Causation Model - Accident Basic causes

While direct causes are normally only there for a short period of time, basic causes are there on a more or less ongoing basis.

For example a direct cause could be a substandard act or condition. Somebody did something wrong or misplaced a drum or pallet. The basic cause then could be the lack of proper work procedures. Or the motivation of the person to follow the standard work procedure. Or the basic cause could inadequate housekeeping guidelines or inspection program or the motivation of the person not to follow them. Or the basic cause could be management or supervision tolerating that proper procedures are not being followed.

Basic causes are sometimes also called "root causes". However, although the term seen to have been around since early last century, there is - as far as I know - no universally accepted definition.

While typical direct causes may often occur on an incidental basis, root causes are generally present more permanently. As such they are the “source”, so to speak, from which the direct causes evolve. Because of this, the root causes are often also called the underlying causes”.  

Here too, we recognize two main categories: (1) personal aspects - related to a person (in practice, often the person directly involved in the event), and (2) job factors - related to the organization, work conditions and processes.  

Leaving natural induced events aside, root causes of undesired events are divided in two main categories: 

• Substandard PERSONAL FACTORS  
• Substandard ORGANIZATIONAL or JOB FACTORS