OSHA requires most companies to implement procedures for controlling hazardous energy (Lockout/Tagout), Confined Space Entry and Hot Work. The OSHA Permit Required Confined Space Entry Standard 1910.146 requires an annual review of the program using cancelled permits. The OSHA General Industry Standard 1910.147 requires a periodic inspection of the program at least annually. In addition to the OSHA required permit programs many companies require permits for work involving Trenching and Excavation, Line Opening and Critical Crane Lifts. They also require periodic evaluations of these procedures.
Before implementing a Work Permit Audit Process one needs to understand the value and importance of the permit process. Work permits are the cornerstone of an effective safety program. If the work permit program is not functioning as intended there could be serious, if not fatal, consequences. Permits provide a means of controlling potentially hazardous work and serve as a means of communication between the equipment "owners" and personnel performing the work. Work permits also serve as a preplanning tool and as a safety checklist.
Equipment owners (permit issuers) are typically responsible for:
Reviewing the scope of work
Preparing and isolating equipment
Setting the conditions under which the work must be performed
Issuing the permits
Monitoring jobsite and area conditions for permit compliance
Auditing work practices relative to established permit requirements
Taking action to correct deviations from permit requirements
Canceling and closing out permits
Meeting with equipment owners to review the scope of work
Clearly understanding the job and safety requirements
Verifying equipment preparation and isolation
Complying with permit conditions
Following safe work practices
Monitoring jobsite and area conditions for permit compliance
Taking action to correct deviations from permit requirements
History has shown that accidents are often the result of:
Failure to use permit procedures
Failure to follow permit procedures
Permit recipient's failure to verify equipment isolation
Poor or sloppy work practices
Lax attitudes
Blanket permits for multiple tasks in a given area
Failure of permit issuer to monitor area / job
Failure of facility / owner to audit its own program
Failure of owners and contractors to audit each other
Certain times or types of work also create challenges to the work permit system. These include:
Turnarounds or outages
Unplanned shutdowns
Emergencies
Work on inter-connecting equipment
Demolition and renovation
Tie-ins
Multiple crews / contractors
Line / vessel entry
Hot work
Resumption of interrupted work
Shift Changes
Blind insertion and removal
When work is performed by operations / area personnel
For work permit programs such as these to be effective there must be a
