Bowtie Analysis: Bow Tie Risk Assessment & Diagram Guide

Bowtie analysis (also written 'bow tie analysis') is a visual risk assessment method that places one Top Event in the centre of a bow tie diagram, with threats on the left, consequences on the right, and the preventive and mitigating barriers controlling each pathway.

The bow tie risk assessment model emerged from oil & gas safety practice in the 1990s and is now mandated or recommended by regulators worldwide. A well-built bowtie diagram makes a complex risk picture legible to non-specialists in a single page — exactly what boards, regulators and frontline crews need. RiskoPilot's investigation engine generates a fully populated bowtie analysis from your incident narrative in minutes, then keeps it linked to your Tripod Beta tree for end-to-end traceability.

BY RiskoPilot Editorial Team · REVIEWED 2026-06-20

How it works

1. STEP 01

   Define the hazard

   Identify the hazardous activity or substance whose loss of control you want to model in the bow tie diagram.

2. STEP 02

   Place the Top Event

   Specify the moment of loss of control in operational terms (e.g. 'unintended hydrocarbon release') — this anchors the centre of the bow tie.

3. STEP 03

   List threats

   Brainstorm every credible cause that could trigger the Top Event. Each threat becomes its own line on the left side of the bowtie diagram.

4. STEP 04

   List consequences

   Identify each credible outcome if the Top Event occurs (people, environment, asset, reputation) — these populate the right side of the bow tie.

5. STEP 05

   Map barriers

   On each threat line add preventive barriers; on each consequence line add mitigating and recovery barriers. Note degradation factors that weaken each barrier — this is the core of bow tie risk assessment.

6. STEP 06

   Assign owners and verify

   Assign each barrier to a responsible role and review barrier health periodically as part of your management-of-change cycle.