The Bowtie method in safety management system: A literature review

Abstract

The Bowtie method is a qualitative incorporating management system technique. The theory behind the bow tie approach can be found in the “Swiss cheese model” of Reason. The Royal Dutch/Shell Group was the first major company to integrate fully the total bow-tie methodology into its business practices and then the bowtie has become popular as a structured method to assess risk where a quantitative approach is not possible or desirable. Its essence is to establish how many safety barriers there are available to prevent, control or mitigate the identified scenarios, and the quality of those barriers.