Safety briefing - permits to work

This briefing provides essential information to workers on the use of permits to work.

What’s covered?

The aim of this Safety Briefing - Permits to Work is to ensure that workers understand how and when permits to work might apply and what they need to do if they work somewhere where a permit is required.

Reasons for concern

Permits to work are put in place when there is a very high risk of injury. So it’s critical that workers know how they work. Not following the process may put themselves and others at risk of serious injury or death.

Control measures

The briefing sets out how to obtain a permit to work, how to check it contains what is needed for the job, what to do if the job changes from the plan and what to do on completion.

Key points

The key points at the end of the briefing remind staff that:

• “If a client or manager tells you that you need a permit to work for particular types of work, then you must make sure you have one before you start.
• There are many types of work for which a permit could be required. Common activities are hot work, work at height, work with or near asbestos and live electrical work.
• You must also make sure that it’s valid throughout the job, i.e. the work takes place in the specified area, within the timeframe stipulated and that you only work in the manner agreed.
• If you need to vary what has been agreed, you must obtain permission from the permit issuer.
• You must make sure that the form is signed off and handed back on completion, with the work area left safe and tidy.”