Permit to Work
System
Awareness Plus
Presentation Covers the General Work Permit’s Use
With Other Permit Form
Rev. 1
OBJECTIVE
 To explain the work permit process and
the various forms that may be used,
and which type of form to use where.
 To describe the basic requirements of a
good permit system.
 To understand in which situations a
General Work permit is required.
 To provide details on where additional
information can be obtained.
Rev. 1
2
Work Permit
The work permit process is done at the end of the
assessment (planning) phase and is the
beginning of the control phase of the hazard
management process.
Rev. 1
3
Types of Work Being Permitted
 GENERAL (Cold) WORK : Covers all maintenance and
construction activities, or any other activities outside normal
operations that does not involve any form of hot work or
confined space entry.
 HOT WORK: Covers all work activities that involve a source
of ignition, or where sufficient heat may be generated to
ignite flammable or combustible materials. Used in
conjunction with a General Work Permit
 CONFINED SPACE ENTRY: Required for entry into any
area, storage vessel, with restricted entry and exit and
where there is a potential for a hazardous environment to
exist.
Rev. 1
4
Type of Work Versus Type of
Permit Form Required
 General (Cold) Work ----- General Work Permit or
an equivalent permit form
 Hot Work ----- Hot Work Form or an equivalent
permit form
 Confined Space Entry ---- Confined Space Entry
Form or an equivalent permit form
 Other Forms that may be required in conjunction
with the relevant work permit, but are themselves
not a work permit:
 Energized Electrical Work Form
 Excavation Form
 Equipment Isolation Checklist
 Job Safety Analysis (JSA) form
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5
Work Permit/Forms – Samples
General
Work
Permit

Hot Work
Form

Rev. 1
6
Work Permit/Forms –
Samples cont.
Confined Space
Entry Form

Excavation
Form

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7
Energized Electrical Work Form
The Energized Electrical
Work Form’s Section ”B”
can be used to help ensure
energized electrical
equipment is properly
prepared for work.
Section “A”
Section “B” of this form is
to be completed by a
qualified electrician who is
to perform the work.
Section “C” to be the
approval section to be
completed by the facility’s
management or their
delegated personnel.
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Equipment Isolation Checklist
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9
3 Phases of the Work Cycle
 Planning Phase -- Before any work can begin
● Plan the work
● Review the job site
● Complete Lock-out & Tag-out of equipment as per the completed
Equipment Isolation Checklist
● Review job tasks with facility management/operations
● Initiate the necessary work permit forms
● Explain the permit conditions and requirements to the Permit Holder
● Permit Holder to conduct a tool box talk with the workers and post at
the job site.
 Work in Progress Phase ---- During the Work
● Workers to comply with all permit and Job Safety Analysis conditions
and requirements
● Stop work if job’s scope or site conditions change
● Monitor personnel during work
 Completion of Work Phase ---- Permitted work completed
● Permit Issuer (or designated person) to inspect job site before closing
Rev. 1
10
Permitting Sequence
 All permitted work requires a General Work Permit to be
issued for the job task required to be issued.
 Normally the General Work Permit will be valid for the
entire shift of the Permit Issuer.
 If hot work is required to be performed an additional
Hot Work Form must be issued in addition to the General
Work Permit.
 Normally the Hot Work Form will be issued for the
period the hot work is required and not for the entire
shift.
 If confined space entry is required a Confined Space
Entry Form shall be issued in addition to the General Work
Permit.
 If work on energized electrical equipment is required an
Energized Electrical Work Form shall be issued in addition
to the General Work Permit.
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11
Permits Extension and Renewals
 Permit extension (Same Day)
All three of the Work Permitting forms can be
extended, but the total time of the work permit can
not exceed 16 hours.

An extension can only be granted by that shifts
Permit Issuer with all copies being recovered and
signed by the Permit Holder and Permit Issuer.
 Renewal
Work Permits for General Work and Hot Work
can both be renewed for up to six days
providing there is no change to the scope of
work, site conditions and all requirements of
the permit are verified as continuing to be met.
Note: A work permit for entry into a confined space
can not be renewed, a new permit must be
completed each day.
Rev. 1
12
Work Permitry Forms Minimum Requirements
 Permit forms shall at the minimum include the following
elements:
 Permit forms to have an original and either one or two
carbon copies.
 Permit form’s original to be in the language of the land,
and (if not English) one carbon copy to be in English and
the second in the language of the land.
 Permit forms to be printed with sequential serial
numbers
 Different types of permits/forms are to be identifiable by
their color. (e.g. Yellow – General Work Permit, pink – Hot
Work Form and Green – Confined Space Entry Form,
Energized Electrical Wok Form - Blue)
 Permit Issuer to go over all permit requirements and
conditions with the Permit Holder who will then sign the
form if in agreement.
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13
Work Permitry Forms - Minimum
Requirements (continued)
 Original (and if not in English an English copy) to
be issued to the Permit Holder.
 Permit Holder to conduct a Safety Briefing with workers.
 If Permit Holder will work alone he is required to
complete a “Safe Performance Self Assessment” before
starting work.
 Permit Original shall be displayed in a visible
location at job site.
 Originals( and copies) to be returned to the permit issuer
upon completion of the work or end of permit form’s allotted
time frame.
 Permit Issuer to confirm job completed and job site OK
before the permit form to be signed off as completed.
 Work permits to be retained for a defined period as define
by Company and or Regulatory requirements.
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14
Work Permits Forms -Contents
 Each work permitry form shall clearly cover the following:
 A specific description of the work to be done.
 The location of the work site and or area.
 The identification of the equipment to be worked on.
 The name of the person requesting the permit.
 The date and times for which the permit is valid.
 A list of the tools required to perform the work.
 Cross reference to other permit forms or other documents
 What product the vessel or equipment last contained.
 Details of any gas testing conducted (as appropriate).
 Details of isolation requirements (Lock-Out & Tag-Out).
 Details of any special safety precautions and site
conditions required.
 An Approval & Sign Off Section
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Work Permit – Requirements
Before Starting Work
After issuance of a Work Permit the following must occur
before work commences:
 All conditions, precautions, and restrictions on the permit
must have been satisfied.
 Any additional forms noted as being required must be
obtained (e.g. Confined Space Entry Form, Hot Work
Form excavation form, Energized Electrical Work Form)
 Permit Holder to hold a safety briefing at job site to
convey the permit or permits requirements and
conditions to the workers at the work site.
 Permit and copy of related forms (JSA, EIC) is to be
suitably displayed at the work site.
 Work must commence within 30 minutes of the permit
being issued or if not, revaluated by the Permit Issuer.
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General Work Permits –
Typical Applications
 Opening or breaking into equipment (using hand or
pneumatic tools only)
 Blinding (using hand or pneumatic tools only)
 Work on tanks, not involving any form of hot work
 Work on in-service equipment (e.g. tightening of packing on
valve stem using hand tools only)
 Use of pneumatic impact wrenches
 Pneumatic drills and saws
 Rotating or ratchet type pipe cutters
 Removal from service of a major fire protection system
 Excavation work (involving no source of ignition)
 Painting
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Hot Work
The following are recommended guidelines for hot work to be
performed in a classified (hazardous) zone of a facility.
 All open drains to be covered within 50 feet
 Gas Testing to done at all covered drains, and other
potential sources of flammable vapors
 Hot Work: 0% LEL Required
 Oxygen level between 19.5% and 23%1
 Toxic gases or vapors below TWA (unless respiratory
protection)
 (H2S < 5 PPM,
 CO < 25 PPM
 Benzene < 0.5 ppm
 Other: Refer to MSDS sheet
Rev. 1
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Hot Work Form – Some
Typical Applications
 Welding
 Acetylene or gas cutting or burning
 Soldering
 Concrete cutting
 Grinding
 Metal chipping
 Use of any open flames
 Use of non-explosion proof electrical equipment
 Opening of live explosion proof panels in a hazardous area
 Use of motorized machinery
 Personal electrical/electronic devices (e.g. cameras, etc.)
 Abrasion blasting
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Confined Space Entry
The following are recommended guidelines for entry and work
within confined spaces
 Entry: less than 10% LEL1 meter reading
 General or Cold Work only: less than 10% LEL1
 Hot Work: 0% LEL
 Oxygen level between 19.5% and 23%2
 Toxic gases or vapors below TWA (if without respiratory
protection)
 (H2S < 5 PPM,
 CO < 25 PPM
 Benzene < 0.5 ppm
 Other: Refer to MSDS sheet for previous content of
the equipment.
Rev. 1
20
Confine Space – Examples
 Storage Tanks (both above and below ground)
 Excavations if at a depth of 1.5 Meters (5 feet) or greater
 Duct work
 Storm Sewer Piping
 Vessels (e.g. Boilers, Knockout drums, etc)
 Enclosed skirts of vessels and equipment
with limited access
 Enclosed crawl spaces under buildings
 Oily water separators at a facility
 Open top floating roof tanks if the
tank’s floating roof is at or greater
than 1.5 M from the tank’s rim
Rev. 1
21
Work Permits – Additional
Information
For additional details on permit to work
requirements refer to:
Your operating procedures
Your Company’s HES Specialist
Your Regional Safety Specialist
 General Work Permit Decision
Workflow
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