Bow Tie Methodology

This course explains the principles and concepts of the well-regarded Bow Tie risk management approach to managing critical risks in a business.

Book NowDownload FlyerContact us
Duration
1 day
Topic
Risk & Incident Management
Next session
5 Aug 2026 · 5 dates
Bow-Tie-Methodology.webp

At a glance

Course details

Duration: 1 day

Overview

Bow Tie Methodology course overview

When the consequences to your people include fatality or life-changing injuries, organisations cannot operate without a clear understanding of their critical risks and controls. In practice, assessing these risks can be complex, involving multiple controls and a range of contributing factors that are not always clearly visible or well understood. This one-day Bow Tie Methodology course is designed for managers, engineers, and health and safety professionals responsible for identifying, managing, and monitoring critical risks.
 
We don’t do death by PowerPoint or rely on theory. Instead, our experienced trainers guide learners through building and applying Bow Tie diagrams in a structured and practical way. Participants develop the skills to identify critical controls, understand escalation factors, and monitor and review control effectiveness, with a focus on how the methodology supports ongoing risk management and post-incident learning.
 
IMPAC’s focus is on building practical capability so leaders can take a structured and consistent approach to managing critical risks. Participants step back into the workplace equipped to understand how critical risks develop, assess the effectiveness of controls, and apply Bow Tie methodology to support safer outcomes and stronger risk management practices.

Curriculum

What you'll cover

This course is designed for:
  • Supervisors and operational leaders responsible for understanding and managing critical risks in day-to-day operations.
  • Engineers and technical specialists who need a clearer way to map causes, consequences, barriers, and control failure points.
  • Project managers and contract managers overseeing work where high-consequence risks require stronger controls and assurance.
  • Safety professionals supporting Bow Tie development, critical control reviews, and post-incident learning.
  • People with a basic grounding in risk management who want a more structured way to analyse and communicate critical risks.

Our approach

+IMPAC's Bow Tie Methodology training approach

This course is delivered as a working session rather than a theory-heavy overview. Learners build and read Bow Tie diagrams step by step, unpacking how threats, top events, consequences, barriers, and escalation factors connect in real operational settings.

Facilitators use guided discussion, worked examples, and group-based Bow Tie development activities to test whether controls are genuinely critical, how assurance fits in, and where Bow Tie analysis supports learning after incidents or near misses. Participants build Bow Ties using both provided examples and critical risks drawn from their own workplaces, helping connect the method directly to real operational challenges.

Format

Course format and duration

This course is delivered over one day.
 
Training is available face-to-face nationwide for in-house delivery, with public courses offered in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.

Upcoming sessions

Public courses – Book now

Want to discuss running Bow Tie Methodology at your organisation?

Enquire now

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What's next

Next steps

To get started, you can book now.
 
To explore more courses in this area, see the Risk & Incident Management category.
 

More courses

You might also like

Introduction to ISO 31000 Risk Management - Guidelines
Risk & Incident Management

Introduction to ISO 31000 Risk Management - Guidelines

The purpose of risk management is the creation and protection of value. In this course learners will gain understanding of the ISO 31000:2018 Standard, which provides guidelines on the principles of risk management, the framework, and the processes to follow.

From $795.00 excl. GST
Introduction to Bow Tie (Pre-recorded Webinar)
Risk & Incident Management

Introduction to Bow Tie (Pre-recorded Webinar)

This pre-recorded webinar introduces the principles and concepts of one of the most well-regarded approaches to risk management, Bow Tie.

From $495.00 excl. GST
ICAM Investigation Techniques
Risk & Incident Management

ICAM Investigation Techniques

This course helps learners understand and apply the ICAM (Incident Cause Analysis Method) root cause investigation methodology.

Contact us for upcoming dates