In high-risk industries like mining, oil & gas, chemicals, and utilities, the ability to see and understand risk is just as important as managing it. That’s where the Bowtie Risk Analysis Method comes in—a powerful visual framework that turns complex risk pathways into clear, actionable insights.
What Is Bowtie Analysis?
The Bowtie method gets its name from the shape of the diagram it uses: a bow tie. In the center is the Top Event—the critical moment when control of a hazard is lost (like a gas leak, equipment failure, or tailings dam breach). On the left, you map out the Threats that could trigger that top event. On the right, you identify the Consequences that might result if the event occurs.
The real strength of the bowtie model is what sits between these elements: the Preventive Controls that stop threats from leading to failure, and the Mitigative Controls that reduce the impact if something does go wrong.
It’s a simple yet powerful way to answer questions like:
- What could go wrong?
- What are we doing to prevent it?
- What happens if we fail?
- Are our controls actually working?
Barriers, Not Just Boxes
In many industries, safety and risk management are still driven by checklists and spreadsheets. The Bowtie approach brings those controls to life, allowing teams to evaluate:
- Which controls are critical?
- Which ones are vulnerable or missing?
- How do we assure control effectiveness?
It shifts the mindset from “what we have on paper” to “what protects us in reality.”
How IsoMetrix Brings Bowtie to Life
At IsoMetrix, we embed Bowtie Risk Analysis directly into our Health, Safety, Environment, and Community (HSEC) software platform. Our clients use it to:
- Build visual, auditable bowtie models for major risk scenarios
- Link controls to inspections, incidents, and non-conformances
- Set up automated assurance workflows to verify critical control effectiveness
- Tie it all into broader compliance, sustainability, and operational risk strategies
This turns the bowtie from a one-time exercise into a living, breathing system—with real-time data, ownership, and accountability built in.
Where It’s Making an Impact
Companies across sectors are applying Bowtie with IsoMetrix to strengthen their approach to:
- Tailings dam risk
- Critical equipment failure
- Process safety hazards
- Environmental incidents
- Contractor management risks
Whether you’re preparing for an ISO 45001 audit, aligning with ICMM principles, or building an internal assurance program, Bowtie analysis offers a structured path forward.
Want to Learn More?
Let’s talk about how your team can integrate Bowtie risk thinking into your operational strategy—using tools that make it measurable and meaningful.