Use 5 Whys Without Blame

A splash occurred during chemical waste transfer because the expected funnel was unavailable and the backup process was unclear. 5 Whys works when each why tests a condition that can be changed. It fails when every why points back to the person. The common trap is stopping at did not follow procedure. That may be true, but it is rarely the most useful final cause. Why 1 Why did splash occur? The tech poured waste directly from a beaker into a narrow container. Start with observable mechanics, not motive. Why 2 Why pour directly? No clean funnel was available at…

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