A ______ failure is usually caused by the worker or person engaged in an activity, with the actions giving an immediate consequence.

A ______ failure is usually caused by the worker or person engaged in an activity, with the actions giving an immediate consequence.

• A. Active
• B. Latent
• C. Systemic
• D. Hidden

Answer: (A)

Active failure happens when the worker’s action itself causes an immediate consequence during a task. This focuses on what the person does (or forgets to do) at the moment of activity, such as skipping a safety step, misreading a gauge, or performing a risky shortcut, which leads directly to a harm or error. It’s the hands-on, moment-to-moment action that triggers the outcome. Latent failures are hidden system problems that may contribute to an incident but don’t produce immediate effects, like poor training, equipment design flaws, or management shortcomings. Systemic issues refer to broader weaknesses in how safety is managed across the organization. “Hidden” isn’t a standard term used to describe this kind of cause. Therefore, the best fit is active failure.

Active failure happens when the worker’s action itself causes an immediate consequence during a task. This focuses on what the person does (or forgets to do) at the moment of activity, such as skipping a safety step, misreading a gauge, or performing a risky shortcut, which leads directly to a harm or error. It’s the hands-on, moment-to-moment action that triggers the outcome. Latent failures are hidden system problems that may contribute to an incident but don’t produce immediate effects, like poor training, equipment design flaws, or management shortcomings. Systemic issues refer to broader weaknesses in how safety is managed across the organization. “Hidden” isn’t a standard term used to describe this kind of cause. Therefore, the best fit is active failure.