Jan 2022_CLD 20002_Chap5_Safe Work Permit

JAN 2022

CLD 20002
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH

Chapter 5: Safe Work
Permit

Topic Outcomes

It is expected that students will be able to:

1. Define the term safe work permit
2. Understand the types of safe work permit used.
3. Able to elaborate on steps by steps of issuing safe work permit
4. Identify the advantages of using safe work permit at work place.

Safe Work Permit

• A safe work permit is a formal written record that authorizes specific
work, at a specific work location, for a specific time period.

• It is an authority for persons, to carry out work including maintenance:
1. on plant,
2. a building or
3. an item of equipment.

• Permits are used for controlling and coordinating work to establish and
maintain safe working conditions.

• They ensure that all foreseeable hazards have been considered and that
the appropriate precautions are defined and carried out in the correct
sequence.

• The permit is an agreement between the issuer and the receiver that
documents the conditions, preparations, precautions, and limitations
that need to be clearly understood before work begins.

Safe Work Permit

• Safe Work Permit provide us with;
1. a check list of hazards within the work area.
2. written instructions identifying things we must do to ensure our
safety on the job.
3. a guarantee that isolations and precautions have been carried out to
protect us will working on the job.

Safe Work Permit

Safe Work Permit

• Examples of jobs requiring permits
1. Hot Work (the use of open flame, oxyacetylene burning, tar kettles,
etc...., and the use of portable spark or heat producing equipment in
flammable storage or handling areas).
2. Confined Space Entry
3. Excavations
4. Blasting
5. Whenever required by existing company or contractor procedures or
required in the contractor’s Project Safety Plan.
6. Use of internal combustion engines, or vehicles with internal
combustion engines inside company buildings.
7. Use of company owned equipment, such as personnel lifts, fork
trucks, vehicles, etc., by employees of a contractor

Safe Work Permit

Safe Work Permit

Hot Work Permit
• Are used when;

1. heat or sparks are generated by work such as welding, burning,
cutting, riveting, grinding, drilling etc

2. where work involves the use of
i. pneumatic hammers and chippers,
ii. non-explosion proof electrical equipment (lights, tools, and
heaters),
iii. internal combustion engines etc.

• Three types of hazardous situations need to be considered when
performing hot work:
1. The presence of flammable materials in the equipment;
2. The presence of combustible materials that burn or give off
flammable vapors when heated; and
3. The presence of flammable gas in the atmosphere, or gas entering
from an adjacent area.

Safe Work Permit

• The Hot Work Permit is a form of Safe Work
Permit issued by the Fire Marshal or other person
responsible for fire safety.

• This permit is required for all situations which
may result in fires or explosions

Safe Work Permit

Cold Work Permit
• Generally every work which is not specifically covered by any other

work permit:
1. Opening vessels, pipes or enclose spaces
2. Mechanical maintenance work
3. Civil maintenance work
4. Erection removal of scaffolding
5. Insulation and painting

Safe Work Permit

Safe Work Permit

Confined Space Entry Permit
• Confined space entry permits are used when entering any confined

space such as a tank, vessel, tower, pit or sewer.
• The permit should be used in conjunction with a “Code of Practice”

which describes all important safety aspects of the operation.

The “Confined Space Entry Permit” is form of
safe work permit regulating entry into pits,
tanks, and vessels.

Confined Space Entry Permit

CAUTION Location and description of confined space: H2S:
Opening in Ground Reason for entry:
Permit issued to:
Keep Out ! Supervisor’s Name:
Attendant’s name:
Permit issuer’s name:
% oxygen % lower explosive limit: ppm CO:

Requirements

Emergency Rescuer yes no

Continuous Gas Monitor yes no

Barrier for ground openings yes no

Warning Signs yes no

Safety Harness with life line yes no

Tripod / Hoist / Pulley yes no

14

Safe Work Permit

Work Permit for Excavations
• Excavations can result in:

1. head Injuries from materials
2. falling from overhead surfaces,
3. rupture of high pressure hydraulic lines used on backhoes, shovels,

and drills.
4. excessive noise from concrete breaking and cutting equipment, and

collapse of excavation walls and piles due to poorly secured soil,
sudden weather changes, or other factors.

• Permits are written to ensure that necessary equipment is present and
in good working order.

• Poorly planned excavations can result in damage to underground
services, such as electrical lines, natural gas lines, water lines, sewers
and drains.

Safe Work Permit

• The consequence of damaged service lines is often complete
shutdown of operations resulting in major business losses

• Permits are written to prevent damage to underground equipment
and services

Safe Work Permit

Safe Work Permit

Work Permit for Blasting
• Blasting can cause damage to adjacent operations and personnel.
• Permits are issued to ensure procedures are followed that prevent injury

to neighboring facilities, equipment and employees.

Safe Work Permit

Safe Work Permit

Work Permit for Combustion Engines
• Internal combustion engines produce poisonous gases such as carbon

monoxide, and oxides of nitrogen.
• Permits ensure that procedures are followed that will prevent

equipment emissions from contaminating air inside buildings and
confined spaces.
• Unauthorized use of company equipment can result in lost production
and injury to untrained operators.
• Permits prevent company equipment from being taken by contractors
without the permission of area management, and require verification of
equipment operator training.

Safe Work Permit

• Work which ordinarily does not require safe work permits may be
included at the discretion of the Safety Representative, the Contractor,
or the Contract Administrator.

Safe Work Permit

Special Permits
• Some employers use special permits to cover specific hazards such as:

1. extremely hazardous conditions;
2. radioactive materials;
3. other dangerous chemicals;
4. power supplies.

• Each type of permit provides..
1. a checklist for the person preparing the equipment,
2. informs workers carrying out the work of the hazards present,
3. lists or describes the precautions to be taken, and
4. describes the personal protective equipment to be worn by workers.

Safe Work Permit

Special Permits
• Following are examples of situations which may require

discretionary safe work permits.
1. Movement of large pieces of equipment, especially while other

personnel are working nearby, can result in employee injury.

• Permits may be issued to ensure the use of procedures that will
prevent employee injury from falling material, or being struck by
rigging equipment.

Safe Work Permit

Special Permits

2. Abandoned tanks, pipe lines, drums, and vessels may contain hazardous
vapors and gases.
• Permits may be issued to prevent toxic or corrosive exposures to
workers when working on abandoned equipment, complementing
hot work and confined space permits.

3. Many construction processes create noise levels high enough to cause
hearing loss.
• Permit requirements may be issued to reduce noise to acceptable
limits, or to provide both construction and other employees with
required hearing protection.

Safe Work Permit

Special Permits

4. Boilers, high pressure vessels, tanks, and reactors can undergo sudden
failure resulting in disastrous consequences.
• Permits may be issued requiring precautions and equipment to
prevent system failures not covered by safe job procedures or project
safety plans.

5. Permits may be required where the consequence of noncompliance
with fall protection requirements is severe, or where dropped
materials may endanger other workers below.

Safe Work Permit

Safe Work Permit

• General Procedure on issuing Safety Work Permit

1. Safe work permits are usually made out in either duplicate or
triplicate. When a duplicate system is used, one copy of the permit is
retained by the issuer at the work site and the other is held by the
worker/department doing the work. The permit should always be
available at the work site. The permit is handed back to the issuer at
the end of the shift or when the work is completed.

2. In a triplicate permit system, the third copy is used by the safety
department to audit the work to see if the requirements of the
permit are being met

Safe Work Permit

1. Before issuing a permit, the Authorized Permit Issuer in the company
of the person requesting the permit must do a physical inspection of
the area where work will be conducted. THIS IS MANDATORY
• The Inspection will identify all potential hazards and their safety
controls
• The “what if“ question should be asked.

2. Authorized Permit Issuer must identify what permits are required:
• Confined Space
• Hot Work
• Cold Work
• Excavation
• Working at Heights

Safe Work Permit

3. Both the Authorized Permit Issuer and the Permit Holder must identify
what other services have to notify or have stand by:
• Safety Department
• Environmental Department
• Emergency Response Department
• Security Department

4. They must work through the permit ensuring that it is filled out
correctly
• Every box on the permit must have a Y or NA inserted in it.
• “Y” indicates that the precaution is in place.
• “NA” indicates that the hazard is not applicable and the precaution
is not required.
• All mandatory boxes (RED) must have a “Y” and the precaution must
be in place

Safe Work Permit

5. When both the Authorized Issuer & Permit Holder are satisfied that all
precautions are in place the permit can be signed. The permit must be
held on the job at all times.

Safe Work Permit

• What are our responsibilities when working under a site Work Permit ?
1 Ensure area has been isolated by an Authorized Isolator.
2 Ensure personal tagging and locking procedures are carried out.

Safe Work Permit

• What are our responsibilities when working under a site Work Permit ?
3 Ensure work is carried out in a safe manner

WORK SAFELY

Safe Work Permit

• What happens if the job is not going to be finished at the time which is
on the permit?
1. In the event of a time overrun, continuing work can be extended by
authorization of the existing permit by the Authorized Permit Issuer.
2. Delayed work will require the issuing of a new permit.

Safe Work Permit

• Advantages of Safe Work Permit
1. It reduces the chance of work being initiated by an unauthorized
person, as a permit can only be issued by a person authorized to do
so.
2. A permit to work provides a plan to carry out the work safely.
3. It forms a basic checklist that enables the tradesperson to
concentrate on the job and to avoid the need to make snap decisions
under pressure.
4. Clear lines of responsibility are identified.
5. The likelihood of confusion is reduced due to the need for the permit
to work to be fully discussed with and countersigned by the
tradesperson at the work site.
6. The permit to work system lets all affected people know that work is
to be carried out on an item of equipment or plant.

Safe Work Permit

• Advantages of Safe Work Permit
7. The chance of work beginning by contractors without proper
instruction is reduced.
8. The risk of someone trying to operate the equipment whilst it is
being worked on is greatly reduced.
9. The permit to work is a permanent record of precautions taken prior
to maintenance work being carried out.
10. A trades-person will have confidence that those hazards affecting his
or her personal safety have been considered and assessed before
work is started.