Reducing Risks in Permit-to-Work Operations

My Team's Experience

In my previous company, my team and I had experience implementing a tool called "Risk Management for Permit-to-Work Systems."

The tool consists of two parts:

1. Assessment of fatal risks for the specific job.
2. Assessment of compliance with the permit-to-work system.

In this article, I will focus on the first part of the tool.

The methodology in brief:

• 4 fatal risks were selected (based on an analysis of injuries during maintenance work)
• 4 fatal risks were approved as cross-cutting across the entire enterprise; they are (briefly, formulated by work activity):

– risks during work at height

– gas-related work

– work in confined spaces

– excavation work

• Checklists were created for each risk, listing barriers (a set of technical and organizational measures)
• Depending on the inherent risk of the job, the checklist is automatically printed from the IT system during the preparation of the work permit
• In addition to text, the checklist includes risk visualizations
• The contractor (represented by the work supervisor) then assesses the effectiveness of the barriers directly at the worksite before being permitted to start
• The completed checklist is handed over by the work supervisor to the permit issuer directly at the worksite
• If any non-functioning barriers are identified in the checklist, work does not commence until the non-conformities are resolved
• All requirements have been incorporated into the Permit-to-Work System Regulations

Effectiveness Evaluation

What are the pros and cons, you might ask? Of course, there are both.

Pros:

• Focus on barriers whose failure could lead to the most tragic consequences
• Increased competence of work supervisors
• Improved quality of the permitting process

Cons:

• Additional time requirements
• The possibility of bypassing the system by simply checking "YES" on the checklist

Like any tool, its effectiveness requires belief in it and support from production staff and the HSE Directorate.