Why is it important for an investigator to understand both substandard practices and personal factors?

Understanding both substandard practices and personal factors is crucial for identifying all root causes of incidents. Root cause analysis requires a comprehensive view of what contributed to an incident, which includes examining not only the technical or procedural failings (substandard practices) but also the human elements at play (personal factors). Substandard practices can include failures in safety protocols, inadequate training, or improper equipment use, while personal factors may encompass individual behaviors, decision-making processes, and personal circumstances that might influence performance or safety.

By analyzing these elements together, an investigator can gain deeper insights into why an incident occurred, leading to more effective remediation and prevention strategies. This holistic understanding allows organizations to address not just the symptoms of incidents, but the underlying issues that prompted them, ultimately fostering a safer work environment.

In contrast, ensuring compliance with regulations primarily focuses on adherence to established rules and guidelines, which is important but not as broad as the need to identify root causes. Classifying incidents correctly can help in reporting and tracking incidents, but it does not lead to the depth of understanding provided by examining root causes. Providing training to new employees is beneficial for future prevention, yet it does not directly relate to the analysis of past incidents in understanding their root causes.