Introduction to Fire Safety Management

6.5.5 Permits to work
In circumstances where it is necessary to adopt a highly 
formalised safe system of work it is often necessary to 
introduce a ‘permit to work’ system. A permit to work 
system documents details relating to the work to be 
done, the hazards involved, the precautions necessary 
and the persons responsible. Typical examples of work 
that may require a permit to work system include:
➤
Working with pressurised systems
➤
Working adjacent to overhead crane tracks
➤
Working with asbestos-based materials
➤
Work involving high voltage electrical equipment
➤
Work involving underground services
➤
Any work in confi ned spaces
➤
Hot 
work.
The permit to work system is more fully described 
in Chapter 8 specifi cally as it relates to the control of 
hot work.
6.5.6 Safe system of work – communication
Having documented the safe system of work and prior 
to its implementation a critical factor that will affect 
the success of this procedural control measure will be 
ensuring that the information contained in the safe sys-
tem of work is communicated to all those involved with 
the operation, including the operators, supervisors and 
managers.
How the information is communicated will vary from 
a briefi ng sheet to a full training programme depend-
ent upon the complexity, familiarity, competence, etc. of 
those needing to receive the information.
It may also be necessary to provide information to 
other persons who may directly or indirectly be affected 
by the operation, such as the facilities management 
team (if isolations are required as part of a permit to work 
system).
The content of a typical training programme for 
those involved with the operation of a safe system of 
work is detailed below:
➤
What a safe system of work is
➤
Why the safe system of work is required
➤
What the work involves
➤
Hazards associated with the work and the fi ndings 
of the risk assessment
➤
The control measures that will be adopted including 
(if appropriate):
➤
Permit to work
➤
Guarding 
systems
➤
Isolations
➤
Personal protective equipment
➤
Monitoring (air sampling, health, etc.)
➤
Emergency 
procedures
➤
How the work will be supervised.