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Human Performance and Latent Causes

Robert E. Statham, subject matter expert in Latent Cause Analysis for Human Performance.

Failsafe Network’s podcast, Human Performance and Latent Causes, offers an in-depth look at why things go wrong at work-and how to genuinely fix them without the blame game. Hosted by Rob Statham, this program emphasizes the use of Latent Cause Analysis to uncover latency, the hidden factors in our culture, and the habits that lead to incidents. Think of it as peeling back layers of normal to reveal what’s truly sabotaging performance. Almost every Friday, you get a new episode filled with expert insights on learning from incidents, not just pointing fingers. Rob hosts the show, drawing on Failsafe’s decades of experience in understanding why things go wrong.

The vibe is conversational, like talking with a wise mentor-no fluff, just practical tools to identify and eliminate those hidden causes before they cause bigger problems. Whether you’re in safety, management, or simply curious about human performance, it helps you create better systems and cultures. If you’re into root cause analysis but want something more effective, this is it. Seriously, it’s transformative for anyone tired of making the same mistakes.

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20 episodes
Avg 16 min
English

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S2026 · E15
September 1 · 10 min
The Hidden Tax of Blame on Operational Velocity
Join Rob Statham as he discusses the hidden tax of Blame. Blame comes with a high price tag. Most organizations treat failure as a people problem or a process problem and then they spend a significant amount of time doing investigations that never really touch on the conditions that allowed it to happen in the first place. That burns cash and slows everything down. Discover how to increase your operational velocity easily.
S2026 · E14
August 25 · 31 min
Failing Smarter: Turning Setbacks into Advantage with Rachel Franco
Rachel Franco, Founder of Fail Smarter LLC, joins Rob to discuss how leaders can turn failure into a competitive advantage. They dig into psychological safety, productive failure, and the practical systems that help teams stop hiding setbacks and start learning from them—without the blame game. A natural conversation between Latent Cause thinking and the Fail Smarter approach.
S2026 · E13
August 18 · 17 min
The Gift of Near Misses
Most organizations treat near misses as non-events — a close call, a sigh of relief, and then back to business. But what if that near miss was actually a gift? In this episode, we explore why near misses are some of the most valuable learning opportunities available in any high-risk or complex operation. When something almost goes wrong, the system has already revealed a weakness. The only question is whether we are willing to receive the warning and act on it. Drawing from Latent Cause Analysis principles, we examine: Why near misses expose latent conditions before harm occurs How a culture of blame causes people to stay silent Why the same disciplined, no-blame process used for major incidents should also be applied to near misses Practical ways leaders can turn near-miss reporting into a genuine strength instead of a neglected formality Near misses are the system whispering. Incidents are the system screaming. The difference often comes down to whether an organization is prepared to listen. If you lead safety, reliability, operations, or continuous improvement work, this conversation will challenge how you and your teams respond the next time something almost happens.
S2026 · E12
July 17 · 11 min
The Root that Changes Everything
Latent Cause Analysis. This is the Failsafe edge: We don’t just give you better tools. We help you become better learners, leaders, and teammates.
S2026 · E11
June 12 · 10 min
HOP is good, but something Criticial is Missing!
Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) has earned well-deserved attention in recent years. It correctly shifts focus from blaming people to improving the systems in which they work. These are meaningful advances. Yet many organizations that have adopted HOP principles are still experiencing the same types of incidents. The reason is usually that something important is still missing.
S2026 · E10
May 15 · 18 min
Why Most RCA Training Fails: How LCA is Different.
At Failsafe Network, we’ve been in the trenches for over four decades, helping organizations learn from the things that go wrong. What we’ve seen over all those years is that most traditional RCA training doesn’t fall short because people aren’t trying hard enough—it fails because the approach itself has some pretty fundamental flaws. Let's walk through why that happens and how our Latent Cause Analysis™, or LCA, brings something genuinely different to the table.
S2026 · E9
May 8 · 11 min
Human Performance and Latent Causes: Case Study
Case study of catastrophic hydrotreater explosion.
S2026 · E8
April 17 · 19 min
Why Quick Fixes Become Deadly: Latent Cause Analysis of a Conveyor Crushing Injury
In this episode of Human Performance and Latent Causes, Robert E. Statham, President of Failsafe Network, takes a deep dive into a real crushing injury and partial finger amputation that occurred during a routine jam clearance on a high-speed wrapper conveyor in a food packaging plant.
S2026 · E7
April 7 · 14 min
Latent Cause Analysis Brings Leaders to Life: Real Leadership Lessons
Latent Cause Analysis (LCA) is an evidence-based method for investigating incidents that goes beyond fixing immediate problems to uncover deeper systemic, human, and cultural causes. LCA strengthens leadership at all levels and transforms organizational culture toward continuous improvement, better decisions, and fewer repeated failures.
S2026 · E6
March 6 · 23 min
Root Cause Analysis Is Not Enough – How Latent Cause Analysis Changes Everything
Traditional Root Cause Analysis (RCA) often falls short because it stops at surface-level issues—like equipment failure or individual error—and tends to become a blame-focused, checkbox exercise. As a result, organizations see the same problems repeat. Latent Cause Analysis (LCA) is a more powerful alternative because it examines the underlying systems and human factors that create the conditions for failure.
S2026 · E5
February 27 · 14 min
Human factors in Root Cause Analysis
The role people play in things that go wrong and the more important role people play in learning, improving, and growing in day to day business.
S2026 · E4
February 20 · 11 min
Blame free Root Cause Analysis
The problem with blame and how to effectively deal with it in the midst of an investigation .
S2026 · E3
February 13 · 9 min
Why Traditional Root Cause Analysis Fails—and How Latent Cause Fixes It
Failsafe 40+ years of experience using Root Cause Analysis and developing the more effective Latent Cause Analysis.
S2026 · E2
February 6 · 15 min
Latent Cause Analysis: The better/next-gen version of RCA
Discover the future of root cause analysis. Rob Statham shares the past, present, and future of root cause analysis (even with AI's influence). Latent Cause Analysis is not just another form of RCA; it's the next generation.
S2026 · E1
January 30 · 19 min
The Hardest Lesson to Learn
Failure is often painted as a dead end. But it’s really a fork in the road. When you treat failure as a learning opportunity, you unlock potential. This mindset shift changes everything.
S2025 · E26
Dec 5, 2025 · 15 min
Growth Through Failure: Turning Setbacks into Stepping Stones
This episode explores how embracing failure can drive personal and organizational growth. Failure isn’t an endpoint—it’s a new beginning that offers opportunities for learning and improvement. Rather than fearing setbacks, adopting a mindset that sees failure as a necessary teacher is key.
S2025 · E25
Nov 21, 2025 · 9 min
Blame Fixes Nothing
Blame for errors is unhelpful. Focusing on understanding instead of blame helps organizations create a learning culture. This motivates employees to share experiences and insights, which leads to improved safety practices and better operations.
S2025 · E24
Nov 14, 2025 · 13 min
How to Handle Human Error
Learn how to manage human error. Human error is unavoidable. We understand that everyone, no matter their skills or experience, makes mistakes. What matters most is accepting human fallibility instead of chasing perfection and having an effective process to learn from errors.
S2025 · E23
Nov 7, 2025 · 21 min
How to Apply the 5 Principles of HOP
Review the 5 Principles of Human Performance (HOP) for organizational learning and improvement. Discover the most effective process ever developed to implement HOP principles within an organization while enhancing communication and productivity.
S2025 · E22
Oct 31, 2025 · 31 min
High Reliability in Action
Rob Statham discusses with author Laurin Mooney her new book 'High Reliability in Action.' The conversation explores her motivation for creating a practical guide to High Reliability. They examine the challenges caused by increasing complexity. People regularly face unexpected and unclear events, but we often concentrate on tasks we already know to achieve our goals. Yet, much occurs outside of our plans, and to succeed, we need to learn how to adapt and navigate effectively. That is the purpose of 'High Reliability in Action.'

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