Bow-tie diagrams are widely used for exploring and communicating the risk management measures for all types of facility, from offshore drilling rigs to the complexities of a modern refinery. However, their quality and detail are extremely variable and there is often no clarity regarding the ultimate use to which a bow-tie will be put. Is it, for example, being used to present an overview of risk management measures for a formal safety case, or to gather detailed information on the failure mechanisms, accountabilities, supporting documentation etc for individual safeguarding measures? Either way, the objectives of a bow-tie must be clear on the basis that this is a practical tool designed to support the development and communication of practical, realistic process safety measures.
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