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Permit to Work Training

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What is a Permit to Work?

A permit to work system ensures that tasks which are particularly high risk are only undertaken with specific permission from an authorised manager, such as working in confined spaces or working with particularly dangerous chemicals and hazardous substances.

The contents of the actual permit to work document will vary depending on the nature of the work, but will contain things like what work is to be done, who exactly has permission to do the work, the potential hazards and risks, the steps that have already been taken to minimise risks and the time period for which the permit is valid for.

For a permit to work system to be effective, it must be strictly adhered to by those carrying out the work, as permission will only be given by a manager once sufficient safety checks have been conducted and appropriate precautions put in place in order to minimise risks as much as is reasonably practical.

The overall responsibility for the permit to work lies with the site manager. To ensure that those affected by the permit are adhering fully to its contents, it is important to implement appropriate monitoring procedures to check that it is being followed correctly.

Effective health and safety training goes hand-in-hand with the permit to work system, as those who are carrying out the dangerous work must be trained to a sufficient standard to be competent in performing such high-risk activities. This may include training in areas such as working at height, COSHH training, asbestos awareness and fire safety. As well as employees, the permit to work covers contractors in the same way, which means they too must receive training on the restrictions it imposes and the precautions that are required in order to carry out the work safely.

What Does the Permit to Work Course Cover?

The syllabus of the Permit to Work course covers relevant issues such as:

• The necessity for permits to work, including high risk activities such as working in confined spaces
• The typical contents of a permit to work
• The function and role of a permit to work within the overall risk control and risk management framework
• The procedure for issuing a permit to work
• The cessation and termination of a permit
• The responsibilities of the issuer and receiver of the permit
• Potential difficulties and solutions with the permit to work system

Course Tutors

Our health and safety consultants are qualified and experienced professionals with an appropriate background in managing high risk activities through permit to work systems.

All consultants hold professional membership of the chartered Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).

In-House Courses

The Permit to Work course content can be tailored to your specific requirements, taking into account the specific dangers and working practices of your particular company and industry. It can also be combined with one or more other courses to create a truly bespoke training programme for your employees.

For more information please call 0844 800 3295 or send us an online contact form with a description of your training requirements.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Scheduled Open Courses

Our Permit to Work open courses have the following included in the course cost:

• All course materials
• Certificate of attendance
• Refreshments throughout the course
• Free on-site car parking

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Related Article:

Confined Space Permit to Work

In a confined space, there are a number of additional dangers and issues to consider that would not necessarily be present when doing the work in an open space.

Firstly, the confined space can trap toxic gases and prevent an adequate supply of oxygen getting in. Often, this would not be much of an issue if the work was being done outdoors or in a large space as there would be plenty of oxygen and harmful gases would be able to disperse easily. Although some gases and fumes are dangerous in small concentrations, many will only pose a threat to health if inhaled in a large concentration which can be the case when they are trapped in a confined space.

Secondly, escape or rescue is much more difficult when working in a small area. If a fire broke out for example, normally the worker could quickly evacuate the building through an emergency exit. If the fire started outside, such as an accident welding with a blowtorch on a construction site, a person could easily step away from the fire. In a confined space however, it will take much longer to get out, increasing the risk of burns or smoke inhalation. Often a confined space may only have one way in and out, so if the fire blocks their route of escape, this could be a serious problem. Rescuers will also struggle to get to an injured person due to a lack of space or blocked entry. A person suffering a serious injury and requiring a stretcher and neck brace will be in trouble if a stretcher does not fit in the space.

There are also other dangers including the threat of being submerged in a liquid or small free-flowing solid like sugar or sand, along with panic and anxiety attacks from claustrophobia.

A confined space permit to work will help to identify the potential hazards to health and ensure that the necessary precautions have been taken and emergency procedures put in place ready in the event of an incident occurring. Like a general permit to work system, a confined space permit to work seeks to greatly minimise the risks associated with doing particularly hazardous tasks. A combination of a sufficient permit to work system with appropriate health and safety courses can enable workers to carry out tasks safely and efficiently.