Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) and Event Tree Analysis (ETA) are deductive analytical

techniques that are used to analyze faults and accidents in order to determine their
causes. Both techniques use tree structures to represent the sequence of events that
lead to the incident or accident.

Here are two examples of how FTA and ETA could be applied to different case
studies:

Case Study 1: Power Outage at a Chemical Plant

In this case, a power outage occurred at a chemical plant, causing a loss of cooling to
the plant's reactors. This led to a chemical reaction that resulted in an explosion and
release of hazardous chemicals into the environment.

To analyze the incident using FTA, the team would start by identifying the top event
(the explosion and release of hazardous chemicals) and then work backwards to
identify the sequence of events that led to this top event. For example, the team
might identify the loss of cooling as the initiating event, followed by the power
outage and then the failure of the backup power supply.

To analyze the incident using ETA, the team would start by identifying the top event
(the explosion and release of hazardous chemicals) and then work forward to identify
the sequence of events that followed from this top event. For example, the team
might identify the release of hazardous chemicals as the top event, followed by the
evacuation of the plant and the deployment of emergency response teams.

Case Study 2: Train Derailment

In this case, a train derailed due to a failure of the track structure. This led to the loss
of several train cars and injuries to passengers and crew.

To analyze the incident using FTA, the team would start by identifying the top event
(the train derailment) and then work backwards to identify the sequence of events
that led to this top event. For example, the team might identify the failure of the
track structure as the initiating event, followed by the excessive speed of the train
and then the failure of the train's braking system.

To analyze the incident using ETA, the team would start by identifying the top event
(the train derailment) and then work forward to identify the sequence of events that
followed from this top event. For example, the team might identify the train
derailment as the top event, followed by the deployment of emergency response
teams and the evacuation of passengers.
Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) is a deductive analytic technique used to identify and
analyze the potential causes of a specific fault or accident. The analysis is typically
represented in the form of a tree diagram, with the fault or accident at the top (the
"top event"), and the potential causes branching out from it.

For example, consider a case study in which a chemical plant experiences an

explosion. Using FTA, the team might identify the following potential causes of the
explosion:

 A failure of the process control system, which resulted in an overpressure

condition in the reactor.
 A failure of the pressure relief valve, which allowed the overpressure condition
to continue.
 A failure of the safety shutdown system, which failed to automatically shut
down the reactor in response to the overpressure condition.

Each of these potential causes would be represented as a branch on the fault tree
diagram, with the top event (the explosion) at the top of the tree.

Event Tree Analysis (ETA) is similar to FTA, but focuses on the potential consequences
of a fault or accident, rather than its causes. The analysis is also represented in the
form of a tree diagram, with the fault or accident at the top (the "initiating event"),
and the potential consequences branching out from it.

For example, consider a case study in which a nuclear power plant experiences a loss
of coolant accident. Using ETA, the team might identify the following potential
consequences of the accident:

 A release of radioactive material from the reactor core.

 Damage to the containment structure, allowing the release of radioactive
material.
 A failure of the emergency cooling system, resulting in a meltdown of the
reactor core.

Each of these potential consequences would be represented as a branch on the

event tree diagram, with the initiating event (the loss of coolant accident) at the top
of the tree.