CITB Managers Permit to Work Systems 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of a permit to work (PTW) system?
- To record the hours worked by contractors
- To provide a formal written document that authorises specific high-risk work, specifies the precautions required, and confirms they are in place before work commences (Correct answer)
- To replace the need for a risk assessment for routine tasks
- To provide a record for billing purposes
Correct answer: To provide a formal written document that authorises specific high-risk work, specifies the precautions required, and confirms they are in place before work commences
A permit to work is a formal control system for high-risk activities. It authorises a specific activity, specifies and verifies the required precautions, identifies who may carry out the work, and sets the time and scope of the authorisation. It supplements but does not replace a risk assessment.
Question 2: Which of the following activities would typically require a permit to work on a construction site?
- General bricklaying and blockwork
- Hot work near flammable materials, working in confined spaces, excavation of live services, and work on live electrical systems (Correct answer)
- Any work involving more than two people
- Any work taking place between 6 PM and 6 AM
Correct answer: Hot work near flammable materials, working in confined spaces, excavation of live services, and work on live electrical systems
Permits to work are typically used for activities that present a high risk of serious injury or death: hot work near flammables, confined space entry, live electrical work, work near buried or overhead services, and work where there is a specific risk of a catastrophic incident.
Question 3: A permit to work must be signed by:
- Any available site worker
- The authorising person (who confirms precautions are in place) and the person in charge of the work (who accepts responsibility for following them) (Correct answer)
- The principal contractor's financial director
- The HSE inspector before work commences
Correct answer: The authorising person (who confirms precautions are in place) and the person in charge of the work (who accepts responsibility for following them)
A PTW must be signed by a competent authorising person (who has checked that all required precautions are in place) and the worker or supervisor in charge of carrying out the work (who accepts responsibility for complying with the permit conditions).
Question 4: How does a permit to work differ from a risk assessment?
- They are the same document described by different names
- A risk assessment identifies hazards and controls; a PTW provides formal authorisation and verification that specific controls are in place before a specific instance of high-risk work begins (Correct answer)
- A PTW is required by law; a risk assessment is optional
- A risk assessment is completed after the work; a PTW before
Correct answer: A risk assessment identifies hazards and controls; a PTW provides formal authorisation and verification that specific controls are in place before a specific instance of high-risk work begins
The risk assessment identifies the hazards and determines the required controls. The PTW verifies that those specific controls have been implemented in this specific instance, formally authorises the work to start, and manages its duration and closure.
Question 5: When a permit to work is cancelled or the work is complete, what must happen?
- The permit can be used again for the same activity the following day
- The permit must be formally closed out (signed off by the authorising person), confirming the work is complete, the area is safe, and any isolations are removed (Correct answer)
- Workers simply leave the area when finished
- The permit is filed without any further action required
Correct answer: The permit must be formally closed out (signed off by the authorising person), confirming the work is complete, the area is safe, and any isolations are removed
Permit close-out is a critical step: the authorising person confirms that the work is complete, the area is left in a safe condition, any isolations (electrical, gas) that were applied are removed appropriately, and the area is returned to normal use. The closed permit is retained as a record.
Question 6: A 'cold work permit' is used when:
- Work is being carried out in cold weather only
- Work involves no ignition sources, usually near flammable materials, and confirms that the area is safe to work in without introducing hot work hazards (Correct answer)
- No permit is needed because there is no heat involved
- The worker is using refrigerated equipment
Correct answer: Work involves no ignition sources, usually near flammable materials, and confirms that the area is safe to work in without introducing hot work hazards
A cold work permit is used for work near flammable or explosive atmospheres where it is important to confirm that no ignition sources will be introduced and that the atmosphere is safe. It is the counterpart to the hot work permit.
CITB Managers Permit to Work Systems 1
What is the primary purpose of a permit to work (PTW) system?