DRAFT PERMIT TO WORK SYSTEM

A Work Permit system for controlling all work done in the plant is one of the most important safety systems existing in a chemical plant. With the permit, comes awareness of safety in general, safety rules, dos and don'ts etc. Some guidelines on selecting a safety work permit system are described below.

All maintenance work, working at heights and excavation works is to be covered by a work permit system. The objectives are:

a) To ensure proper authorisation of non-routine work such as hot work in hazardous area like the chemical plant, storages, vessel entry excavation, working at heights etc.
b) To make clear to persons carrying out the job the risk involved and precautions to be taken.
c) To ensure that the person responsible for the area is aware of all work being done there.
d) To provide a record showing that the method of working and the precautions needed have been checked by the appropriate persons and if necessary a second opinion is obtained to prevent errors of judgment or adopting short cuts which may increase the risk.
e) The same work permit form could be used for company employees doing the work or for the engaged contractors. The contractor should inform his employees of the work permit procedure and ensure that they are followed.
f) A work safety permit is intended primarily to safeguard people and property, but it also may be needed as evidence in case of claims against the company or their legal actions.

 

Given on subsequent pages is a format of a safety work permit / excavation permit / confined space entry permit which could be modified if necessary to suit the requirements. It is suggested that the safety department involve the plant managers before finalising the format so that any practical difficulties in implementation of the permit system could be sorted out prior to printing the same.

 

Safety permit for working at heights :

It is mandatory to carry out any work at heights under a safety work permit system. A suggested format for such a permit is enclosed on subsequent pages which could be adopted with appropriate changes.

 

Accident Investigation Procedure :

Under Section 88 of the Factories Act the factory manager is required to send notice of certain accidents to the Factory Inspectorate and such other authorities as may be prescribed under the Factory Rule. The main intention of all accident investigation is to uncover the root cause of an accident and to institute measures which could be adopted to prevent recurrence. To achieve this goal effectively it is important to have all facts of the accident revealed to the management in departmental accident report form.