Training Package

06/06

THE WORK PERMIT SYSTEM

(Reference document: AIGA 011/04 «Work Permit Systems»)

Asia Industrial Gases Association

298 Tiong Bahru Road, #20-01 Central Plaza, Singapore 168730
Internet: http//www.asiaiga.org
 Acknowledgement

This document is adopted from the European Industrial Gases Association

document TP 10/04 – The Work Permit System, and acknowledgement and
thanks are hereby given to EIGA for permission granted for the use of their
document

Asia Industrial Gases Association

298 Tiong Bahru Road, #20-01 Central Plaza, Singapore 168730
Internet: http//www.asiaiga.org
 Disclaimer

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Asia Industrial Gases Association

298 Tiong Bahru Road, #20-01 Central Plaza, Singapore 168730
Internet: http//www.asiaiga.org
 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 conditions,
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 sheet ? YES NO HOW MANY ………..
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,
. Potential oxygen deficiency or enrichment containing or supposed to contain hazardous materials or conditions
. Potential flammable / explosive atmosphere . Manual or powered excavations
. Potential high temperature / pressure . Use of mobile cranes

The Work
. Potential exposure to hazardous chemicals (toxic, reactive, . Insulation 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 equipment and containers
. Elevated work . Temporary or permanent changes, alterations, modifications of

Permit
. Introduction of ignition sources where not permanently equipment or processes
allowed (fire permit) . Exposure to traffic (road, mail)
. Electrical troubleshooting or repair on live circuits . Exposure to moving / rotating machinery

Others (state) ……………………..……...…………………………………………………………………………

System: 3. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

. Draining
. Depressurising
YES NO
. Remove hazardous materials
. Fresh air ventilation
YES NO
. Standby man
. Elevated work
YES NO

. Physical Isolation . Atmosphere analysis : . Contractors trained

. Electrical Isolation . Oxygen . Eliminate ignition sources
. Safety tags and locks . Flammable . Fire hose
. Flushing with water/solvent . Toxic . Fire screen
. Steaming out . Other . Wet surrounding area

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

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

6. CLOSING
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!