Permit to Work. For the purpose of this policy, the following definitions & meanings shall apply.

Transcription

1 Level 3 - H&S Plicy Structure Permit t Wrk BACKGROUND A permit-t-wrk system is characterised by the use f frms r certificates t create highly frmal arrangements, with clearly defined rles. Such systems are used as management tls t cntrl activities that are ptentially hazardus & where clear cmmunicatin & crdinatin is vital. A permit-t-wrk system is typically fund in maintenance peratins, where nrmal cntrls may have t be circumvented & replaced with ther cntrls r where equipment may need t be islated frm pwer surces befre wrk cmmences. The permit prvides a frmal means fr cmmunicating that the required measures have been taken. A permit-t-wrk will lse its impact if applied unnecessarily, rendering the permit a matter f rutine rather than exceptinal & undermining its rle. Therefre, permits are reserved fr the mst hazardus tasks, where there is a substantial risk f harm t individuals r the envirnment & where implementing suitable cntrl measures requires clear cmmunicatin & crdinatin. A permit-t-wrk system supplements ther management tls, such as suitable & sufficient risk assessments & methd statements, but des nt replace them. LEGISLATION Health & Safety at Wrk Act 1974 Emplyers must, s far as is reasnably practicable ensure the Health, Safety & Welfare f emplyees & anyne else wh may be affected by their wrk. This general duty extends t prviding safe systems f wrk. A permit-t-wrk system is a widely used frmal methd fr ensuring that a safe system f wrk is identified & implemented & that the measures needed are clearly cmmunicated t thse cncerned. UNIVERSITY POLICY Fr the purpse f this plicy, the fllwing definitins & meanings shall apply. The term permit-t-wrk refers t a paper r electrnic certificate r frm which is used as part f an verall system f wrk, & which has been devised by the University t meet its specific needs. The permit is a detailed dcument which authrises named peple t carry ut specific wrk at a specific site at a specific time, & which sets ut the main precautins needed t cmplete the jb safely. The term islatin means the discnnectin & separatin f the wrk frm ptentially harmful surces f energy r ther dangers in such a way that the discnnectin & separatin is secure. 3A-Plicy-Permit-t-Wrk-June-2015.dcx 1

2 Fr the purpse f this plicy, the fllwing harmnisatin f rles 1 will apply. The riginatr is the persn wh requires the jb t be dne. The permit authriser is the persn authrising the permit fr issue. (A permit authriser will nly have a rle where the ptential fr harm is cnsidered t be particularly high, such that the permit shuld be seen by a secnd persn). The issuing authrity is the persn wh issues the permit t wrk. The area authrity is the persn in in cntrl f the lcatin where wrk is t be carried ut. A permit may invlve multiple area authrities, with separate cntrllers f premises, equipment & building services. The perfrming authrity is the persn wh accepts the permit n behalf f the permit user(s). The perfrming authrity may be an emplyee f the University r a Cntractr. The permit users are the peratives wh will perfrm the actual task requiring the permit t wrk. The permit users may be emplyees f the University r Cntractrs. The site checker is the persn respnsible fr cmpleting any site checks as specified in the permit t wrk. The islating authrity is the persn respnsible fr cmpleting islatins as specified in the permit t wrk. Plicy The University will: Prvide a generic permit-t-wrk system fr use by the University t help manage the activities f staff, students, cntractrs & visitrs. Create & maintain a schedule f task types fr which a permit-t-wrk is required. The schedule will recrd: The type f activity fr which a permit-t-wrk is required; The staff wh have the authrity t act as the permit authriser (shuld this be required) & any limitatins t that authrity; The staff wh have the authrity t act as the permit issuing authrity & any limitatins t that authrity; & The staff wh have the authrity t act as the site checkers r the islating authrity & any limitatins t that authrity. 1 This terminlgy & harmnisatin f rles is taken directly frm Guidance n permit-t-wrk systems. A guide fr the petrleum, chemical & allied industries. HSG250 (First editin, published 2005). Health & Safety Executive. 3A-Plicy-Permit-t-Wrk-June-2015.dcx 2

3 Ensure apprpriate prcedures are established & maintained fr all wrk dne under the permit-t-wrk system. Ensure that arrangements are made fr the wrkfrce t be made aware f the permits & systems, & receive apprpriate infrmatin, instructin & training in their peratin. Ensure that the permit-t-wrk system is peridically mnitred t ensure that it is effective & crrectly applied & ensure that the permit-t-wrk system is peridically audited & reviewed. Ensure that cpies f permits, r recrds f their issue, are kept fr a specified perid t enable auditing r incident investigatin Ensure that sufficient resurces are prvided t enable the permit-t-wrk system t be prperly implemented. RESPONSIBILITIES The University has verall respnsibility fr ensuring prper permit-t-wrk systems are develped & fllwed. But everyne wh carries ut wrk f any kind n a site r installatin emplyees, cntractrs, subcntractrs, in fact all wrkers has respnsibilities & duties under a permit-t-wrk system. It is imprtant that each persn has adequate infrmatin, instructin & training & knws exactly what thse respnsibilities & duties are. Head f Health Safety & Envirnment Will prvide a generic permit-t-wrk system fr the use f Departments & will issue guidance n its applicatin & use. Will ensure that the permit-t-wrk system is subject t peridic mnitring & auditing. Senir Manager (including the Directr f Estates, the Dean f Science & the Dean f Engineering & Design) Will, where necessary fr safe peratin, implement a permit-t-wrk system in their area f cntrl. Will create & maintain fr their area f cntrl & in cnsultatin with the Head f Health Safety & Envirnment & Heads f Department, a schedule f task types fr which a permit-t-wrk is required as per the plicy. Will ensure that all persnnel engaged in the preparatin f permits, & respnsible fr the supervisin & perfrmance f the wrk, are identified & cmpetent. Will ensure that the permit-t-wrk system is subject t peridic mnitring. Managers acting as riginatr, permit authriser r area authrity As a general principle, the permit authriser / issuing authrity may nt issue a permit-t-wrk t themselves. 3A-Plicy-Permit-t-Wrk-June-2015.dcx 3

4 Will ensure that all wrk activities requiring a permit-t-wrk are identified. Will ensure that the permit cntains a clear descriptin f the wrk t be dne, its lcatin, start time & duratin. Will ensure that permits fr wrk activities that may interact r affect ther site activity are adequately cntrlled. Will ensure that all ther wrk that wuld create a hazard if undertaken at the same time is suspended & made safe. Will ensure that limitatins n the timing & scpe f the wrk are defined as well as actins t be taken in the event f site emergencies. Will ensure that sufficient infrmatin is given t ncming shifts abut wrk fr which there is a permit & which has nt been cmpleted. Will ensure that all persnnel (including cntractrs) wrking within the permit system have sufficient knwledge & are cmpetent t carry ut their duties Perfrming authrity r permit user (may be cntractrs, Estates peratives r Departmental peratives) Will ensure that they understand the principles f permit-t-wrk systems as applied at the University. Will ensure that they understand the permit-t-wrk systems & ther arrangements that apply t the particular lcatins at which they r their emplyees are t wrk. Will ensure that all perfrming authrities & permit users are prperly trained, & understand the permit-t-wrk systems & any ther specific arrangements made fr a jb, area r lcatin in which they are t wrk. Will ensure that up-t-date recrds f trained perfrming authrities are kept. Respnsible authrity acting as permit authriser, issuing authrity r area authrity As a general principle, the permit authriser / issuing authrity may nt issue a permit-t-wrk t themselves. Will ensure that all hazards assciated with the prpsed jb have been identified & suitably assessed & that all steps necessary t ensure the safety f the site r installatin have been identified. Will ensure that the wrk site has been examined, & all precautins specified t be taken befre wrk cmmences (including islatins) have in fact been taken & will remain effective while the permit remains in frce. Will ensure that the perfrming authrity is aware f the precautins taken, any additinal nes which are t be taken, particular equipment t be used r wrn, & any ther prcedures which are t be fllwed. 3A-Plicy-Permit-t-Wrk-June-2015.dcx 4

5 Will ensure that wrk activities that may interact r affect ne anther are clearly identified & either cnflict avided r precautins included n the permit. Will ensure that peple are aware f the permit s duratin, & actin t be taken if the wrk is suspended. Will ensure that cpies f all issued permits are displayed at an apprpriate lcatin & in a cnsistent arrangement s that site persnnel can readily see & check which equipment is under maintenance & nt available fr peratin. Will ensure that the wrk site is examined at any time when wrk is suspended & befre it is restarted, & finally when the wrk is cmpleted t ensure that it is in a safe cnditin. Will ensure, if applicable, that the shift handver prcedure is prperly fllwed. Will ensure that any precautins & islatins are withdrawn at the end f the jb unless they are crss-referenced t ther permit activity. Will ensure that the area authrity has acknwledged the return f plant r equipment t their full cntrl. Supervisry persnnel acting as perfrming authrity r permit user Will ensure they & the peple wrking with them understand the peratin f (and the cnsequences f nn-cmpliance with) the permit-t-wrk systems applicable t the areas in which they are respnsible fr wrk. Will ensure any necessary infrmatin, instructin r training is given t users t ensure that they understand the permit-t-wrk systems & the specific precautins required fr their wrk. Will ensure that the perfrming authrity & permit users fully understand their respnsibilities under the permit-t-wrk system. Will ensure the cnditins & precautins specified in the permits are fully understd, implemented & effectively mnitred. Will ensure the issuing authrity is infrmed when a jb has been cmpleted, suspended, if cnditins alter r if the task needs t be altered. Individuals acting as permit user, site checker r islating authrity Ensure they have a gd understanding f the permit-t-wrk systems that they are perating under. Ensure that they d nt start wrk n any jb requiring a permit until ne has been authrised & issued, its cntent understd & necessary precautins taken. Ensure the cnditins & precautins specified in the permits issued t them, r fr wrk in which they will be invlved, are fully implemented & will cntinue t be effective thrughut the duratin f wrk. Ensure all the precautins & safety measures that the permits & instructins state they shuld take are strictly fllwed. 3A-Plicy-Permit-t-Wrk-June-2015.dcx 5

6 Ensure that they stp wrk, make the wrk area safe & get advice immediately, if they are in any dubt r if the circumstances f the wrk change significantly. FURTHER INFORMATION Guidance n permit-t-wrk systems. A guide fr the petrleum, chemical & allied industries. HSG250 (First editin, published 2005). Health & Safety Executive. This guidance ffers guidance n harmnisatin f permit-t-wrk frmats & terminlgy. 3A-Plicy-Permit-t-Wrk-June-2015.dcx 6