Permits are a means of communication between those who carry out the work, the person responsible for their safety and someone who could introduce a hazard if they were unaware the work was taking place. It can also coordinate different work activities to avoid conflicts.
Permit to Work systems are a regular part of working life on board ships. They ensure that proper planning has been carried out for a given work task and that all associated risks have been properly considered; that appropriate safety control measures are in place, and that all risks are properly managed. A Permit to Work should be a simple formal system stating exactly what work is to be done, when it is being done and the safety controls that must be put in place to avoid injury or death.
Work permits most commonly are included in the Safety Management System are a standardized process used to authorize work/jobs onboard with potentially hazardous conditions. The process includes risk management, establishment of safety protocol, communication plan, and oversight to minimize or eliminate environmental, health, and safety risks.
Apart of the safety culture and working practice within the industry which creates the common sense and the need of such systems, many industries stakeholders have issued several such requirements. Requirements for Permit to work systems can be found in the following:
- OCIMF TMSA (Element 9 KPIs 9.1.4/9.2.4/9.2.5)
- RightShip DryBMS – Subject Area no. 23
- ISGOTT Chapter 4 (Para 4.7)
- MCA -Code of Safe Working Practices for Seafarers – Chapter 14
There is a series of activities that are commonly covered by Permit to work system while the most common are included in most Safety Management Systems. However, why despite the permit to work system implementation on board, related accidents still happen?
There are a lot of reasons for this:
- Permit system addressed incorrectly and without sufficient safety mentality (a tick-box practice)
- Wrong type of work permit used to address different set of hazards
- Incorrect hazard identification and mitigation
- Failure to recognise the hazards where work is carried out
- Terms of work on the permit not followed, despite having been identified
- Unauthorised staff performing work permit functions
- Inadequate monitoring of the work permit system
- No time frame placed allowing initial set conditions to change
- Permit was complicated to be followed and not properly understood
In conclusion, the existence of a permit to work system does not by itself, make the work safe. Human factor who implements the procedures is the key for safe operations. As such, the personnel preparing, supervising and carrying out the task is the final responsible for safety.
- Always use a Permit to Work when the job requires it
- Complete it correctly
- Think carefully when you are completing it
- Make sure it is in date and time
- Remember it could save your life or the lives of those you are responsible for