IOSH Managing Safely Practice Test

What encompasses an underlying cause in an incident?

1. Direct negligence of employees

2. Factors allowing unsafe actions and conditions to happen

3. Immediate human error

4. Environmental factors affecting safety

The correct answer is: Factors allowing unsafe actions and conditions to happen

The correct choice highlights that an underlying cause in an incident refers to the systemic factors that create an environment where unsafe actions and conditions can occur. These factors are often part of broader organizational issues, such as poor safety culture, inadequate training, insufficient procedures, or lack of proper equipment. Addressing these underlying causes is crucial for preventing future incidents, as it allows organizations to identify and rectify the root issues rather than just responding to the immediate events that led to an incident. In contrast, the other options focus on more immediate or surface-level factors. Direct negligence of employees pertains to individual accountability for actions taken knowingly or unknowingly in disregard of safety protocols, and while it plays a role in incidents, it does not reflect deeper systemic problems. Immediate human error relates to mistakes made by individuals during specific tasks without taking into consideration the contributing background factors that may have led to that error. Environmental factors affecting safety can also impact incidents but are often tied to specific contexts or situations rather than the broader organizational failures that underpin recurring unsafe conditions. Recognizing the distinction between these types of causes is vital for effective incident investigation and prevention strategies.