Conferences & Events

Building Better Bowties: Common Pitfalls in Risk Analysis

Belinda Beale, Senior Risk Engineer at R4Risk, shared valuable insights at the 2024 International Mine Health and Safety Conference on improving risk analysis through the use of bowtie diagrams. Her presentation, titled “Building Better Bowties – Common Pitfalls in Risk Analysis,” covered several key areas to enhance the clarity and effectiveness of risk communication.

Belinda’s presentation began with an introduction to bowtie analysis, explaining its purpose and the benefits it offers. Bowtie analysis helps identify controls for monitoring and maintenance, as well as the highest risks on-site for targeted risk reduction strategies. Several common mistakes in Bowtie Analysis were highlighted, such as overly complicated risk analysis, poorly scoped and defined terms, poor descriptions and justifications, and identifying too many dependent controls. Belinda emphasized the importance of avoiding these pitfalls to ensure effective risk management.

In order to improve bowtie analysis, Belinda suggested implementing a systematic process with clear procedures, definitions, and references. She also stressed the importance of thorough data collection, defining terms, dividing the site into logical areas, and conducting comprehensive hazard identification and risk assessment.

In conclusion, Belinda emphasized the importance of planning and structure in bowtie analysis. She encouraged using bowties as a common language to understand and communicate risk, ultimately reducing the risk of major incidents through education and continuous improvement.

If you wish to receive a copy of Belinda’s presentation slides, please get in touch with us today.