Resources > What is a Corrective Action?
Corrective Action: Definition, Examples & How to Build a Corrective Action Plan (CAPA)
Corrective action is the structured process of fixing a problem and removing its root cause so it doesn’t happen again. In EHS, quality, and operations, strong corrective actions protect people, the environment, and compliance obligations—while driving continuous improvement.
What is a Corrective Action?
Corrective action is a documented response to a non‑conformance, incident, or audit finding that eliminates the root cause and verifies the fix is effective.
What is a CAPA?
CAPA stands for Corrective and Preventive Action—a single, closed‑loop process that both corrects current issues (CA) and prevents future recurrence (PA).
Corrective Action vs. Preventive Action
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Corrective action addresses a problem that has already occurred (e.g., incident, near miss, audit non‑conformance).
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Preventive action proactively reduces the likelihood of a potential problem (e.g., adding a guard before a machine causes injury).
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Together, CAPA ensures issues are contained, root causes are removed, and systemic safeguards are built.
How to Create a Corrective Action Plan (Step‑by‑Step)
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Record & contain the issue
Capture the event, mark the location, collect photos, and put safe‑work controls in place. -
Define the problem
Describe what happened, when, where, and the impact (safety, environmental, quality, legal). -
Investigate the root cause
Use tools like 5 Whys, Fishbone (Ishikawa), or Fault Tree. Identify causal factors—people, process, equipment, environment, materials. -
Select corrective actions
Choose actions that remove the root cause, not just symptoms. Prioritise engineering and process controls over admin or PPE‑only fixes. -
Assign owners, due dates, and resources
Make accountability clear; include escalation paths and interim controls. -
Implement & document
Execute tasks, attach evidence (photos, permits, training records), and maintain an audit trail. -
Verify effectiveness
Re‑inspect, test, or audit. Has the risk rating reduced? Did the non‑conformance recur? -
Prevent recurrence (PA)
Update SOPs, training, risk assessments, and change controls. Share learnings across sites.
What is a corrective action plan?
A corrective action plan (CAP) is the documented set of tasks, owners, deadlines, and verification steps that implement corrective action and demonstrate effectiveness.
Examples: An Example of a Corrective Action Is…
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Machine guarding incident (manufacturing): Install interlocked guarding, update LOTO procedure, retrain operators, and verify via post‑implementation audit.
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Chemical storage non‑compliance (labs): Segregate incompatibles, add secondary containment, revise chemical register, and implement monthly inspections.
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Slip, trip & fall near miss (facilities): Fix floor drainage gradient, replace matting, update housekeeping standard, and monitor incident trend for 90 days.
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Audit finding—training gap: Revise competency matrix, schedule refresher training, link certification expiry to reminders, and sample‑check compliance.
Corrective Action Plan Template (Checklist)
Use this structure to keep every CAPA audit‑ready:
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Event / finding reference ID
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Problem statement & risk impact
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Root cause analysis (method + evidence)
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Corrective actions (tasks, owners, due dates)
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Required approvals / permits / MoC
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Attachments (photos, reports, training records)
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Verification of effectiveness (criteria + results)
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Preventive actions & updated controls (SOPs, training, risk assessments)
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Closure sign‑off & audit trail
Make CAPA Stick with EHS SmartStart
Manual spreadsheets stall accountability and obscure risks. EHS SmartStart centralises your CAPA process with configurable modules that map directly to the steps above:
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Incident Management: Capture incidents and near misses with evidence, classify severity (incl. LTI), trigger corrective actions, and track status to closure.
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Audit Management: Run audits with custom checklists, log non‑conformances, raise CAPAs automatically, and collaborate in real time.
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Actions: Assign tasks with due dates, owners, and escalation workflows; track corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) across sites with notifications and full audit trails.
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Risk Management: Re‑assess risks before and after corrective actions to prove effectiveness and reduce residual risk.
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Management of Change: Control process or equipment changes introduced by corrective actions with formal risk assessments and approvals.
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Compliance Management: Link actions to permits, inspections, and legal requirements; generate audit‑ready documentation.
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Global Standards & Programs: Standardise CAPA across regions, align with ISO, OSHA, RIDDOR, COSHH, and link global standards to local programs.
Why teams choose EHS SmartStart
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Out‑of‑the‑box deployment—be productive in a day
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Azure‑secure, cloud‑based platform with role‑based access
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Real‑time analytics and dashboards for CAPA metrics
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Configurable forms, fields, and workflows—no code required
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Multilingual support and scalable for single‑site to global rollouts
Prove effectiveness with data: Close the loop by tracking CAPA cycle times, overdue trends, recurrence rates, and residual risk on a single dashboard.
FAQs: Quick Answers
What does corrective action mean?
It’s the documented process of fixing a non‑conformance by removing its root cause and verifying the fix works.
What is a corrective action plan?
A structured set of tasks, owners, deadlines, and verification steps to implement corrective action and show effectiveness.
How is corrective different from preventive action?
Corrective responds to an issue that occurred; preventive reduces the chance of future issues. Together, they form CAPA.
Who should approve CAPA closure?
Typically the process owner or EHS lead not directly responsible for the implementation, to preserve objectivity.
How do I know if a corrective action worked?
Re‑inspect or audit against clear criteria, compare before/after risk ratings, and watch incident or non‑conformance trends.
