Confined Spaces 

Section 5   Documentation and Control 

5.3   

PERMITS TO WORK

General 

5.3.1  

A Permit to Work is to have a format similar to the Model Form detailed at 

Annex D of these Safety Rules and Procedures and must provide a means 

of recording all the information specified on the Model Form.  Each sheet 

of a Permit to Work is to be identified by the same pre printed serial 

number on the original and duplicate copies. Sets of consecutively 

numbered forms are to be used, bound in pads. 

5.3.2  

Only one pad of Permits to Work is to be in use at any one time within 

each site, location or geographical area for which an Authorised Person is 

on duty. When not in use, the pad is to be kept in the Confined Spaces 

Document Cabinet. 

5.3.3  

A Permit to Work is not to be issued for any areas of work for which 

another permit remains in force. 

5.3.4  

The Authorised Person is to issue the Permit to Work immediately before 

work is to commence and it is to remain in force until the work is 

completed, stopped by the Authorised Person or Person in Charge, or time 

expired. 

5.3.5  

Permits to Work are only to be issued to designated Persons in Charge. 

Contents of Permits to Work 

5.3.6  

Permits to Work are to state precisely and legibly: 

n 

the identity and description of the Confined Space to be worked in 

n 

the location of the Confined Space 

n 

the purpose of the proposed work (the task) 

n 

the expected duration of the task, starting time and date 

n 

the names of all personnel involved in the task 

n 

the known hazards 

n 

a safety checklist 

n 

any special instructions and/or safety measures 

n 

where applicable, the serial number of related Permits to Work (other 

disciplines). 

Issue and Acceptance of Permits to Work 

5.3.7  

Permits to Work are to be issued only at the point of work. The issue and 

cancellation of every Permit to Work is to be recorded.  Generally, the 

Permit to Work should not be issued for a period longer than eight hours 

or until the end of the working shift. 

5.3.8  

When the Authorised Person is satisfied that to carry out the task in the 

confined space is not high risk, a  Block  Permit to Work may be issued.  

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April 2005