What is a permit to work? (permit to dig, hot work & more)
A permit to work is a formal, documented authorisation that a specific high-risk task can go ahead, under set conditions and controls. Here's what it is and the main types you'll come across.
What is a permit to work?
A permit to work is a documented system that controls high-risk activities. It forces a competent, authorised person to confirm — in writing, before work starts — that the hazards are controlled, the right precautions are in place, and only authorised people carry out the task. When the work is done, the permit is signed off and closed.
It's not bureaucracy for its own sake: permits exist for the jobs where getting it wrong is serious.
When do you need one?
You need a permit to work for activities where the risk is high enough that a normal risk assessment isn't enough on its own — typically:
- Permit to dig — excavation near buried services (cables, gas, water).
- Hot work permit — welding, grinding, cutting, anything with a spark or flame.
- Confined space permit — entry into tanks, chambers, voids.
- Electrical / isolation permit — work on or near live systems, safe isolation.
- Limitation of access permit — restricting who can enter a hazardous area.
What a permit to work includes
- The task, location and validity period
- The specific hazards and the precautions required
- Who is authorised to carry out the work
- Isolation, testing and monitoring requirements
- Sign-on to start and sign-off to close
- A competent, authorised person's authorisation
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Frequently asked questions
What is a permit to work?
A permit to work is a formal, documented authorisation that a specific high-risk task can proceed under defined conditions and controls, signed off by a competent authorised person before work starts and closed when it finishes.
What are the main types of permit to work?
Common permits include permit to dig (excavation near buried services), hot work permit (welding/grinding/naked flame), confined space entry permit, electrical/isolation permit, and limitation of access permits.
When do you need a permit to work?
For high-risk activities where a standard risk assessment isn't sufficient on its own — excavation near services, hot works, confined space entry, and work on or near live electrical systems.