Posted By Stuart Nagle
Lisa.
Essentially, a permit to work system will be as simple - or as complex as the systems you have on site and nature and complexity of the hazards and likely exposure to risks.
In some circumstances it is possible to have an all singing, all dancing single permit form that can cater for most hazard areas, and in other circustances it will most likely be necessary to have a specific permit to work for each specific task area (e.g. a confined spaces permit, a hot work permit, an electrical permit to work ect).
There are literally hundreds of permutations knocking about, some good, some OK and some pretty poor - for the tasks to be completed.
Really you need to know the systems that the permit to work is being designed for, and how complex those systems are. This will provide a good idea of what is necessary (i.e. a single permit form or multiple permit forms) to deal with those tasks.
The best foot forward approach is to observe all stages of permitted works - from conception and what is considered in planning the works, through defining persons to undertake the works and their competency/experience etc...etc..., to preparing for the task, setting up the safety procedures, isolations and equipment, the equipment needed and any test/calibrations required (as well as knowledge of use of the equipment), the setting up and operation of safe systems for working, carrying out the tasks and what may go wrong or interfer with the task, stopping or ending the tasks and reinstatement of the equipment, processes or procedures to normal operation, reporting back and removal of safety precautions set up etc...and what to do in the event of an emergency or rescue becoming necessary, and how this is instigated and controlled.
In order to do this you will also need to consider legislation - what is required to carry out the works in accordance with it...best practice etc... and the possible effects on other areas, equipment, processes, procedures, and what effect those other works, processes etc have on the tasks going to be performed under the permit to work and their control.
Permit to work systems are often treated by some as a paperwork exercise or simply as 'the' safe system of work. They are neither... a permit to work is simply a form that must consider all the necessary actions to be put into place to permit the 'permited' work to go ahead once all of the above has been dealt with and only if it is safe to proceed. Permits to work are not a safe system of work in themselves, and are only part of a safe system of work. Don't make the common mistake of thinking that a permit to work is all it takes to undertake certain works - it is not.
Once the above is accomplished you should have the basis for a safe system of work for each high risk area of work, and may need either a multi-purpose type permit or an individual permit system for varying types of work - depending on the complexity...
Hope this assists...
Stuart