Permit to Work
What is “Permit To Work” ?
• PTW is a Management System employed on work sites &
installations
• It is a formal methodology used on a continuous 24/7 basis
• It is a live communication system with written & recorded data
• It is used to control potentially hazardous work activities
• It serves to ensure the safety of personnel and protect assets
• It reduces inherent risk in the performance of work activities
• It follows rigorous pre-defined procedures for implementation
It does not by itself make any job safe !
What is a “Permit To Work” ?
• A PTW refers to the “permit” or “work permit”
– It is the formal document used to communicate work intent &
instructions
– A written permit is an essential part of the system to ensure
safety at work
• The PTW is issued Before conducting any hazardous
work and it
– Defines the scope of the work to be done.
– Identifies hazards and assesses risk.
– Establishes control measures to prevent and mitigate risks.
– Links the work to other associated work permits.
– Is authorized by responsible person(s).
– Communicates above to all involved in the work.
– Ensures adequate control over a return to normal operation.
A “Permit To Work” System
• Defines authority & is a means of communication
between:
– Management of a Site/Installation
– Supervisors of the work on the location
– Personnel who work on the location
– Those who are performing the non routine “permitted” work
• Should ensure that:
– Proper planning has taken place and the nature of the work is well
understood
– Properly trained people have thought about the risks before starting
the work
– That the date, time, place and work to be done is understood &
communicated
– That proper precautions have been taken before commencing with
work
– That authorised competent persons are going to perform the work
– That peripheral interfaces have been considered e.g. production
operations
A “Permit To Work”
• Ensures that there is a person in charge who is aware of, controls and coordinates all
authorized hazardous work.
• Provides a record & display of all hazardous work for communication and reference.
• Ensures that persons performing the work clearly understand limitations on the
work, and time specified to perform the work.
• Specifies the precautions to be taken before starting, during and after completion
of work.
• Provides procedures or arrangements for other work activities that may interact or
affect the authorized work.
• Provides a formal “shift” hand-over procedure for use when work requires a
longer period than a normal shift, or when permit signatories change.
• Provides a procedure for suspending the work when necessary.
• Provides a common and worksite display of open or suspended work permits.
• Provides a formal hand-back procedure to ensure that any part of the site or
facilities affected by the work are in a safe condition and ready for return to service.
• Provides a responsibility transfer procedure for completion and close out of work.
When is a “Permit To Work” Needed
• When the intended work may adversely effect
personnel, the environment or the site/installation
• Non –routine activities (which may require Job
Safety Analysis)
• Complex multi group activities
• Maintenance work
• Each Client & location will have its own programme
for use of PTW
• PTW is not applied to regular “lower risk”
activities – to do so would weaken the overall
effectiveness of the system
Work Permit Types
• Cold/Safe Work
– All work requiring a permit other than Hot Work and HV
Electrical
• Hot Work
– All work in hazardous or controlled areas involving an open
flame or an ignition source
• Electrical High Voltage Switching
– All electrical work where voltages exceed 1000V DC and
1500V AC
Cold/Safe Work Permits - Examples
Issued for work
• Affecting integrity or availability of safety or
emergency systems
• On communication systems or equipment
• At heights without guard rails
• Over water e.g. painting over side of a vessel
• Requiring entry into a confined space
• Using high pressure water jetting
• Requiring diving operations
• Involving pressure testing of equipment
Hot Work Permits - Examples
Issued for work requiring
• Use of electrical/electronic equipment not certified
for hazardous areas
• Flame cutting or welding
• Opening of live electrical junction boxes
• Use of electrical or gas soldering irons
• Use of battery operated camera
• Grinding
Electrical Work - Examples
Issued for work
• Requiring isolation of high voltage electrical
systems, greater than 1000 VDC or 1500 VAC.
• On high voltage electrical equipment.
• To test high voltage equipment and systems.
• Requiring the use of high voltage portable
equipment.
Supplementary Certificates
• Supplementary PTW Certificates are required for:
– Mechanical, electrical (low voltage) isolations/LOTO (Log
Out Tag Out)
– Process Confined space entry checklist
– Vehicle Entry into a Facility Process Area
– Excavation/Ground Penetration
• Certificates are issued separately from a permit and
referenced on the permit.
• Certificates provide specifics in addition to that
included on a work permit and require
issue/approval signatures.
PTW Implementation Responsibility
• Person(s) in charge of a location or facility and/or
operation is responsible for effective
implementation of the permitting procedure.
• All persons at a site are responsible for compliance
with permitting requirements and conducting work
in a safe manner.
• The permitting system, its implementation and
operation shall be subject to regular Audit and the
persons responsible for PTW shall review, evaluate
and implement recommendations for improvement.
Ultimately YOU have the right and an obligation to stop work if
it seems unsafe!!
Thank You..
Xie xie..
