The document outlines the work permit system as a standard procedure to ensure the safe execution of potentially hazardous work in industrial settings. It emphasizes the importance of preparatory work, clear responsibility assignments, appropriate training, and safety equipment, while detailing the types of work that require a permit and the necessary steps to obtain one. It also highlights the roles of involved personnel and the critical inspections and planning needed to prevent accidents during operations.

1. THE WORK PERMIT SYSTEM
(Reference document: AIGA 011/04 «Work Permit Systems»)
Training Package
06/06
Asia Industrial Gases Association
3 HarbourFront Place, #09-04 HarbourFront Tower 2, Singapore 099254
Internet: http//www.asiaiga.org

2. Acknowledgement
This document is adopted from the European Industrial Gases Association
document TP 10/04 – The Work Permit System, and acknowledgement and
thanks are hereby given to EIGA for permission granted for the use of their
document
Asia Industrial Gases Association

3. Disclaimer
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procedures and other technical information that were obtained from sources believed by AIGA to be reliable and/
or based on technical information and experience currently available from members of AIGA and others at the
date of the publication. As such, we do not make any representation or warranty nor accept any liability as to
the accuracy, completeness or correctness of the information contained in these publications.
While AIGA recommends that its members refer to or use its publications, such reference to or use thereof by its
members or third parties is purely voluntary and not binding.
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AIGA’s publications are subject to periodic review and users are cautioned to obtain the latest edition.
 Reproduced with permission from European Industrial Gases Association. All rights reserved.
Asia Industrial Gases Association

4. The Work Permit System: What is it?
 A work permit system consists primarily of a standard procedure
designed to ensure that potentially hazardous routine and non routine
work on industrial installations can be carried out safely. The
procedure should define the need for the following essential steps:
 Details of the necessary preparatory work
 Clear definition of responsibilities
 Appropriate training of the work force
 Provision of adequate safety equipment
 A formal work permit with or without attached specific checklists.
 This work permit:
 specifies the work to be accomplished and authorizes it to be started
under the strict observance of consigned work and safety procedures
 After information and agreement of all other concerned parties
(process, safety, customers, suppliers,…)

5. The Work Permit System :
When?
 For all non-routine works,
 For hazardous routine works not covered by procedures,
 When work is performed:
 by your employees
 and/or third parties

6. The Work Permit System (1/2):
For what kind of work?
 A work permit is required in case of:
 Potential oxygen deficiency or enrichment
 Potential flammable/explosive atmosphere
 Potential high temperature/pressure
 Potential hazardous chemicals, e.g.: toxic substances
 Confined space entry, e.g.: tanks, cold box, pit, normally closed
vessels
 Bypassing or removing/altering safety devices or equipment
 Elevated works
 Introduction of ignited sources where not permanently allowed (fire
permit), e.g.: open flame, welding, grinding,
 Electrical troubleshooting or repair on live circuits
 Maintenance or repairs in areas or to equipment or lines, containing
or supposed to contain hazardous materials or conditions,

7. The Work Permit System (2/2):
For what kind of work?
 Or also in case of:
 Manual or powered excavations
 Use of mobile cranes
 Insulation or catalysts handling
 Use of adapters
 Product conversion of stationary or mobile or portable
vessels and containers
 Temporary or permanent changes, alterations,
modification of equipment or processes,
 Exposure to traffic,
 Exposure to moving/rotating machinery
 In proximity of vents, liquid of gas
 On process lines with gas release
 Etc..

8. The Work Permit System : Why?
1. Because:
 In charge of the work, you don’t know everything
 about the site and the process around
 about the work
 Safety measures have to be prepared
 You cannot start the work without the OK of the
production personnel or the customer or the supplier
 The production needs your OK in order to re-start the
plant after your work is achieved
2. To obtain a safe as well as a quick and cost effective
work

9. The Work Permit System : With who?
In order to define the scope of work for everyone
concerned/involved by and during the work, the
Work Permit must be prepared with:
 The person responsible for the work
 The person(s) in charge of the production, the
customer or supplier, who will release the process
before the work starts
 The other work bodies
 The person in charge of HSE measures

10. The Work Permit System : How?
 Before issuing the Work Permit, you must:
 Describe the work to be done
 List all the specifications and drawings which are
required
 Issue detailed planning with all involved entities
 Determine the logging and tagging procedures
 Fill-in together the work permit and sign,
 The start of the work must be authorized by production
and/or user,
 The re-start of the process must take place after the work
is finished.

11. The Work Permit System :
Review of flowsheets, drawings and
specifications
Purpose of the review is to ensure all key persons involved in job
planning have a thorough understanding of the job.
It should include: Process fluids and materials involved,
Degree of isolation,
Effect of other processes,
Power supply isolation,
Specialist advice,
Location of underground services and pipes,
Location of elevated power cables,
Location of elevated pipelines and walkways,
Purging and lock-out requirements,
Pressure, Temperature,
Valve identification,
Equipment specification,
Operating and maintenance instructions,
Materials of construction and compatibilities

12. The Work Permit System :
Work site inspection
Anyone involved and signing the Safe Work Permit
must visit the work place in order:
• To inspect the work area
Neighbouring activities, site rules, overhead,
underground, access, natural hazards (flood, rain,
snow…), etc,..
• To identify potential hazards
Flammable, oxygen, toxic substances, confined
spaces, electricity, pressure, temperature, moving
objects, traffic, falls/trips/slips, etc,..

13. The Work Permit System :
Development of work procedures
Preparation of a detailed work procedure is essential to ensure
the work will proceed safely in a planned and logical manner:
 Following requirements to be considered:
 Reference drawings, Timing of various operations,
Details of any special equipment, Needs to inform local
authorities, safety precautions and equipment,
Emergency procedures, etc,..
 The procedure should include:
 Logging and tagging procedures: Electricity, process fluids
Instrumentation, utilities (water, air, oil,…)
 Depressurising, Draining, Venting, Purging, Flushing,
Isolating, Atmosphere checking, Disassembly of
equipment, Method of repair, Reassembly and
installation, Quality control, Pressure and leak testing,
Reinstatement of equipment, Hand-back procedure, etc..

14. The Work
Permit
System:
Example
of form
Any attached document or log sheet ? YES NO HOW MANY ………..
List of attached documents ……………….……………………….…………..……………...………………………………………………..
1. WORK ACTIVITY
Plant / Unit :………………...……………….…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………...…
Description of work to be done………………....……..….………….…………….……………………………………………………………………….......…
Permit valid from :…………………………………………………………
Hours/date To :…………………………………………………………………….
Hours/date
Have all relevant departments/personnel been consulted ? YES NOT APPLICABLE
2. POTENTIAL HAZARDS & HAZARDOUS JOBS
YES NO YES NO
. Jobs performed bycontractors or temporaryworkers . Maintenance or repairs in areas, or to equipment or lines,
. Potential oxygen deficiency or enrichment containing or supposed to contain hazardous materials or conditions
. Potential flammable / explosive atmosphere . Manual or powered excavations
. Potential high temperature / pressure . Use of mobile cranes
. Potential exposure to hazardous chemicals (toxic, reactive, . Insulation or catalyst handling
acid, caustic….) . Use of adapters
. Confined space entry . Product conversion of stationaryor mobile or portable vessels
. Bypassing or removing/altering safety devices and equipment and containers
. Elevated work . Temporary or permanent changes, alterations, modifications of
. Introduction of ignition sources where not permanently equipment or processes
allowed (fire permit) . Exposure to traffic (road, mail)
. Electrical troubleshooting or repair on live circuits . Exposure to moving / rotating machinery
Others (state) ……………………..……...…………………………………………………………………………
3. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
YES NO YES NO YES NO
. Draining . Remove hazardous materials . Standbyman
. Depressurising . Fresh air ventilation . Elevated work
. Physical Isolation . Atmosphere analysis : . Contractors trained
. Electrical Isolation . Oxygen . Eliminate ignition sources
. Safetytags and locks . Flammable . Fire hose
. Flushing with water/solvent . Toxic . Fire screen
. Steaming out . Other . Wet surrounding area
. Purging with inert gas/air . Area marked off . Audible/visible warnings
. Temperature normalisation . Warning notices . Clear area of combustibles
. Fire extinguishers
Others (state) …………….…………………………………………………………………………………… Type : ………………………………………..
4. PERSONNEL PROTECTION
YES NO YES NO YES NO
. Head . Ears . Body
. Face . Hands . Breathing
. Eyes . Feet . Others
State Special Requirements : …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
5. WORK AUTHORISATION
Issuer : This certifies that I have consulted all relevant departments/personnel, discussed the scope of work, inspected the preparatorywork
and the work area covered bythis Work Permit. I therefore confirm that the work, as detailed in Section 1, can be carried out.
Name : …………..………………………….………………….……………………… Signature :
Person responsible for work : The successive steps of the work, the potential hazards and the safety precautions have been explained and understood.
Name / Company : …………………………………………………………………… Signature :
6. CLOSING

15. The Work Permit System :
Work Planning
 WORK SCOPE
 REVIEW DRAWINGS / FLOWSHEETS
 INSPECT WORKSITE
 IDENTIFY SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
 COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS
 DEVELOP WORK PROCEDURE
 ASSIGN RESPONSIBILITIES
 COMMUNICATION PROCEDURES
 WORK EXECUTION

16. The Work Permit System :
Work Execution
 PREPARATORY WORK
 ISSUE WORK PERMITS
 SUPERVISION MONITORING
 WORK COMPLETED
 TESTING
 RE-INSTATE EQUIPMENT
 RETURN WORK PERMIT
 HANDBACK PLANT / EQUIPMENT

17. The Work Permit System :
Permit issuer’s responsibilities
 INSPECTING WORK AREA
 IDENTIFYING HAZARDS
 DEFINING SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
 OBSERVING PRINCIPLES OF SAFE WORKING
PRACTICES
 CREATING WORK PERMIT CONDITIONS
 REVIEWING WORK WITH PERMIT ACCEPTOR
 ISSUING WORK PERMIT
 IMPLEMENTING HANDBACK PROCEDURE

18. UNDERSTANDING OF WORK PROCEDURES
UNDERSTANDING POTENTIAL HAZARDS AND
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
ACCEPTING THE SAFE WORK PERMIT
OBSERVING PERMIT CONDITIONS
COMPLYING WITH HANDBACK PROCEDURE
The Work Permit System :
Permit acceptor’s responsibilities

19. The Work Permit System : In brief
Many accidents have occurred due to lack of Work
Permit or non observance of its consigned safety
measures.
 The Safe Work Permit is useful for:
 The safety of persons in charge of the work
 The safety of persons in charge of the process
 The risk management of the process and equipment
 It is not one more administrative paper!
 Fill in and follow correctly the work permit,
because….
It could save your life!