Standard Bow-tie workshop worksheet format

Bow-Tie Analysis Worksheet: Oil & Gas Operations

Date: [Date of Workshop] Facility/Unit: [e.g., LNG Train 2, Crude Distillation Unit] Team Members: [List of Participants and Roles] Scenario Scribe: [Name]

1. Hazard Identification

Hazard: A source of potential harm or a situation with the potential for causing loss.

Description: [e.g., High-pressure flammable gas, Stored hydrocarbon liquid, Sour gas (H₂S)]

2. Top Event

Top Event: The point where control over the hazard is lost. This is the central knot of the bow-tie.

Description: [e.g., Loss of containment from a pipeline, Uncontrolled release of hydrocarbons, Vessel overpressure]

3. Bow-Tie Diagram Components

Left Side: Prevention

This side details the Threats that could cause the Top Event and the Preventive Barriers in place to stop them.

Threat (Cause)	Preventive Barrier (Control)	Barrier Type (e.g., Eng, Admin, PPE)	Barrier Effectiveness (High/Med/Low) & Notes	Owner (Dept/Role)	Action Item? (Y/N)
e.g., External corrosion	e.g., Pipeline coating & cathodic protection	Eng	High: Inspected annually per schedule.	Integrity Dept.	N
e.g., Operator error (wrong valve opened)	e.g., Clear operating procedures & training	Admin	Med: Procedure exists, refresher training due.	Operations	Y
`[Enter Threat]`	`[Enter Barrier]`	`[Select Type]`	`[Assess & Justify]`	`[Enter Owner]`	`[Y/N]`
`[Enter Threat]`	`[Enter Barrier]`	`[Select Type]`	`[Assess & Justify]`	`[Enter Owner]`	`[Y/N]`

Right Side: Mitigation & Recovery

This side details the potential Consequences of the Top Event and the Mitigative/Recovery Barriers in place to reduce their impact.

Consequence (Outcome)	Mitigative/Recovery Barrier	Barrier Type (e.g., Eng, Admin, PPE)	Barrier Effectiveness (High/Med/Low) & Notes	Owner (Dept/Role)	Action Item? (Y/N)
e.g., Gas cloud ignition (fire/explosion)	e.g., Gas detectors & automated ESD	Eng	High: Tested quarterly, full proof test last year.	Instrument Dept.	N
e.g., Injury to personnel	e.g., Emergency response plan & site drills	Admin	Med: Plan is clear, last drill had communication gaps.	HSE/ER Team	Y
`[Enter Consequence]`	`[Enter Barrier]`	`[Select Type]`	`[Assess & Justify]`	`[Enter Owner]`	`[Y/N]`
`[Enter Consequence]`	`[Enter Barrier]`	`[Select Type]`	`[Assess & Justify]`	`[Enter Owner]`	`[Y/N]`

4. Escalation Factors & Controls

This section addresses conditions that could cause a barrier to fail (Escalation Factors) and the controls for those conditions.

Barrier Being Challenged	Escalation Factor (Why the barrier might fail)	Escalation Factor Control (How we manage it)	Owner (Dept/Role)	Action Item? (Y/N)
e.g., Gas detectors & automated ESD	e.g., Inadequate maintenance/calibration	e.g., Preventive Maintenance (PM) program in CMMS	Maintenance	N
e.g., Clear operating procedures & training	e.g., Outdated procedures not reflecting plant changes	e.g., Management of Change (MOC) process	Technical/Eng.	N
`[Link to Barrier]`	`[Enter Factor]`	`[Enter Control]`	`[Enter Owner]`	`[Y/N]`
`[Link to Barrier]`	`[Enter Factor]`	`[Enter Control]`	`[Enter Owner]`	`[Y/N]`

5. Workshop Summary & Action Plan

Key Findings:

[Summarize the most significant risks or weakest barriers identified.]
[Note any systemic issues that appeared multiple times.]

This log is designed to clearly track tasks identified during the Bow-tie workshop, ensuring accountability and progress.

Action Items Log

Action ID	Action Description	Priority (H/M/L)	Responsible Person / Dept.	Due Date	Status (Open, In Progress, Completed, Overdue)	Notes / Verification Method
BT-01	Revise Operating Procedure SO-P-1134 for compressor startup to include new interlock checks.	H	Operations Lead	30-Sep-2025	Open	Procedure updated in document control system and communicated to all shifts.
BT-02	Schedule and conduct refresher training for all control room operators on the updated procedure SO-P-1134.	H	Training Coordinator	31-Oct-2025	Open	Training records signed and filed for all relevant personnel.
BT-03	Inspect and verify the tagging for all critical isolation valves in Unit 15 as per P&ID-15-002 Rev C.	M	Maintenance Supervisor	15-Nov-2025	Open	Completed inspection sheet submitted to Plant Integrity Engineer.
BT-04	Review the last Emergency Response Drill report (Drill-2025-01) and develop a plan to address communication gaps.	H	HSE Manager	15-Oct-2025	In Progress	Action plan to be presented at next month’s Safety Committee meeting.
BT-05	Evaluate the alarm flood scenario for the main control panel and propose an alarm rationalization plan.	M	Instrument & Control Engineer	31-Dec-2025	Open	Report with recommendations to be issued for management review.

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