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smart  
#1 Posted : 09 March 2012 21:52:00(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
smart

Hi, I work for a large company who have a number of plants on the site. We use the DPTW system for high risk activities and non resident (3months experience), The issues I have is the amount of permits we are issuing and how we are managing them, there has been a couple of people who issue permits complaining that they have not got the time (perceived pressure perhaps) to ensure the area is in a safe condition before and after the task is done. I would like to have a look and see if I can organise and issue permits from a central area and maybe one person solely responsible for them, really would welcome any advice that would be given
boblewis  
#2 Posted : 10 March 2012 18:59:38(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
boblewis

The problem really is though that only the local people in control are in a position to ensure the work area is made safe. You will quickly find that a central person/small team will be overwhelmed and also cannot ensure isolations etc needed for work. They certainly will not be able to monitor activities. Bob
phow  
#3 Posted : 12 March 2012 11:59:29(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
phow

Smart. The PTW system I set up on a high hazard batch process site - lots of raw materials, finished goods, people etc Phillosophy was " I PERMIT you TO WORK on my plant". i.e. only plant managers / supervisors could issue PTW to work on their plant. Easy to assess the job task, but not so easy to assess risks of the job location without close knowledge of the plant. So we trained enough people to do this. wrote enough enough for competance , but not overworked. They could last up tp 5 days BUT had to be endorsed each morning (restart of work) because you never know what happens overnight! You had to visit the work site to check the conditions were still the same, and a simple signature in an "endorsed" box restarted wotk without have to rewrite everything. Not a believer in centrally site issued PTW unless continuous process plant where everything is the same Best wishes Peter
David Bannister  
#4 Posted : 12 March 2012 16:39:54(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
David Bannister

phow's approach is the one I advocate for those of my clients who need a PTW system. A safety department's (or manager or officer or adviser or etc) role as I see it is to ensure that the responsible persons know how to operate the PTW system and are doing it correctly and that no shortcuts are taking place. The "owner" of the plant or process is the best person to decide what is necessary to ensure safe work. If they need guidance then the safety dept can guide but not do. Sometimes it may be necessary for safety people to strongly say "that's unsafe - stop now" but that indicates a failure of the PTW issuing and monitoring process.
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