INCIDENT ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS USING THE BARRIER FAILURE ANALYSIS (BFA) TECHNIQUE
21 - 22 OCTOBER 2026
COURSE INTRODUCTION
This practical programme develops a disciplined approach to incident investigation using Barrier Failure Analysis. Participants learn to gather evidence, build incident timelines, identify failed or missing barriers, link findings to Bowtie analysis and develop clear, evidence-based recommendations that help prevent recurrence. Practical examples and guided discussion help participants connect the subject to decisions and challenges in their own workplace.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
By the end of this programme, participants should be able to:
- Collect and organise reliable evidence for incident analysis.
- Build an accurate event timeline that distinguishes facts from assumptions.
- Identify preventive, detection, control and mitigation barriers.
- Evaluate failed, missing and ineffective barriers using evidence.
- Develop clear BFA diagrams and defensible corrective recommendations.
- Connect BFA findings with Bowtie analysis and risk-control improvement.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
This programme is suitable for incident-investigation leaders and team members, EHS personnel, engineers, reliability professionals, operations teams and others responsible for analysing incidents and preventing recurrence.
COURSE CONTENT
- Incident fact finding and evidence collection
- Building accurate incident timelines
- Event chaining and barrier identification
- Assessing failed, missing and ineffective barriers
- Developing BFA diagrams and evidence-based recommendations
- Linking BFA findings with Bowtie analysis
- Practical incident-analysis exercises and peer review
