Background

Traditionally permit to work systems were used in high hazard environments such as oil refineries as part of the overall “safe system of work” (SSOW) to control maintenance type activities.  Permit to work systems generally encompass a range of permits with different functions.  

They include, but are not limited to.

• An access permit.  This document permits access to a specific high hazard area with the permission of the area responsible person.
• Permit to work.  Permits certain work activities, but limits the activity and location of work e.g. removal of a specified valve within a specified time period.
• Hot work permit.  This can have two functions.  Firstly to control heat generating equipment that can cause a fire.  Secondly to control the risk of explosion from electrical equipment in areas where there is a foreseeable risk that a flammable vapour could be present.
• Isolation certificates (sometimes called lock out – tag out (LOTO).  Issued to control the isolation of equipment undergoing maintenance particularly when the power control point and equipment are in separate locations and the equipment could be inadvertently restarted with severe consequences.

Queen Mary Documents

The University operates two complimentary permit systems.  One issued and managed by Estates and Facilities (EAF); the second operated by Schools for Laboratories and Workshops.  The permits form part of the overall safe system of work which can include method statements, risk assessments, site supervision, contractor competency assessment programmes.

	Laboratory and Workshop permit issued by School	Permit issued by EAF
Work on School system by external contractor e.g. servicing recirculating local exhaust ventilation system in a laboratory.	√	X
Work on building system not impacting school high hazard area organised by EAF.	X	√
Work on building system impacting school high hazard area e.g. work on biological safety cabinet (ducted system) by EAF.	√	√
Low hazard work organised by School.	X	X
Low hazard work organised by EAF	X	X

Guidance

• Permit to Work Labs and Workshops [PDF 70KB]  
  
• Estates and Facilities, Health and Safety Intranet 
  
• Confined Spaces Policy 

Permit Template

• Permit to Work - Labs/workshops [DOC 31KB]  
  

References

HSE reference is from the high hazard industrial sector e.g. chemical manufacture.  Some of the background information is relevant to lower hazard environments.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/comah/sragtech/techmeaspermit.htm

Contacts

Estates and Facilities Helpdesk

For Advice and Assistance at QMUL, contact the H&S Manager / Advisor for your Faculty / PS or the subject lead at http://www.hsd.qmul.ac.uk/contact-us/

All H&S staff can be contacted via the help desk at hs-helpdesk@qmul.ac.uk