Shift handover is a a critical process that relies on effective communication in order to reduce the risk of safety incidents. The permit to work system must be coordinated with the shift handover procedures to ensure that jobs continue to take place under safe conditions, even when teams change.

Work at height is a particularly hazardous activity which should be reduced by specific control measures that first tries to avoid the work altogether, and then if this is not possible, limits the risk through precautions. The permit to work is an important administrative tool to ensure safe work takes place at height.

Simultaneous operations (“SIMOPS”) refers to a situation where two or more potentially conflicting activities are being executed simultaneously and in close proximity to one another.   Safety is affected because the interactions between the jobs are not fully understood.

The permit to work helps to reduce the risk of safety incidents by ensuring the people involved are aware of the specific hazards, take the necessary precautions and are competent for the work. It also ensures that communication takes place between production and maintenance teams throughout the job from planning, preparation, execution to hand over and restoring the plant to normal operations.

Confined space entry is a particularly dangerous activity and special care needs to be taken when work is done. The confined space permit assists the employer to make sure that adequate precautions are in place for each job or task involving confined spaces.

A permit to work is a formal document that is part of a structured process designed to improve the safety of people working on hazardous jobs.