The benefits of fault tree analysis
Finding the root cause of workplace incidents or issues is essential if you want to prevent them in the future. And conducting a fault tree analysis benefits your team in more ways than one.
From safety incidents to production failures, there are many applications of an FTA. So, every EHS professional and operations manager should know how to do one for problems in their field. Learn more about the benefits of fault tree analysis below so you can understand why it’s such an effective investigative tool.
The purpose of fault tree analysis
The primary purpose of a fault tree analysis is to figure out why something happened unexpectedly. This could be a process failure, a workplace injury, a production slowdown, or any other area of performance.
Aside from helping you identify the root cause of an issue, FTAs are also incredibly helpful for other applications. You might also do a fault tree analysis to:
- Assess the risk level of a process or work area
- Look for ways to improve your equipment or safety designs
- Provide evidence to support a decision or plan
- Audit compliance with regulatory requirements
- Investigate safety incidents and injuries
Because there are so many ways to use FTAs, teaching managers in all departments how to complete them is a great way to develop your workforce.
Fault tree analysis benefits
A fault tree analysis helps you collect and analyze data, but it’s up to you to use that data to make improvements. Here are the top benefits you can gain from doing an FTA in your company.
Identify and control hazards
When investigating safety issues, you’ll start to uncover different hazards in the area or process. Map out the different steps that caused the problem and make a list of the hazards you need to eliminate or control. With this information, you can brainstorm and implement corrective and preventive measures.
Lower workplace risks
Fault tree analysis benefits your risk management program by helping you discover risky processes or systems. Here are some examples of risks you can address with an FTA:
- Quality defects
- Health and safety incidents
- Production stoppages or slowdowns
- Equipment failures
- Employee engagement and turnover
Make well-informed decisions
In any operation, big or small, decisions should have supporting data behind them. Without evidence of a need, it’s too easy to waste resources on ineffective projects.
An FTA visually maps out the variables that cause an issue. This can make certain decisions clearer to stakeholders in different departments throughout the company.
Use resources more wisely
Until you analyze a process, you might not realize how many resources you’re wasting. Once you complete a fault tree analysis, you should be able to divert your resources away from variables that negatively affect the operation.
Plus, this has the additional benefit of saving you money. Here are some ways you can reduce waste through the results of your FTA:
- Upgrade an inefficient equipment or system
- Eliminate tools or materials that are unnecessary to the outcome of the process
- Control or eliminate hazards that cause costly incidents
- Reduce quality errors and production slowdowns
Taking a proactive approach
For a more proactive approach, do regular fault tree analyses regardless of whether there’s been an incident. This strategy helps prevent safety disasters, major production disruptions, recalls, and many other incidents before they happen.
Once you’ve completed a fault tree analysis and reviewed the results, the next step is to implement corrective actions. I’d recommend using action tracking software to keep an eye on your team’s progress. That way, you can reap the benefits of FTA as quickly as possible.
