Permit guides

Permit to work guides

Practical guides to permit-to-work systems for UK trades, contractors and site managers, written in plain English and based on HSE guidance.

Permits explained

Why permits to work matter on site

Why permit-to-work systems matter for high-risk and non-routine jobs, what they help prevent, and what HSE guidance says makes them work in practice.

6 min read

Permits explained

What is a permit to work?

A plain-English explanation of permits to work: what they are, what goes on one, how they differ from RAMS and isolation certificates, and common types.

6 min read

Permit lifecycle

How a permit to work works, step by step

The permit-to-work lifecycle step by step: prepare, authorise, isolate and verify, issue, accept, work, suspend, hand back and close, plus shift handover.

6 min read

Choosing the right control

When is a permit to work needed?

Which jobs usually need a permit to work, from hot work and confined spaces to permits to dig, HV electrical work and temporary works, and when they don't.

7 min read

Roles and responsibilities

Who uses permits to work, and who does what?

The people and roles in a permit-to-work system, from requester and authoriser to permit holder and workers, and the industries and sites that use permits.

6 min read

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