The bow tie diagram places a central hazard event as the knot, with causal pathways on the left and consequence pathways on the right. Preventive barriers block causes from triggering the event, while mitigative barriers reduce consequences if the event occurs. Oil and gas companies use bow tie analysis for major accident hazards like well blowouts, mapping everything from equipment failure causes to environmental impact consequences. This method clarifies how controls work together, identifies gaps in defense layers, and communicates complex risk scenarios to diverse stakeholders including regulators, executives, and operational teams.