Guides

How bowtie diagrams work, and how to use one on the activities that could seriously injure or kill someone. Written for people who run the work, not for specialists.

• What is a bowtie diagram?

  A bowtie diagram is one picture of one dangerous activity — threats on the left, controls in the middle, outcomes on the right. Plain English guide.

• Bowtie vs risk assessment — how they work together

  A risk assessment says the risk is controlled. A bowtie shows what is doing the controlling. Use both — here is how they fit.

• Excavation bowtie example — map the activity step by step

  Worked excavation bowtie: threats, preventive controls, collapse as the top event, mitigative controls and outcomes. Plain walkthrough you can copy.

• SIF and critical controls on a bowtie

  Use a bowtie to map Serious Injury and Fatality (SIF) exposure and the critical controls you are actually relying on — plain, practical method.

• Free bowtie tools compared — what to check before you pick

  Honest look at free and paid bowtie tools. BowTieXP, browser tools, open options, and where Bowtie One’s free / no-account builder fits — no invented feature claims.