Permits to work are how you control high-risk activities on site — a formal, documented sign-off that a specific task can proceed, under specific conditions, with the right safeguards in place. Two that come up often, and cause confusion, are the permit to dig and the limitation of access permit.
What is a permit to dig?
A permit to dig (or excavation permit) controls any ground-breaking work — excavation, digging, boring or driving in stakes. Its purpose is to prevent contact with buried services: electricity cables, gas mains, water, telecoms and drainage. Striking a live cable or gas main is one of the most serious hazards in groundworks, and it's entirely preventable with the right controls.
A good permit to dig should require:
- Service drawings to be obtained and reviewed
- A CAT and Genny (cable avoidance tool) survey before breaking ground
- Safe digging practices — hand-digging near known services
- Sign-off by a competent, authorised person
- A defined validity period and area
What is a limitation of access permit?
A limitation of access permit controls who can enter a defined area, and under what conditions. It's used where an area is temporarily hazardous — for example during lifting operations, hot works, confined space entry, or where a structure is being altered — and access needs to be restricted to authorised persons only.
It documents:
- The area affected and the reason for restriction
- Who is authorised to enter
- The controls and PPE required
- The period of restriction and who's responsible
👉 Limitation of Access Permit template →
Why permits matter under CDM 2015
Permits to work are a recognised way of managing the highest-risk activities on site. They force a pause: someone competent has to confirm the controls are in place before work starts. Under CDM 2015, demonstrating that high-risk work was properly controlled is exactly what a principal contractor and the HSE expect to see.
Pair your permits with the relevant toolbox talk — for example the excavations or permit to work briefing — to make sure the crew understands the controls, not just the paperwork.
Get your permits sorted
SafetyPod's permit templates are editable and drafted to current UK legislation:
Or get every permit and method statement together in the RAMS & Permits Bundle.