Risk registers and BowTie diagrams are complementary risk management tools that serve different but closely related purposes. A risk register provides a structured record of identified risks, typically documenting the hazard, potential consequences, likelihood, severity, existing controls and planned actions. It offers an organisation wide view of the risk profile, making it an effective tool for governance, compliance, reporting and prioritisation. However, as risk registers are generally presented in tabular format, they often provide only a summary of each risk and do not clearly illustrate how a risk develops or how individual controls work together.
Many organisations use the level of risk recorded in the Risk Register to determine which hazards require a more detailed BowTie analysis. Typically, BowTie diagrams are developed for the highest-risk or highest-consequence activities, where a greater understanding of threats, controls and potential outcomes is required.
A BowTie diagram builds on the information contained within a risk register by visually mapping the pathway from a hazard to an unwanted event (the ‘top event’) and then to the potential consequences. Preventive barriers are shown on the left-hand side of the diagram to demonstrate how threats are managed before the top event occurs, whilst recovery or mitigation barriers are shown on the right-hand side to reduce the impact should the event occur. This visual approach makes it much easier to understand the relationship between threats, controls and consequences, helping organisations identify weaknesses in their control measures and communicate risk effectively to both operational teams and senior management.
When used together, risk registers and BowTie diagrams provide a comprehensive approach to risk management. BowTie diagrams are widely regarded as a more effective tool for managing significant risks because they do more than simply record a risk; they clearly demonstrate how that risk is prevented, controlled and mitigated throughout its lifecycle. Their visual format improves communication, promotes workforce engagement, supports ownership of critical controls and highlights where barrier failures could occur.
How BowTie Pro helps
BowTie diagrams are developed for the most significant or high-consequence risks requiring more detailed analysis. BowTie Pro includes a configurable Risk Matrix that enables likelihood, severity and risk rating colours to be defined to suit an organisation’s risk criteria.
Examples of different Risk Matrix configurations:
The Risk Matrix can be applied consistently to hazards, threats, controls and consequences, providing a standardised approach to risk assessment across an organisation. Once a risk assessment has been completed in BowTie Pro, the system can automatically generate a Risk Register containing the organisation’s highest risks directly from the identified consequences.
By deriving the Risk Register directly from the BowTie analysis, it remains aligned with the underlying assessment and is far less likely to become a static document or fall out of date, as can often happen with traditional risk registers.
The use of BowTie Pro demonstrates that high-risk activities have been systematically assessed and that critical controls are being actively managed. Information such as threats, barriers, barrier owners, degradation factors and assurance activities can be referenced directly within the Risk Register, providing clear evidence that critical risks are understood, monitored and effectively controlled.
Unlike traditional risk registers, BowTie diagrams encourage the continuous review of control effectiveness, improving transparency, supporting better decision-making and promoting a more proactive approach to preventing incidents and reducing their consequences.