A permit to work (PTW) is a formal written system used to control high-risk or non-routine jobs. It is not just paperwork: it is a conversation between the people who control the area and the people who do the work, confirming that hazards are identified and controls are in place before work begins.
Jobs that usually need a permit
- Hot work — welding, cutting, grinding, brazing
- Confined space entry
- Work at height
- Electrical isolation and live work
- Excavation and ground disturbance
- Lifting operations and breaking containment
Roles in a PTW system
- Permit issuer (authoriser): checks the site, confirms isolations and signs.
- Permit receiver (performing authority): plans the work, briefs the team and follows the conditions.
- Gas tester / isolation authority: carries out tests and isolation as needed.
- Area owner and site manager: oversee interfaces between simultaneous operations.
The permit life cycle
- Request with a description of the job and the risk assessment.
- Site inspection and joint check.
- Isolation and testing — LOTO, gas tests, barriers.
- Issue with specific conditions, PPE and time limit.
- Work with the permit displayed at the work site.
- Suspension if conditions change or at shift end.
- Close-out: area left clean and safe, permit cancelled and filed.
Hot work specifics
Remove or cover combustibles, use fire blankets, have extinguishers ready and keep a fire watch during work and for a period afterwards, because fires can smoulder.
Excavation specifics
Locate underground services before digging, use shoring or sloping, keep spoil back from the edge, provide safe access and egress and check for gas and water.
Why PTW systems fail
- Permits signed without visiting the site
- Copy-and-paste hazards that do not match the job
- Poor handover between shifts
- Conflicting simultaneous operations
- Rushed close-out
Key takeaway: A permit is only as good as the site check behind it. Visit, verify, and communicate.
Frequently asked questions
Can one permit cover several jobs?
Not unless the hazards and controls are the same. Separate hazards need separate permits or clear conditions.
Training?
See our permit to work training.