Icologiq Knowledge · Concept
Basic Risk Factors
Tripod categories used to classify recurring underlying organisational conditions that can contribute to barrier failure and incident causation.
BRF
Also known as:
Basic Risk Factor, BRFs, Tripod BRF, Tripod Basic Risk Factors
At a glance
Type
Concept
Topic
CAPA & Incidents
Applies to
Tank Terminals & Chemicals
Current version
Tripod Beta Version 6 context
Status
Tripod terminology / classification context
Last reviewed
September 30, 2026
Definition
Basic Risk Factors (BRFs) are categories used in the Tripod tradition to classify recurring underlying organisational conditions that can influence incident causation. They provide a common way to group findings so patterns can be compared across investigations. In current Tripod Beta guidance, cause analysis distinguishes immediate causes, performance influencing factors or preconditions, and underlying organisational causes. BRF classification belongs within that broader causal analysis and should be supported by investigation evidence rather than applied as a checklist.
Why it matters
One incident may point to a local failure; several incidents classified consistently can reveal a wider system problem. For QHSE and Operations managers, this helps answer whether repeated events are connected to broader weaknesses in areas such as procedures, communication, competence, design, maintenance or organisational controls. The value is not the classification label itself, but the ability to compare investigations, prioritise systemic corrective actions and check whether interventions are reducing recurrence across sites and over time.
An incident investigation and analysis methodology that examines what happened, which barriers failed or were missing, and the human, performance and organisational factors behind those failures.
Tripod Beta
Method
· CAPA & Incidents
A structured process for establishing what happened in an incident, why it happened, which controls failed or were missing, and what actions can reduce the risk of recurrence.
Incident Investigation
Process
· CAPA & Incidents
A systematic approach for identifying the underlying causes of a problem or event instead of addressing only its immediate symptoms.
Root Cause Analysis
Method
· CAPA & Incidents
The systematic identification, ownership, monitoring and maintenance of risk controls that prevent hazardous events or mitigate their consequences.
Barrier Management
Process
· Process Safety
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