Event Investigation Guidelines

• Step Seven:  Develop Recommended Corrective Actions

This is where the value is achieved in having completed a quality investigation. Having accurately identified the root and contributing causes for an event, you can now formulate corrective actions that will prevent such things from ever happening again.

Where multiple corrective actions are recommended, each must be considered relative to its overall impact and how it will affect / be affected by the other recommended actions. When put together and properly coordinated, your corrective actions form your Corrective Action Plan.

One note of caution here:   It is not uncommon for investigators to get very global in their recommendations, and attempt to 'solve world hunger'. While noble in gesture, and while the generic implications of any event should be considered, recommended corrective actions must be crafted to specifically target the causes of an event. Also, much to the disdain of many an investigator, cost versus benefit must be considered.

Here are some guidelines to use when developing your Corrective Action Plan:

1. Identify the immediate (remedial) corrective actions taken
2. Identify interim actions needed to prevent the event from occurring again while the longer term corrective actions are being implemented.
3. Ensure that each root and contributing cause is properly addressed by a corrective action.
4. If any generic implications were uncovered during the event, provide associated corrective actions.