Hi all, 

In my company we issue permit to work to specific tasks like hot works, working at height and working with electrics. That is down to contractors who we hire as third party to do machinery and building maintenance for us.

However as industry I work at, we do projects in entertainment and live experience.When we manufacture staging equipment, we do Factory acceptance testing where it is assembled and tested that it is safe and fit for purpose.

Now this is where it gets tricky, sometimes we have client's carpenters on site who conduct work on staging equipment which is temporary installation and this is managed by our Project Manager in collaboration with Head carpenter (Client's contractor). In other instances our project management team temporarily hires roadies (temporary integrators to help with installation who go through inducton process and are classed as agency)

In these kind of situations, do we still require to issue permit to work to client's head carpenter or roadies as well? Please let me know if you require more context.

I welcome comments and advice from anyone as I lack expertise in this area.

Hi Patrik,

If you operate a true PTW system (based around the HSE guidance) then it's the nature of the work that dictates when a permit is required, not the class of worker undertaking the work. If the 'permit' is only used by non-employees then it's a 'authorisation' system. 

Based on that, you arrangments should reflect the purpose of the 'permit'.

As the situation you describe involves multiple companies working together, under CDM you should have a PC, and they should determine if and when a permit is required, if it is an authorisation system.

Hope it helps.