Strong and weak countermeasures poster

Not every countermeasure is equally likely to stop a problem coming back. Stronger actions change the design or the process so the error cannot happen. Middle actions make an error easy to catch. Weaker actions rely on people remembering: a sign, a memo, a new rule, retraining. This poster ranks the three with shop floor examples, after the action hierarchy used for root cause analysis in patient safety, so a team can see at a glance how strong its fix is.

Download the poster

The PNG is free to download now. The print-ready vector PDFs open after a short form, once.

Download PNG (300 dpi)2550 x 3300 px, prints at 8.5 x 11 in · 448 KB · no form

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Countermeasure strength poster — 24 x 36 in18 x 24 inA2A3LetterA4PNG 300 dpi

The words on the poster

How strong is your fix?

Choose a countermeasure that doesn't depend on someone remembering.

Strong Stronger: the error can't happen. Redesign the part or process. Error-proof: it fits one way only. Simplify or standardize the process.
Middle Middle: errors caught at once. Sensor or software check. Checklist at the station. A built-in backup.
Weak Weaker: people must remember. Warning signs and labels. A new rule, memo or procedure. Retraining, "be more careful".

Weaker actions still help as extra layers. Never as the only fix for a serious problem.

Adapted from the action hierarchy in RCA2, a patient-safety guide (National Patient Safety Foundation, 2015).

On the floor

How to use it

Putting the Strong and weak countermeasures poster to work

1
Check every corrective action against it before it is approved.
2
Ask: is there a stronger action we could take? If not, why not?
3
Use weaker actions as extra layers or stopgaps, never as the only fix for a serious problem.
4
Pair it with the free poka-yoke worksheet and corrective action form.

Where the poster goes and how to teach with it, in the order to try them.

Which size to print

24 x 36 in or A2: a main wall or team board, read from a few metres away.
18 x 24 in or A3: a station or notice board. The A3 file also fits 11 x 17 in paper.
Letter or A4: a clipboard, binder or handout, on any office printer.

Every PDF is vector, so it stays sharp at full size. Nothing runs to the edge of the page, so no bleed is needed.