Permit to Work Template (UK)

A permit to work is a formal written authorisation to carry out a high risk job under controlled conditions. It is not extra paperwork for its own sake; for the most dangerous work it is the system that makes sure the hazards are isolated and understood before anyone starts, and that the job is formally closed when it ends.

When you need one

Permits are used for work where the consequences of getting it wrong are severe and the controls must be guaranteed before work begins. Typical examples are hot work such as welding or cutting, entry into confined spaces, work on electrical systems, excavation near services, and work on pressurised systems. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and regulations such as the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 drive the need to control these activities tightly.

What a permit controls

A permit to work forces a defined sequence: the hazards are identified, the necessary isolations and precautions are put in place and checked, the work is authorised by a competent person, the people doing it sign to confirm they understand the conditions, and the permit is formally handed back and cancelled when the work is complete. It makes sure nothing is assumed and that two sides, the issuer and the worker, agree on the state of the job.

The elements of a good permit

1. A clear description of the work and its exact location.
2. The hazards and the precautions required, including isolations.
3. The period the permit is valid for.
4. Named people issuing and receiving it, with signatures.
5. A hand back and cancellation section confirming the area is safe and normal.

It does not replace the risk assessment

A permit works alongside the risk assessment and method statement for the task, not instead of them. The assessment identifies the risk; the permit controls the moment the work happens. See our guide to method statements and RAMS for how the pieces fit together.

Get the template

Our permit to work template, included in membership, gives you a structured permit covering hot work and general high risk tasks, ready to adapt to your activity.