Fault tree and event tree analysis

Summary

Understand the principles of fault and event tree analysis and learn how to perform your own assessments.

This course looks at how to develop fault tree and event tree models and populate them with suitable reliability data, human errors and dependent failures. Quantification of the models and how they can be used to evaluate potential improvements are also considered. 

A fault tree is graphical representation of failures leading to a top event; failures and events are combined using logic gates, representing system functionality. An event tree is a graphical representation of fault progression, showing a time sequence of how an event develops.

Event trees can be combined with fault trees and can reflect multiple possible outcomes (consequences), and they can be used predictively before incidents occur, or as part of incident investigation and analysis. By then end of this course you will be able to determine how an initiating event can develop into an undesired consequence. 

Both types of trees can be used both qualitatively and quantitatively.  

The approach to this course is defined by the fact that we learn by ‘doing’; there are numerous activities and worked examples which complement and embed the learning. 

Who should attend?

Managers, engineers, operators, HSE advisors and risk management practitioners. 

How will I benefit?

After the course you will be able to:

• Consider when it is appropriate to apply fault tree analysis and event tree analysis 
• Design and analyse fault tree models incorporating appropriate reliability data for components, human error and dependent failures 
• Generate and analyse event tree models 

Key topics

• Introduction to Fault Tree Analysis 
• Fault Tree construction 
• Minimal cut sets 
• Fault Tree quantification 
• Basic event reliability data 
• Dependent failures and human errors 
• Introduction to Event Tree Analysis 
• Event Tree construction and quantification 
• Fault and Event Tree software 
• Further study and additional exercises