Without the Dictionary, the colorful Root Cause Tree® poster is just a diagram. With the Dictionary, it becomes a guided, verifiable, and defensible pathway to the truth.
The Dictionary includes a Verification Question for each cause. You are not done until the answer is “Yes” to this question.
Create a visual timeline of the incident. Identify the Causal Factor (the error or condition that directly led to the accident). taproot root cause tree dictionary pdf
When the tree suggests a possible root cause (e.g., “Labeling/Presentation”), open the Dictionary PDF . Read the definition and examples for “Labeling Inadequate.” Does it fit your case? If not, move to “Feedback” or “Placement.”
Once the Dictionary confirms the root cause (e.g., “Inadequate Maintenance Procedure”), you design a fix that targets that specific cause. General fixes like “Retrain everyone” are not allowed; the fix must be specific (e.g., “Rewrite Procedure #102 to include torque specs”). Without the Dictionary, the colorful Root Cause Tree®
In the high-stakes world of industrial safety, healthcare, and quality assurance, finding the true origin of a problem is notoriously difficult. Surface-level fixes often fail, leading to recurring incidents, costly downtime, and preventable injuries.
Gather photos, logs, and interviews. Enter them into the TapRooT® App or an Excel sheet. You are not done until the answer is
Open your visual tree (poster or PDF copy). For a given Causal Factor (e.g., “Operator pushed wrong button”), walk down the tree branches.