9 January 2010

Permits to work (PtW) ? a paper trail or fully implemented safe system of work?

Written permits to work, a key part of safe systems of work, are normally reserved for operations where the potential risk is high and the precautions needed are complex or extensive. PtW systems usually use pre-printed forms, listing specific checks/inspections and actions required at particular stages of the work e.g. isolation of electrical supply, fitting of locking devices. Most are designed to cover work lasting a shift or work up to 24 hours. The system will usually require written acknowledgement by the person undertaking the work, or in charge of the operations, and a signed confirmation that the workplace/equipment has been restored to a safe condition when the work is completed and the cancellation of the permit.

A trained and authorised person should control the issue of the permits. He/she must be competent to understand the scope of the work, the associated dangers, the necessary controls required at each stage and be able to review the workplace prior to work commencing to confirm that the necessary precautions are adequate. No-one should be able to authorise a permit for themselves to do the work.

It is vital that PtW systems are complied with in full as failure to implement any part would be viewed by the HSE and courts, should a serious incident occur, as very serious because the organisation had identified a high risk operation but had then allowed the work to proceed without implementing the necessary controls. Diligence is the order of the day.

 quarter of all fatalities at work involve failures in systems of work. A safe system of work is a formal procedure, which results in a systematic examination of the task in order to identify all hazards and assess the risks and so they can be eliminated or minimised.