Gard discusses about the permit to work (PTW) which is on the one hand a formal authorization system to control work activities, but on the other hand, does not by itself make the job safe.
As stated above, a permit to work is a formal system to control work activities and is considered to be an integral part of safe work systems.
Yet, according to the Code of Safe Working Practices the permit will not make the work safer by itself, but is only one aspect of a safe operation. Work can be conducted in a safe manner only through the combined efforts of those involved in planning the job, authorizing it, supervising it and those who are performing the job. The personnel involved in performing the work activity are usually at the sharp end and most exposed to the hazards if something were to go wrong.
For instance, there may be items in the permit which maybe indicated as having been checked without the responsible person actually checking them or the conditions at the work site may change unbeknown to the crew.
Gard provides an example concerning an entry into a ballast tank for which a permit has been issued.
Will the crew, who have to enter the space for inspection or maintenance, make an entry without testing the atmosphere and satisfying themselves that it is safe, or do so without carrying portable gas detectors? Perhaps not. The persons carrying out and supervising the task cannot purely rely on the permit to work and assume all is well. They will be required to do their own checks before commencing the job and be alert to any possible changes in work conditions for the duration of the work.
It is highlighted that
A permit to work is no doubt of vital importance for high risk activities, but it is not a replacement for the basic safety checks which the crew must carry out themselves before and for the duration of the job.t
