INDUSTRY DRIVEN, INDUSTRY FOCUSED PAGE | 6
RISK STATEMENT
Inadequate control of
hazardous energy including
electrical, mechanical, and
kinetic energy during routine
work, can result in severe harm
to employees, damage an
organization's reputation, and
have serious negative impacts
on employees, customers, and
the broader community.
Determining Root Causes
Worker and management representatives regrouped
for two days with the goal of exploring the root
causes behind the top risk—exposure to hazardous
energy during regular operations. Through open,
transparent discussion, the group generated a list
of 25 causal factors that, based on their experience,
lead to the inadequate control of hazardous energy.
A fishbone diagram was used to help structure the
discussion. It systematically broke down the problem
into smaller parts and aided in identifying root
causes rather than symptoms. "This method of team
brainstorming fosters collaboration and consensus.
It also ensures diverse perspectives are considered,
leading to a more thorough analysis," explained
Rishma.
With 25 primary causal factors identified, the next
step was to narrow down the top ten. Each participant
voted on a scale of 1-7. They did not see what others
had selected until they had submitted their votes.
"I've been involved in similar processes over my ten
years as a safety professional at Toyota; however, this
experience was unique in its depth and collaboration.
It allowed us to engage with other industry partners
to explore shared and new challenges around
hazardous energy control," said Seth Burt, Safety
Manager, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada.
Participants expressed a desire to have more than
two days together to continue sharing ideas in a small
group that could benefit all workers in
the industry.
