Permits to work play an important part of safe systems of work for many maintenance activities. Laid out below is an in-depth look at everything you need to know about Permits to Work and how they contribute to making high-risk tasks safer. Keeping in track with all the requirements can be very time consuming, so using a permit to work software for the management of all their permits has proven values across numerous organizations. Here's why...
Permit to work (PTW) is a documented management system to ensure work is done safely and efficiently. Mostly used in hazardous industries but also used for known hazardous tasks across all industries.
Permit to work involves procedures that authorise certain people to carry out specific work within a specified time frame. It sets out the precautions required to complete the work safely, based on a hse risk assessment and is therefore a core element of safe systems of work.
The ‘permit-to-work form’, is a written and signed statement resulting from the work safety procedure, ensuring both the establishment of safe conditions for the work to commence and the maintenance of safe conditions for the duration of the work, including the provision of emergency arrangements. An agreed safe system of work for the job task, which prevents instructions from being missed and/or misinterpretation of instructions.
They can also serve as a checklist and a training document to ensure that all hazards, protective measures, work instructions and general requirements have been reviewed and understood by the assigned workers.
A permit to work is used to identify the work to be completed in the following areas:
They are the result of collaboration with all who will be involved in the work to ensure that authorised and competent people have thought about foreseeable risks and that such risks are avoided by using suitable precautions. The issue of a permit does not, by itself, make a job safe. Other precautions may need to be taken – e.g. electrical isolation, access barriers. Those who are trained and responsible must follow the instructions correctly.
The purpose is to make high risk job tasks in the workplace safer to conduct. For example, in construction work such as hot works, excavation, confined space work etc. require work permits. To prevent incidents, it is vital that there be effective management of hazard to include safe systems of work and permit-to-work systems are a vital part of effective management of the hazards and are an integral part of a safe system of work. The aim of the permit to work system is to ensure that the task is carried out in accordance with the carefully considered conditions specified in a permit drawn up and independently verified by competent individuals.
A permit to work system is often used for hazardous job types such as confined space work, hot work etc. These jobs require employees to enter and work in confined spaces, to repair, maintain, or inspect electrical installations or to use large or complex equipment.
The duration of work permit is not specified and is unique to the job task or the project in hand. The duration will be agreed by those involved in the preparation of the permit and the permit method statement. Most often hot work permits are limited to 30 days, but this is only a guideline.
Permits to work are required whenever there is a significant risk to safety and health during an operation, and where precise preparation of the site or plant and clear communications of procedures is needed to control the risk.
Permits should be issued, checked, and signed off by someone who is competent to do so, and who is not involved in undertaking the work.
What is a Permit to Work procedure method?
A permit to work procedure is a means of achieving effective control of a system of work through formal written documentation known as a permit to work form. The essential components of a permit-to-work system include:
The safety procedure must:
1. Clearly identify the kinds of jobs requiring work permits
2. Explain how the permit system works, for example:
3. Define responsibilities, for example:
A work permit should be used when there is danger from any of the following hazards:
The different types of permit include:
Hot Work Permits - issued for work using or generating heat that is sufficient to ignite gases, vapours, dusts, etc. Some examples are welding, flame cutting and metal drilling.
Safety Permits - issued when work involves steam, water, air, or electricity. Safety permits are also needed when repair or maintenance work requires the locking out of energy sources.
Entry Permits - used when workers are required to enter and work in confined spaces such as silos (manufacturing of cereals), tanks or pits. This type of permit is often combined with the other permits listed here, depending upon the nature of the work to be carried out in the confined space.
Unique Permits - issued when work involves hazardous conditions such as working near radioactive materials, working at heights, or carrying out other specialized work.
General Permits - issued for highly hazardous jobs of a more general nature that are not covered by any of the permits described above.
In order for the permit to work to achieve its aims and fulfil its purpose, it needs to cover all the legal requirements and essential points, control the risk sufficiently and clearly set out the procedures in place.
EcoOnline provides a software for Permit to Work to effectively streamline your process. Easily control high risk work tasks, monitor all contractors on site, store all records in one place and easily identify the status of your work permits.
Learn more about digitizing your HQEQ-processes with EcoOnline EHS by clicking below or simply Request a Demo