file for future reference and use them to improve training, update procedures, or revise risk assessments.