Introduction:
In the era of advancement of Technologies Permit To Work software are used by management as a document to request, review, record and approve the hazardous works in manufacturing Industries to ensure safety of personnel while undertaking the hot works, Cold work, Work at height, Chemical work etc.,
Permit To Work:
Permit to work system is a systematic procedure of management used to authorize the employees or contractor to control work in nonstandard, hazardous conditions to secure the health of workers. It involves risk assessment, precautions to be taken to work to ensure EHS (Environment, Health and Safety)of Employees or Contractor to accomplish work safely and efficiently.
Types of Permit To Work:
There are seven main types of work permit which are categorized depending on nature and risk involved in the workplace. The following types are:
1. Hot Work Permit:
It is required for the works which involves producing flame or heat or sparks such as grinding, welding, cutting, brazing, etc
2. Cold Work Permit:
It is required for the works which involves handling hazardous substances, painting activity, chemical cleaning, under water cold works, etc.
3. Work at height:
It is required when working at heights above a certain level.it includes scaffolds, working with ladder, working off the ground, etc..
4. Confined Spaces Work Permit:
It is required when entering a confined space such as vessel, tank, trench,etc…
5. Excavation Permit:
It involves excavating and mining the ground for constructing or extracting materials from it.
6. Chemical Work Permit:
It is required for the works which include harmful chemical particles which are toxic in nature like works in chemical plants, labs, etc…
7. Electrical isolation Permit:
It is authorized to work in high voltage areas which are cautious and uncontrollable limits of electrical dispersion.
Evolution Of Permit To Work:
- Initially, the work control permits came into existence in the early 20th century by ascertaining the incidents and accidents incurred during the hazardous work process.
- It was first introduced by the US Navy to ensure safety of workers who carry out hot work and welding during ship repairs.
- The Navy developed a permit system so that workers need to obtain permission to carry out such types of work.
- UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) introduced a permit to work system in 1970’s on (COMAH) Control Of Major Accident Hazards regulations.
- The COMAH regulation system requires a detailed process of risk assessment, hazard identification and permit issuance to workers. Companies need to obtain permits before carrying out certain types of work.
- In 1974 Nypro chemical plant, near Flixborough massive vapour cloud exploded 28 workers died and 36 were injured
- On 6th july 1988 Occidental Petroleum’s Piper Alpha platform was destroyed by fire explosion, 167 men died in the incident.
- These major industrial accidents led to increased safety awareness and precaution to prevent the risk of accidents and improved control systems was followed by many industries.
- Later these days led to development and implementation of PTW systems in many industries which are associated with hazardous work.
- work permit highlights the essentials of managing the risk involved in hazardous work with high potential risk work such as oil and gas, construction, mining and manufacturing industries
- In the initial days PTW system was paper based and physical papers were issued to permit the workers.
- Later in the 1990s and early 2000s the digital permit to work emerged with advancement of technology through computer and digital platform adoption in many industries.
MANUAL PROCESSES Vs DIGITAL SOLUTION
Sl. no | Basis | Manual Process | Digitalisation |
1 | Meaning | Document issued by management to workers in Paper based format. | Document issued by management to workers through Electronic System Permit |
2 | Objective | Ensure safety of workers at workplace | Ensure safety of workers at work place more efficiently |
3 | Requires | Paper | Internet electronic devices |
4 | Authorization | Signed by authorised personnel such as safety manager, supervisors and any other stakeholders | Instant approval by the authorised personnel through advent of IOT (internet of things) |
5 | Issuance | Issuance of physical paper permit to workers | Instant issuance of permit digital based |
DIGITAL SOLUTION TO PTW SOFTWARE
1. At beginning of Digital work permit:
- Digital platform for PTW Software came into existence in the late 90’s with advanced computer technology which led to development and implementation of digital work permits in various industries in the management process by using computer based desktop applications that digitised the issuance of permits.
- Later in the early 2000’s web based online permit to work systems evolved which authorised the permit form to access through online this led to collaboration of stakeholders and database was centralised.
2. At the midst of Digital work permit:
- As a result of rapid growth in technology advancement by 2010 many electronic devices were used to communicate over different places such as mobile phones, smartphones, tablets became most frequent hence the permit to work system started to utilize mobile application as platform to develop on site permit management.
3. Present context of the Digital work Permit:
- In Present days the arrival and access of the internet in electronic devices and digital advancement digital permit to work system has become more integrated and highly developed in organisations which empower link between work order and permits.
Features Of PTW System
- Simple and easy permit creation: Streamline the process of issuing work permits to contractors. Create and customize permits easily.
- Faster permit approval: Manage permit updates and approval using your smartphone or tablet from almost anywhere.
- Real-time dashboards : Get users permit information at your fingertips. The Managers can easily view the permit active status in real-time.
- Ai Integration: AI-powered feature will suggest risk and necessary PPE’s to wear before permit approval.
- Time saving: It reduces non productive time and saves the time of authorized persons to control and operate by one click with the configuration of drop down list which already exists in the system.
- Accelerate the Approval :Approval is done remotely from data and planned elements on the system. This also saves time.
- Quick Decision Making :Instant access of recorded information leads to analyzing planned and ongoing work reality to make quick decisions of real time analysis.
- Automated workflows : The use of software makes work faster, easier and consistent which reduces manual work and shift to digitalization.
CONCLUSION of PTW Software
Permit To Work Software focuses on ensuring Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) at the workplace to reduce risk associated with hazardous work activities. An organization prioritizes safety of workers by providing precaution, risk awareness involved in work handled by workers.
