Human Performance and Latent Causes

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

Business Management Education

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Jul 2026

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About the show

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.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 18, 202617 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.

July 17, 202611 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.

June 12, 202610 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.

May 15, 202618 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.

May 8, 202611 min

Human Performance and Latent Causes: Case Study

Case study of catastrophic hydrotreater explosion.

April 17, 202619 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.

April 7, 202614 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.

March 6, 202623 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.