Work Permit Procedure
Objective
This procedure shall ensure that work identified as
potentially hazardous is controlled by a
documented system, that personnel performing
such work are instructed in writing and that
personnel affected by work are safeguarded.
Work Permit Procedure
Background Information
A Permit to Work system aims to ensure proper
planning and that consideration is given to the
risks of a particular job. The Permit to Work is a
document which authorizes certain people to carry
out specific work for a specific period of time at a
specified place and which sets out the main
precautions needed to complete the job with the
minimum amount of risk.
Work Permit Procedure
Background Information
The system is also a means of communication
between key staff i.e. those who perform the
work, those affected by the work and those
coordinating the work.
Note: the issue of PTW does not by
itself make a job safe. Timely care and
attention is still a requirement.
Work Permit Procedure
Responsibility
• The Area Manager is responsible to implement
the requirements of this procedure in the
Divisional Management System and to include
any requirements stipulated by the Continental
Shelf Authority of the operating area.
• It is the responsibility of the O.I.M. to implement
the requirements stipulated this procedure on the
operating unit and from time to time audits the
effectiveness.
Work Permit Procedure
Responsibility
• Persons performing work under a Work
Permit are responsible to carry out the work
in accordance with the instructions. In the
case of deviations report to the person
authorized to issue Work Permits.
• Persons involved with planning and persons
who control the work of others are
responsible to raise a Work Permit and
instruct staff involved.
Work Permit Procedure
Definitions & Abbreviations
Following definitions and abbreviations are used in
this procedure:
• O.I.M.
The person on an installation who holds the
highest authority. Alternative name – Person
in Charge.
• Person authorized to issue the Permit to Work:
O.I.M. or his designated substitute is authorized to
issue and sign off Permit to Work forms.
• The job titles authorized to issue a Permit to Work must be
identified on the control board.
Work Permit Procedure
Definitions & Abbreviations
• Person authorized to carry out isolations
A person who is competent to carry out
isolation and who is familiar with the
system on which the isolation is carried out.
A list must be posted on the Control Board
showing the job position of each person
authorized to carry out electrical isolations
and mechanical isolations respectively.
Work Permit Procedure
Definitions & Abbreviations
• Person authorized to conduct gas checks
A person who has been trained and instructed
in the proper use of the gas test equipment
and the acceptance criteria for performing
various categories of work.
A list must be posted on the Control Board
showing the job title of each person
authorized to conduct gas tests.
Work Permit Procedure
Definitions & Abbreviations
• Responsible Person
A person who is authorized to raise (request) a
Permit to Work. A list must be posted on the
Control Board showing the job title of each
person who is authorized as responsible
person.
The list must show for each person for which
category he can raise a Permit to Work.
Work Permit Procedure
Definitions & Abbreviations
• Responsible Person
…On offshore drilling units this list normally
comprises:
• the Rig Engineer,
• the Barge Engineer,
• the Senior Tool-pusher,
• the Tour-pusher.
Work Permit Procedure
Definitions & Abbreviations
• Person performing the work
A person who is competent to carry out the
work specified on the Permit to Work.
• Control Board
An arrangement where Permit to Work forms
are displayed in such a way that various
categories of work ongoing can be
positively identified.
Work Permit Procedure
Definitions & Abbreviations
• Control Board
…The arrangement must be established in an area
(e.g. Control Room) where it is constantly
monitored by competent personnel and from
where action can be initiated if the situation
requires so.
The arrangement must include separate display of
ongoing work (i.e. within current 24-hour period)
and systems and equipment which is in-operable
for more than 24 hours or safety critical systems
subject to operational restrictions.
Work Permit Procedure
Definitions & Abbreviations
• Permit to Work File
A file/record in which Permit to Work forms
are kept.
The file must be kept in numerical order.
Work Permit Procedure
Definitions & Abbreviations
• Electrical Isolations
Electrical isolations must be carried out on
two levels:
1. Isolation of the designated equipment at the
main switch board. This isolation must
include physical segregation of the switch
from the line. Alternatively by placing a
lock on the circuit breaker. A tag must be
placed on the switch panel.
Work Permit Procedure
Definitions & Abbreviations
• Electrical Isolation
…If more than one isolation is implemented on the same
circuit, each individual isolation tag/lock must be
identifiable.
2. Isolation at equipment end by preventing the on/off switch
from being operated. The isolation must be clearly tagged.
If more than one isolation is implemented on the same
equipment each individual isolation must be identifiable.
For equipment with remote controls a tag must be placed at
each operating station.
Work Permit Procedure
Definitions & Abbreviations
Mechanical Isolation
• On pressurized systems “bleed off” must be
performed prior to the isolation.
• Mechanical isolation on pipelines must be
performed by chaining/locking and tagging each
individual connecting line.
• Installation of blind flanges must be considered.
On high pressure lines the isolation must include 2
barriers on lines to the high pressure system.
Work Permit Procedure
Definitions & Abbreviations
• Bleed off
The process of reducing the pressure to the
ambient atmospheric level.
• SJA-Safe Job Analysis
A SJA shall be carried out for all activities
requiring a PTW.
PTW PROCEDURE
The following activities must always be
covered by a PTW & SJA as stipulated in
Procedure 12.47:
• Hot Work/Open Flame - Work carried out
away from workshops(?) where hot work may
be authorized on a permanent basis. Heat
radiation and a requirement for a fire watch
must always be considered for this category of
hot work.
PTW PROCEDURE
• Hot Work, Spark Potential - Hot work
carried out away from workshops, where
hot work may be authorized on a permanent
basis. This hot work category includes all
work that generates or has the potential to
generate fire or explosion ignition source.
• Confined Space Entry – Entry into
Confined compartments such as tanks,
cofferdams etc.
PTW PROCEDURE
• Work Over the Side – routine work in the
moon pool is included in this category.
• Removal of guards, rails, fixed gratings –
work involving removal of guards,
handrails, banisters, securing fittings,
grating or deck plating which is normally
permanently fixed. Rigging of staging is
included in this category.
PTW PROCEDURE
• Work Aloft – work carried out more than 2
meters above deck in an area that is not
designed as a work area. Thus, normal
derrick-man’s work is not included.
• Electrical Work – work on live electrical
systems. Work which affects the ex-proof
status of any equipment or area. Work
requiring shutdown of safety critical
systems or work implementing operational
restrictions on such systems.
PTW PROCEDURE
• Work with chemicals – this category includes
the use or handling of any hazardous substance
where the Safety Data Sheet is unavailable or
work with products nominated by the O.I.M. to
be covered by this procedure.
• Mechanical work – this category includes any
work on mechanical equipment with remote or
automatic starting devices and work nominated
by the O.I.M to be covered by this procedure.
PTW PROCEDURE
Heavy Crane Lifts – this category includes
heavy loads required to pass over sensitive
equipment (e.g. well testing equip.) or areas
identified as safety critical.
• Such areas may be identified in the Safety
Case or risk assessment documents.
• Unit specific restrictions have to be
implemented by the O.I.M.
PTW PROCEDURE
Crane operations during abnormal wind
speed/sea state – this category includes crane
operations that are carried out outside the
standard criteria applicable to the operating
area.
Personnel transfer – transfer by basket of
personnel to/from the offshore unit, to/from
between any surface vessel.
The use of crane work basket is included in this
procedure.
PTW PROCEDURE
• High Pressure Testing – on-deck testing of
the tools, lines, well test equipment etc.
• Work with explosives & radio actives generally personnel with specialist knowledge
must perform all work with the captioned
material. This category covers the use,
handling, transfer and storage of such material.
The requirement for a Permit to Work must be
pointed out to the supervisor of the relevant
service company at his arrival on board.
PTW PROCEDURE
Work on mooring gear – this category
includes all work that affects the operability
or functional capacity of the captioned
equipment.
Diving/ROV/Sub-sea operations – this
category includes all work of this nature.
Other – other unit specific requirements
nominated by the O.I.M.
Permit to Work - General
Note: a Permit to Work is only valid on the date it is issued,
alternatively the number of hours specified (maximum 12
hrs) and it can not be transferred to another person.
If a job has to be handed to a new person, a new permit must
be issued and the old one signed off.
Any safety or operational critical equipment or technical
systems which are not operationally affected by
operational restrictions must be identified on the Control
Board in the “24 hrs” section.
A tag must be placed at each operating panel and control
station for the equipment or system affected. The tag must
specify the operational restrictions and it must be dated and
signed by the person authorized to issue a Permit to Work.
PTW PROCEDURE
Raising a Permit to Work
The relevant Responsible Person, in cooperation
with person designated to perform the work,
has to fill in boxes 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 on the form.
Boxes 3, 9, 10 are completed in cooperation with
the person authorized to issue the PTW. Box 3
must be filled in with a consecutive number in
each year (e.g. 45/95)
PTW PROCEDURE
Raising a Permit to Work
The person designated to carry out the work must
sign box 11 in order to acknowledge that all
instructions are understood. If the work is
subject to an Isolation, the person designated to
carry out the work will go to the person
authorized to implement the isolation
procedure and obtain his signature in box 12
when the isolation is in force.
PTW PROCEDURE
Raising a Permit to Work
… The person designated to carry out the work
will take the PTW to the person authorized to
issue the permit.
The person authorized to issue the permit will
check that all conditions for commencing the
job are implemented and consequently fill in
box 13 and sign in box 14.
PTW PROCEDURE
Raising a Permit to Work
The person authorized to issue the permit retains the
original (white) and places it on the active section of the
Control Board.
The person designated to carry out the work will take the
copy of the permit and keep it posted at the place of
work.
The person authorized to conduct the gas checks will
complete the relevant boxes in 16. Gas tests may have
to be repeated at intervals. If the gas test readings are
inside the criteria the work can begin.
PTW PROCEDURE
Raising a Permit to Work
… If any of the stipulated gas tests are outside the
criteria, remedial action must be implemented
and the person monitoring the Control Board
must be notified.
If conditions change during the work the person
monitoring the Control Board must be notified
immediately.
PTW PROCEDURE
Closing Permit to Work
When the work is completed, alternatively PTW expires,
the person designated to perform the work will fill in
box 15, 17, 18, 19 and contact the person responsible
who will inspect the area and verify the status by filling
in boxes 20, 21, 22.
If the work is completed the isolation can now be lifted.
This is verified by the person authorized to lift the
isolation, filling in boxes 23, 24, 25.
The form is now taken to the person authorized to sign off
the PTW. He will sign box 26.
PTW PROCEDURE
Closing Permit to Work
… The copy of the corresponding permit must
now be removed from the Control Board and
stabled together with the copy. Both copies
must be filed in the PTW file.
Any equipment and systems not fully operational
must be identified on the 24 hours section of the
Control Board.
Jobs Requiring PTW
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Hot Work
Work in Confined Space
Work over the side
Removal of guards, rails, fixed gratings
Work aloft (2 mtr)
Electrical Work. (live or Ex)
Work with Chemicals (no data sheets)
Mechanical Work (remote or automatic start)
Heavy crane lifts (when lift must pass sensitive areas)
Crane Operations during abnormal wind/sea states
Personnel transfer
High pressure testing (on-deck testing of tools, lines etc.)
Work with explosives & radio actives
Diving
Other
PTW PROCEDURE
Monitoring of PTW
Routine monitoring of the “daily” use of the system shall
be performed by the O.I.M. and the Safety Officer to
ensure its effectiveness “on the job”. This monitoring
shall be logged via a log of permits checked.
Documentation and Records
- Permit to Work forms
- Permit to Work file
Filing
File retention time for Permit to Work forms is 1 year.