THE WORK PERMIT SYSTEM

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The Work Permit System: What is it?
A work permit system consists primarily of a standard
procedure designed to ensure that potentially hazardous routine
and non routine work on industrial installations can be carried
out safely. The procedure should define the need for the
following essential steps:
 Details of the necessary preparatory work
 Clear definition of responsibilities
 Appropriate training of the work force
 Provision of adequate safety equipment
 A formal work permit with or without attached
specific checklists.
This work permit:
 specifies the work to be accomplished and authorizes it
to be started under the strict observance of consigned
work and safety procedures
 After information and agreement of all other
concerned parties (process, safety, customers,
suppliers,…)
The Work Permit System :
When?

For all non-routine works,

For hazardous routine works not covered

by procedures,

When work is performed:

 by your employees
 and/or third parties
The Work Permit System (1/2):
For what kind of work?
A work permit is required in case of:
 Potential oxygen deficiency or enrichment
 Potential flammable/explosive atmosphere
 Potential high temperature/pressure
 Potential hazardous chemicals, e.g.: toxic substances
 Confined space entry, e.g.: tanks, cold box, pit,
normally closed vessels
 Bypassing or removing/altering safety devices or
equipment
 Elevated works
 Introduction of ignited sources where not permanently
allowed (fire
permit), e.g.: open flame, welding, grinding,
 Electrical troubleshooting or repair on live circuits
 Maintenance or repairs in areas or to equipment or lines,
containing or supposed to contain hazardous materials or
The Work Permit System (2/2):
For what kind of work?
Or also in case of:
 Manual or powered excavations
 Use of mobile cranes
 Insulation or catalysts handling
 Use of adapters
 Product conversion of stationary or mobile or
portable vessels and containers
 Temporary or permanent changes, alterations,
modification of equipment or processes,
 Exposure to traffic,
 Exposure to moving/rotating machinery
 In proximity of vents, liquid of gas
 On process lines with gas release
 Etc..
 The Work Permit System : Why?
1. Because:
 In charge of the work, you don’t know everything
 about the site and the process around
 about the work
 Safety measures have to be prepared
 You cannot start the work without the OK of the
production personnel or the customer or
the supplier
 The production needs your OK in order to re-
start
the plant after your work is achieved

2. To obtain a safe as well as a quick and cost

effective
work
The Work Permit System : With who?
In order to define the scope of work for everyone
concerned/involved by and during the work, the
Work Permit must be prepared with:

 The person responsible for the work

 The person(s) in charge of the production, the
customer or supplier, who will release the process
before the work starts
 The other work bodies
 The person in charge of HSE measures
The Work Permit System : How?
Before issuing the Work Permit, you must:
 Describe the work to be done
 List all the specifications and drawings
which are required
 Issue detailed planning with all involved entities
 Determine the logging and tagging procedures

Fill-in together the work permit and sign,

The start of the work must be authorized by
production
and/or user,
The re-start of the process must take place after the work
is finished.
The Work Permit System :
Review of flowsheets, drawings and
specifications
Purpose of the review is to ensure all key persons involved in job
planning have a thorough understanding of the job.
It should include:  Process fluids and materials involved,
 Degree of isolation,
 Effect of other processes,
 Power supply isolation,
 Specialist advice,
 Location of underground services and pipes,
 Location of elevated power cables,
 Location of elevated pipelines and walkways,
 Purging and lock-out requirements,
 Pressure, Temperature,
 Valve identification,
 Equipment specification,
 Operating and maintenance instructions,
 Materials of construction and compatibilities
The Work Permit System :
Work site inspection
Anyone involved and signing the Safe Work Permit
must visit the work place in order:

• To inspect the work area

 Neighbouring activities, site rules, overhead,
underground, access, natural hazards (flood,
rain, snow…), etc,..

• To identify potential hazards

 Flammable, oxygen, toxic substances, confined
spaces, electricity, pressure, temperature,
moving objects, traffic, falls/trips/slips, etc,..
The Work Permit System :
Development of work procedures
Preparation of a detailed work procedure is essential to
ensure the work will proceed safely in a planned and logical
manner:
Following requirements to be considered:
 Reference drawings, Timing of various operations,
Details of any special equipment, Needs to inform local
authorities, safety precautions and equipment,
Emergency procedures, etc,..
The procedure should include:
 Logging and tagging procedures: Electricity, process
fluids Instrumentation, utilities (water, air, oil,…)
 Depressurising, Draining, Venting, Purging, Flushing,
Isolating, Atmosphere checking, Disassembly of
equipment, Method of repair, Reassembly and
installation, Quality control, Pressure and leak testing,
Reinstatement of equipment, Hand-back procedure, etc..
 Any attached document or log YES NO HOW MANY
sheet ………..
List of?attached documents ……………….……………………….…………..……………...
………………………………………………..

1. WORK ACTIVITY

Plant / Unit :………………...……………….…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………...

Description of work to be done………………....……..….………….…………….
…
……………………………………………………………………….......… Permit valid from :…………………………………………………
Hours/date To :…………………………………………………………Hours/date
Have all relevant departments/personnel been consulted ? YES NOT APPLICABLE

2. POTENTIAL HAZARDS & HAZARDOUS JOBS

YES NO

YES NO
. Jobs performed by contractors or temporary workers . Maintenance or repairs in areas, or to equipment or lines,

The Work
. Potential oxygen deficiency or enrichment containing or supposed to contain hazardous materials or
condi
. Potential flammable / explosive atmosphere . Manual or powered excavations
. Potential high temperature / pressure . Use of mobile cranes
. Potential exposure to hazardous chemicals (toxic, reactive . Insulation

Permit
or catalyst handling acid, caustic….) . Use of adapters
. Confined space entry . Product conversion of
stationary or mobile or portable vessels
. Bypassing or removing/altering safety devices and equipm and containers
. Elevated work . Temporary or permanent

System:
changes, alterations, modifications of
. Introduction of ignition sources where not permanently
3. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
equipment or processes allowed (fire permit) . Exposure to
YES NO YES NO YES NO
traffic (road, mail)
.. Electrical troubleshooting or repair on live circuits . Remove hazardous
. Exposure to moving / . Standby
Draining
.rotating machinery .materials
Fresh air man. Elevated
Depressurisin
. Physical ventilation
. Atmosphere work
. Contractors
g
Isolation analysis : .
. Electrical
Others (state) ……………………..……... .trained
Eliminate ignition
Isolation
. Safety tags and
………………………………………………………………………… .Oxygen .sources
Fire
locks
. Flushing with .Flammable
Toxic .hose
Fire
water/solvent screen

Example
. Steaming . . Wet surrounding
.out
Purging with inert . Area marked Other .area
Audible/visible
gas/air
. Temperature normalisation off
. Warning notices warnings
. Clear area of
combustible
. Fire
Others (state) ……………. extinguishers
Type :
………………………………………..

of form
……………………………………………………………………………………
4. PERSONNEL PROTECTION
YES NO YES NO YES NO
. . .
.Head .Ears .Body
Face
. Eyes Hands
. Feet Breathing
. Others

State Special Requirements : …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. WORK AUTHORISATION

Issuer : This certifies that I have consulted all relevant departments/personnel, discussed the scope of work, inspected
the preparatory work and the work area covered by this Work Permit. I therefore confirm that the work, as
detailed in Section 1, can be carried out.

Name : …………..………………………….………………….……………………… Signature :

Person responsible for work : The successive steps of the work, the potential hazards and the safety precautions have been
explained and understood.

Name / Company : …………………………………………………………………… Signature :

The Work Permit System :
Work Planning
 WORK SCOPE
 REVIEW DRAWINGS / FLOWSHEETS
 INSPECT WORKSITE
 IDENTIFY SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
 COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS
 DEVELOP WORK PROCEDURE
 ASSIGN RESPONSIBILITIES
 COMMUNICATION PROCEDURES
 WORK EXECUTION
The Work Permit System :
Work Execution

 PREPARATORY WORK
 ISSUE WORK PERMITS
 SUPERVISION MONITORING
 WORK COMPLETED
 TESTING
 RE-INSTATE EQUIPMENT
 RETURN WORK PERMIT
 HANDBACK PLANT / EQUIPMENT
The Work Permit System :
Permit issuer’s responsibilities
 INSPECTING WORK AREA
 IDENTIFYING HAZARDS
 DEFINING SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
 OBSERVING PRINCIPLES OF SAFE WORKING
PRACTICES
 CREATING WORK PERMIT CONDITIONS
 REVIEWING WORK WITH PERMIT ACCEPTOR
 ISSUING WORK PERMIT
 IMPLEMENTING HANDBACK PROCEDURE
The Work Permit System :
Permit acceptor’s responsibilities

 UNDERSTANDING OF WORK PROCEDURES

 UNDERSTANDING POTENTIAL HAZARDS AND
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
 ACCEPTING THE SAFE WORK PERMIT
 OBSERVING PERMIT CONDITIONS
 COMPLYING WITH HANDBACK PROCEDURE
The Work Permit System : In brief
Many accidents have occurred due to lack of Work
Permit or non observance of its consigned safety
measures.

The Safe Work Permit is useful for:

 The safety of persons in charge of the work
 The safety of persons in charge of the process
 The risk management of the process and equipment

It is not one more administrative paper!

Fill in and follow correctly the work permit,
because….

It could save your life!