3.7 Permit to work systems

Written by Imran Qureshi (NEBOSH)

NEBOSH IGC · Health and safety management · 15 questions

Name: ____________________ Date: ____________

Which work would normally need a permit to work?
- A Making tea
- B Sweeping a corridor
- C Work in a confined space
- D Routine office filing
A permit to work should be cancelled:
- A After one week regardless
- B When the supervisor goes on leave
- C When the work is finished and the area is made safe
- D Never
A permit to work is:
- A A medical certificate
- B A personal protection device
- C A type of safety signage
- D A formal written authority with conditions
A permit to work is most likely to be needed for:
- A Answering the telephone
- B Walking to the canteen
- C Hot work such as welding in a plant area
- D Writing a report
A permit lists:
- A The workers' pay
- B The customer's address
- C The specific work, place, time and precautions
- D The organisation's profits
Who normally issues a permit to work?
- A The enforcement agency
- B Any worker
- C The visitor
- D A competent person once the precautions are in place
Before work starts under a permit, the precautions must:
- A Be physically in place
- B Be planned for the next week
- C Be agreed verbally later
- D Be written but not carried out
Why is a permit system used where several parties are working?
- A To save the cost of PPE
- B To avoid risk assessment
- C To remove the need for training
- D To coordinate the work so one group does not endanger another
At the end of the work, the permit should be:
- A Given to the enforcement agency
- B Signed off and cancelled after the area is made safe
- C Kept open for the next job
- D Thrown away
Work on isolated electrical systems is an example of work that:
- A May need a permit to work
- B Never needs control
- C Needs no assessment
- D Is always safe
The people doing work under a permit should:
- A Ignore the conditions
- B Accept the permit and follow its conditions
- C Let someone else do the work without telling them
- D Change the conditions as they like
A permit is displayed or carried so that:
- A It can be sold
- B Everyone can see what work is authorised and the precautions
- C It looks official
- D It can be hidden
Which of these is a common weakness in permit systems?
- A The work is assessed first
- B The permit is signed but the precautions are not in place
- C The permit is cancelled on time
- D The issuer is competent
A permit to work is needed for entry into:
- A A canteen
- B A confined space
- C A car park
- D A reception area
A permit to work is not needed where:
- A Machinery maintenance has multiple hazards
- B People enter a confined space
- C A simple procedure is enough to control the risk
- D There is hot work in a flammable atmosphere

Answer key

1. C, 2. C, 3. D, 4. C, 5. C, 6. D, 7. A, 8. D, 9. B, 10. A, 11. B, 12. B, 13. B, 14. B, 15. C

Confined space entry is a high risk activity that uses permits.
The permit is closed when the work ends and the area is safe.
It authorises specific people to do specific work with precautions.
Permits control high risk work.
A permit authorises specific people to carry out specific work.
Authorisation depends on the precautions being in place.
A permit is not just paperwork.
Coordination is a major purpose of a permit.
The cancellation closes the permit.
Permits are used for work on non-live electrical systems.
Acceptance shows they understand the conditions.
It prevents unauthorised work.
A permit that is only paperwork gives false assurance.
Confined space entry is high risk work.
Permits are for high risk work where simple procedures are not enough.