OHST Practice Exam

What technique helps identify functional failures in systems to improve safety measures?

1. Failure Modes Effects Analysis

2. Fault Tree Analysis

3. Job Safety Analysis

4. Root Cause Analysis

The correct answer is: Fault Tree Analysis

Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) is a systematic, deductive approach used to identify potential functional failures in systems. It employs a graphical representation called a fault tree, which illustrates the pathways that lead to a specific undesired event, or failure, by showing the relationships among various contributing factors. Through this method, safety professionals can visually track how different faults can combine to cause system failures, helping them identify critical vulnerabilities and areas needing improvement to enhance overall safety measures. This technique is particularly effective in complex systems, where multiple failures can interact in unforeseen ways. By analyzing the fault tree, one can prioritize the risks associated with each component, thereby informing design changes, maintenance strategies, or operational practices that help mitigate those risks and improve safety. Other methods listed, while valuable in their own right, serve different purposes. For example, Failure Modes Effects Analysis (FMEA) focuses on identifying and evaluating potential failure modes and their impacts on system performance but doesn’t visualize the interaction of failures as FTA does. Job Safety Analysis (JSA) specifically examines job tasks to identify hazards and recommend safe practices, while Root Cause Analysis (RCA) seeks to determine the underlying causes of an identified problem rather than identify potential failures ahead of time. Each of these is beneficial in