Bowties can be linked to the following safety studies:
- HAZOP (Hazard and operability study) – Bowties are not a hazard identification method. Instead, they further develop specific major accident events identified by hazard identification methods such as a HAZOP study
- SIL (Safety Integrity Level) determinations – Barriers identified in a SIL study for a process facility would normally appear in a bow tie analysis as main pathway barrier
Integrating bowties into Safety Case and ALARP (As Low As Reasonably Practicable) demonstrations – bowties provide a qualitative tool to assist in ALARP justifications
Operationalising bowtie diagrams (e.g., permitted operations based on barrier status)
Used for barrier-based incident investigations
Integration with risk register and other risk tools for communicating risk
Bowtie diagrams can be used to support real time dashboards (i.e barrier status)
Used as part of verification programs and barrier health reviews