THE WORK PERMIT SYSTEM (Reference document: AIGA 011/04

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THE WORK PERMIT SYSTEM(Reference document
AIGA 011/04 Work Permit Systems)
Training Package 06/06
Asia Industrial Gases Association 298 Tiong
Bahru Road, 20-01 Central Plaza, Singapore
168730 Internet http//www.asiaiga.org
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Acknowledgement
This document is adopted from the European
Industrial Gases Association document TP 10/04
The Work Permit System, and acknowledgement and
thanks are hereby given to EIGA for permission
granted for the use of their document
Asia Industrial Gases Association 298 Tiong
Bahru Road, 20-01 Central Plaza, Singapore
168730 Internet http//www.asiaiga.org
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of Practice, safety procedures and other
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based on technical information and experience
currently available from members of AIGA and
others at the date of the publication. As such,
we do not make any representation or warranty nor
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reproduce this publication provided the
Association is acknowledged as the source Asia
Industrial Gases Association 298 Tiong Bahru
Road, 20-01 Central Plaza, Singapore
168730 Internet http//www.asiaiga.org
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The Work Permit System What is it?

• A work permit system consists primarily of a
  standard procedure designed to ensure that
  potentially hazardous routine and non routine
  work on industrial installations can be carried
  out safely. The procedure should define the need
  for the following essential steps
• Details of the necessary preparatory work
• Clear definition of responsibilities
• Appropriate training of the work force
• Provision of adequate safety equipment
• A formal work permit with or without attached
  specific checklists.
• This work permit
• specifies the work to be accomplished and
  authorizes it to be started under the strict
  observance of consigned work and safety
  procedures
• After information and agreement of all other
  concerned parties (process, safety, customers,
  suppliers,)

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The Work Permit System When?

• For all non-routine works,
• For hazardous routine works not covered by
  procedures,
• When work is performed
• by your employees
• and/or third parties

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The Work Permit System (1/2) For what kind of
work?

• A work permit is required in case of
• Potential oxygen deficiency or enrichment
• Potential flammable/explosive atmosphere
• Potential high temperature/pressure
• Potential hazardous chemicals, e.g. toxic
  substances
• Confined space entry, e.g. tanks, cold box, pit,
  normally closed vessels
• Bypassing or removing/altering safety devices or
  equipment
• Elevated works
• Introduction of ignited sources where not
  permanently allowed (fire permit), e.g. open
  flame, welding, grinding,
• Electrical troubleshooting or repair on live
  circuits
• Maintenance or repairs in areas or to equipment
  or lines, containing or supposed to contain
  hazardous materials or conditions,

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The Work Permit System (2/2) For what kind of
work?

• Or also in case of
• Manual or powered excavations
• Use of mobile cranes
• Insulation or catalysts handling
• Use of adapters
• Product conversion of stationary or mobile or
  portable vessels and containers
• Temporary or permanent changes, alterations,
  modification of equipment or processes,
• Exposure to traffic,
• Exposure to moving/rotating machinery
• In proximity of vents, liquid of gas
• On process lines with gas release
• Etc..

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The Work Permit System Why?

• Because
• In charge of the work, you dont know everything
• about the site and the process around
• about the work
• Safety measures have to be prepared
• You cannot start the work without the OK of the
  production personnel or the customer or the
  supplier
• The production needs your OK in order to re-start
  the plant after your work is achieved
• To obtain a safe as well as a quick and cost
  effective work

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The Work Permit System With who?

• In order to define the scope of work for
  everyone concerned/involved by and during the
  work, the Work Permit must be prepared with
• The person responsible for the work
• The person(s) in charge of the production, the
  customer or supplier, who will release the
  process before the work starts
• The other work bodies
• The person in charge of HSE measures

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The Work Permit System How?

• Before issuing the Work Permit, you must
• Describe the work to be done
• List all the specifications and drawings which
  are required
• Issue detailed planning with all involved
  entities
• Determine the logging and tagging procedures
• Fill-in together the work permit and sign,
• The start of the work must be authorized by
  production and/or user,
• The re-start of the process must take place after
  the work is finished.

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The Work Permit System Review of flowsheets,
drawings and specifications

• Purpose of the review is to ensure all key
  persons involved in job planning have a thorough
  understanding of the job.
• It should include

• Process fluids and materials involved,
• Degree of isolation,
• Effect of other processes,
• Power supply isolation,
• Specialist advice,
• Location of underground services and pipes,
• Location of elevated power cables,
• Location of elevated pipelines and walkways,
• Purging and lock-out requirements,
• Pressure, Temperature,
• Valve identification,
• Equipment specification,
• Operating and maintenance instructions,
• Materials of construction and compatibilities

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The Work Permit System Work site inspection

• Anyone involved and signing the Safe Work Permit
  must visit the work place in order
• To inspect the work area
• Neighbouring activities, site rules, overhead,
  underground, access, natural hazards (flood,
  rain, snow), etc,..
• To identify potential hazards
• Flammable, oxygen, toxic substances, confined
  spaces, electricity, pressure, temperature,
  moving objects, traffic, falls/trips/slips,
  etc,..

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The Work Permit System Development of work
procedures

• Preparation of a detailed work procedure is
  essential to ensure the work will proceed safely
  in a planned and logical manner
• Following requirements to be considered
• Reference drawings, Timing of various operations,
  Details of any special equipment, Needs to inform
  local authorities, safety precautions and
  equipment, Emergency procedures, etc,..
• The procedure should include
• Logging and tagging procedures Electricity,
  process fluids Instrumentation, utilities (water,
  air, oil,)
• Depressurising, Draining, Venting, Purging,
  Flushing, Isolating, Atmosphere checking,
  Disassembly of equipment, Method of repair,
  Reassembly and installation, Quality control,
  Pressure and leak testing, Reinstatement of
  equipment, Hand-back procedure, etc..

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The Work Permit System Example of form
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The Work Permit System Work Planning

• WORK SCOPE
• REVIEW DRAWINGS / FLOWSHEETS
• INSPECT WORKSITE
• IDENTIFY SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
• COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS
• DEVELOP WORK PROCEDURE
• ASSIGN RESPONSIBILITIES
• COMMUNICATION PROCEDURES
• WORK EXECUTION

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The Work Permit System Work Execution

• PREPARATORY WORK
• ISSUE WORK PERMITS
• SUPERVISION MONITORING
• WORK COMPLETED
• TESTING
• RE-INSTATE EQUIPMENT
• RETURN WORK PERMIT
• HANDBACK PLANT / EQUIPMENT

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The Work Permit System Permit issuers
responsibilities

• INSPECTING WORK AREA
• IDENTIFYING HAZARDS
• DEFINING SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
• OBSERVING PRINCIPLES OF SAFE WORKING PRACTICES
• CREATING WORK PERMIT CONDITIONS
• REVIEWING WORK WITH PERMIT ACCEPTOR
• ISSUING WORK PERMIT
• IMPLEMENTING HANDBACK PROCEDURE

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The Work Permit System Permit acceptors
responsibilities

• UNDERSTANDING OF WORK PROCEDURES
• UNDERSTANDING POTENTIAL HAZARDS AND
  SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
• ACCEPTING THE SAFE WORK PERMIT
• OBSERVING PERMIT CONDITIONS
• COMPLYING WITH HANDBACK PROCEDURE

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The Work Permit System In brief

• Many accidents have occurred due to lack of Work
  Permit or non observance of its consigned safety
  measures.
• The Safe Work Permit is useful for
• The safety of persons in charge of the work
• The safety of persons in charge of the process
• The risk management of the process and equipment
• It is not one more administrative paper!
• Fill in and follow correctly the work permit,
  because.
• It could save your life!