Friday Jokes
Friday Jokes are memes, videos, and anything funny! Tune in every week for another joke that may (or may not) relate to root cause analysis.
Follow the Procedures, Or…
11/28/2024
Remember: “procedures not used” is a NEAR root cause, meaning further investigation is needed!
Way Over Your Head
11/21/2025
“Wow!! Workers are so careless!”
This mentality misses the point.
When teams encounter recurring human error, it can be tempting for management to point the finger at operators.
If workers who repeatedly makes the same mistake aren’t careless, what are they?
They’re human. Everyone makes mistakes, and a mere “Be more careful!” is a temporary bandage solution (at best).
A recurring human error is a clear sign to a systemic human performance problem.
Instead of asking “who”, we should be thinking:
• How can the work environment facilitate fewer mistakes?
• Are there problems with communication, management, or work direction?
• What do operators have to say about this problem?
Human error isn’t the end of an investigation; it’s only the beginning!
And When Everyone’s Accountable…
11/14/2025
And when everyone’s accountable… No one will be.
Let’s talk about one of the most misunderstood root causes:
⚠️ Accountability Needs Improvement (NI) ⚠️
As clarified in the Root Cause Tree® Dictionary, this doesn’t mean someone should be held accountable or liable. It means the accountabilities and responsibilities should be more clearly defined.
Some commenters have expressed frustration that we don’t encourage holding individuals accountable:
💬 “What a terrible mindset! Accountability is critical!”
💬 “So, no one’s at fault?”
💬 “Someone should be held accountable after an incident!”
This is a blame-oriented attitude. Everyone makes mistakes. Incidents occur when systems fail to catch or prevent those mistakes.
In other words, accountability isn’t a weapon to wield when someone makes an error. It’s a tool to improve the system and foster success!
A Quick Decision
11/07/2027
“This will just take a sec.”
Where does this mentality come from?
Lockout / tagout (LOTO) violations are a common frustration among many industries. The procedures are clear as day: before you repair something, you need to lock it down and clearly tag it as under service.
Workers who break LOTO protocol aren’t illiterate or incompetent, though. These violations stem from systemic failures:
🗣️ Unclear Importance
Management doesn’t only need to explain the contents of the procedures; they need to explain its importance.
Workers are more likely to stay motivated to follow protocol if they understand the “why” behind it.
⏳ Fast-Paced Environment
When fast work is rewarded over safe work, staff members are effectively incentivized to violate the procedures.
Reconsider the value and realism of your company’s quotas and deadlines before punishing a worker for rushing.
🐌 Constant Fatigue
Fatigued workers are more likely to make mistakes and poor decisions.
Evaluate if shift length and work load are setting employees up for success and failure.
A Chilling Procedure
10/31/2024
What are you scared of this Halloween? 🎃
We fear overly complicated procedures! 😱
While procedures should be comprehensive, less is sometimes more. An extremely complex set of procedures can do more harm than good.
What muddies up procedures? 💩
• Some companies feel the need to extend the procedures after every incident, which only adds more clutter.
• A high required reading level can create difficulties for some workers, especially non-native speakers.
• Unclear visuals can cause more confusion than clarity.
How can we clean up procedures? 🧹
• Simplify the procedures and field test the revisions.
• Create translations for those more familiar with other languages.
• Flowchart the steps to streamline branching decisions.
Importantly, procedural changes should be accompanied with other human performance improvements: 🧠
• Can the process be simplified alongside the procedures?
• Have workers been trained to perform the work correctly?
• Are procedural changes properly communicated?
Not Smiling Anymore
10/24/2024
Incident investigations can wipe a smile off your face. ☹️
How can safety professionals handle the pressure? 💢
🌟 Remember your goal.
You’re here to keep the team safe.
If an incident occurs, it’s not a reflection of your ability to do that; it’s a series of holes in the system. You can help close those with thorough investigation and action.
💬 Talk it out.
Witnessing the aftermath of a SIF can be traumatic.
If you’re struggling to shake off an incident, talk to your supervisors about how you’re feeling. They can’t help if they don’t know!
🏝️ Take a break.
In any line of work, you need a clear state of mind to perform well.
Dealing with emotionally tolling incidents, you need some time to reset every now and then. Stay informed on any mental health resources available to you.
Give yourself some props. EHS is no easy line of work! 👏
You guys get to sleep?
10/17/2025
No one envies the night shift. 😪
How can we ensure everyone is getting enough sleep? 💤
In today’s world, many companies keep operations running 24/7.
This leaves some workers with the night shift, which can be difficult to balance alongside a healthy sleep schedule.
To prevent the late shift from being too intrusive, we recommend:
↪️ Rotate Shifts Strategically
The body doesn’t adapt well to sudden, drastic changes to the sleep schedule.
Shift rotations should be somewhat infrequent, and when they do change, forward rotation is easier than backwards rotation. (Second shift should move forward to third shift, not the other way around.)
🤝 Compensate Night Shift
Humans are diurnal. Night shift should grant compensation.
Compensation can be as simple as extra pay or extra time off. Some industries, such as aviation and nuclear, require time off after excessive or late hours!
📊 Monitor Performance
Audit performance to see if the late shift’s productivity is struggling.
If there is a performance gap, survey your workers. Operators may have ideas and feedback for a more appealing scheduling system.
In short, don’t sleep on improving your shift rotation! 😫
Driving Each Other Crazy
10/10/2025
The investigation and legal teams:
Are they doomed to drive each other up the wall? 🚗💨
On the surface, investigators and lawyers have antithetical goals.
A sensible investigation team aims to take blame away from individuals, instead looking to find and fix systematic failures. 🔍
An strong legal team, on the other hand, generally wants to deflect blame away from the organization, preventing costly lawsuits. 💼
So, how can we shift gears?
We recommend including at least one legal representative on the investigation team for major incidents. They can help investigators stay out of legal trouble while still focusing on systemic improvement.
At the end of the day, both teams are trying to keep the company safe and operational. We can drive the investigation home together!
One Does Not Simply…
10/03/2025
Root cause analysis might sound like a simple term, but it isn’t so easy! 👌
RCA involves evidence collection, investigative interviewing, critical thinking, corrective actions, and so much more!
Dig Deeper
09/26/2025
If your investigation ends at “aging equipment”…
You need to dig deeper! ⛏️
Too many companies find equipment problems, replace the parts, and repeat.
Nearsighted by the goal to keep operations running, they fail to detect recurring, preventable failures, such as:
• Equipment is improperly used by time-pressured operators.
• An inadequate tool has been selected by the procurement team.
• A vital component is installed incorrectly and damages other parts.
Often times, equipment reliability and human performance are deeply intertwined. Companies need a process that fully investigates all work systems.
Don’t just fix what broke. Fix how it broke!
