A formal go-ahead for the work most likely to kill
A permit to work is a formal, written authorisation for defined high-risk work — hot work, confined space entry, work at height, excavation and isolation of energy or services. It confirms that the hazards have been identified, the right controls are in place and maintained, and only trained, competent people do the work, within a set method, place and time. It is not a substitute for controls; it is the system that makes sure they are there before the work starts — and safely removed when it finishes.
A permit to work is a formal written document that authorises competent people to carry out high-risk work with a defined methodology, location and time. It pulls together the hazard identification and controls for a task and confirms they are in place and will be maintained for the duration of the work. It is a safe system of work and a final checkpoint before high-risk work begins.
Permits are typically required for high-risk activities where the consequences of getting it wrong are severe:
| Activity | Why a permit |
|---|---|
| Hot work | Welding, cutting and grinding — fire and explosion risk. See hot work. |
| Confined space entry | Atmosphere, engulfment and access risks; a written entry permit is expected. See confined spaces. |
| Work at height | Defined high-risk access where a fall could be serious. |
| Excavation | Ground disturbance and the risk of striking services or collapse. |
| Isolation | Isolating energy or services so plant cannot start. See lockout-tagout. |
A competent issuer authorises the permit after confirming the hazards and controls; the receiver — the person doing the work — accepts the conditions and carries out the work within the permit's scope. The permit is displayed at the worksite. If conditions change, the work stops and the permit is reassessed or re-issued. At close-out, the receiver confirms the work is finished, removes barriers and signage, reinstates or removes isolations as agreed, and returns the permit to the issuer.
A permit does not control the hazard by itself — the controls do. It is the discipline that makes sure they are in place, understood and maintained. Note too that an internal permit-to-work system is different from the regulatory authorisations WorkSafe issues for certain high-risk work; the two serve different purposes.
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A formal written authorisation for defined high-risk work, confirming that hazards are identified, controls are in place and maintained, and only competent people do the work within a set method, place and time.
Typically high-risk activities such as hot work, confined space entry, work at height, excavation, and isolation of energy or services, where the consequences of an error are severe.
A competent issuer who authorises the permit after confirming the controls, and a receiver who does the work and accepts the conditions. The permit is displayed at the worksite and returned at close-out.
No. The controls protect people; the permit is the system that confirms those controls are in place, understood and maintained before and during the work.
The receiver confirms the work is complete, removes barriers and signage, reinstates or removes isolations as agreed, and returns the permit to the issuer. If conditions change during the work, it is reassessed or re-issued.
