The Permit System

PREPARED BY: JOSHUA B. DACLES

 Permit System
Mandated under the Process Safety Management
standard, the element entitled Non-routine Work.
Some permit systems are required by regulatory agencies
such as the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA).
A special document (permit), which acts like a checklist, to
be filled out.
 Function
To force personnel involved in a hazardous task to take
the time to review all:
a. steps
b. personnel protective equipment (PPE) required
c. type of hazard(s) expected
d. equipment required to perform the task safely
The permit system also temporarily transfer custody of a
piece of equipment.
 Common Permits
Confined spaces
Lockout/Tag out (LOTO)
Hot Work
Cold Work
Opening/blinding
Radiation
Critical lifts
Electrical https://tse4.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.wjPfiHUt4dunmX3mdZcPKAEsEs&pid=15.1
 Common Permits
Confined spaces
Lockout/Tag out (LOTO)
Hot Work
Cold Work
Opening/blinding
Radiation
Critical lifts https://tse4.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.a128c_UfSQL1TMUCYLhMDgEsD5&pid=15.1

Electrical
 Common Permits
Confined spaces
Lockout/Tag out (LOTO)
Hot Work
Cold Work
Opening/blinding
Radiation
Critical lifts http://images.xpresstags.com/img/lg/T/Hot-Work-Permit-Tag-TG-0684.gif

Electrical
 Common Permits
Confined spaces
Lockout/Tag out (LOTO)
Hot Work
Cold Work
Opening/blinding
Radiation
Critical lifts
Electrical http://image.slidesharecdn.com/coldworkpermit-1350480352328-phpapp02-121017082736-
phpapp02/95/cold-work-permit-4-638.jpg?cb=1350465953
 Common Permits
Confined spaces
Lockout/Tag out (LOTO)
Hot Work
Cold Work
Opening/blinding
Radiation
Critical lifts
Electrical
 Common Permits
Confined spaces
Lockout/Tag out (LOTO)
Hot Work
Cold Work
Opening/blinding
Radiation
Critical lifts
Electrical
http://images.mysafetysign.com/img/lg/S/radiation-area-permit-caution-sign-s-2941.png
 Common Permits
Confined spaces
Lockout/Tag out (LOTO)
Hot Work
Cold Work
Opening/blinding
Radiation
Critical lifts https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.Mfda5e44d5b1e4e8b5eae866b4261f744o0&pid=15.1

Electrical
Common Permits in Petrochemical/Refining
Industries

Confined Spaces

Lockout/Tagout

Hot work
 Hot Work Permits
Purpose: to protect personnel and equipment from
explosions and fires that might occur from hot work
performed in a operational area.

Definition: any maintenance procedure that produces a

spark, excessive heat, or requires welding, or burning.
 Hot Work Permits

Grinding Welding Soldering

https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.Qm02Ige0FsM_HSCzKov8QQEsDZ&pid=15.1
 Hot Work Permits Areas of Responsibility

Process Technicians
- inspects area and ensures good housekeeping, blinds, isolates
and clears equipment, vessels, determines PPE required, fills out the
permit and posts it at the job site.

Process Supervisors
- delegates the responsibilities to the process technician and
ensures that all established procedures are completed.
 Hot Work Permits Areas of Responsibility

Maintenance Supervisor
- inspects area and ensures that it is ready for safety
inspector, ensures the equipment, vessels, etc., reviews procedure with
person performing the work, confirms PPE required, and signs permit.

Person performing the work

- inspect the job site; gathers information from process
representative and mechanical supervisor about potential hazards; and
selects appropriate safety equipment before starting to work.
 Hot Work Permits Areas of Responsibility

Safety permit Inspector

- inspects area and ensures that it is safe, ensures the
equipment, vessels, etc., confirms required PPE; signs permit and set
time limit. This function is performed by process technicians at many
locations.

Standby
- stays in the work area and ensures that the person
performing the work is safe, wears the PPE required, warns the person
performing the work if a hazardous conditions develops, and calls for
help, if needed.
 Hot Work Permits Areas of Responsibility

The hot work permit must be filled out and signed before a
safety inspector is called to review it and the work area.

If everything is in order, the safety inspector will sign and

post the permit and the work can be started.
 Hot Work Permits Areas of Responsibility

The hot work permit must indicate:

a. That fire prevention and protection measures were inplace
before the hot work was initiated.
b. the date(s) for which the permit is approved.
c. the location and equipment used where hot work is
performed.
d. that a fire watch was posted and in place during procedure
and 30 minutes after work was complete.
Lockout/Tagout
The most effective way to control hazardous energy is to
put it under lock and key.

One way employers can protect their employees is by

implementing general machine guards and a LOTO program
with emphasis on procedures, training, and periodic
inspections
 Lockout/Tagout
The processing industry harnesses energy from 7 basic forms:
a. electrical
b. pneumatic
c. hydraulic
d. compressed gases
e. liquids
f. gravity
g. spring tension
 Lockout/Tagout LOTO Injuries

The Fatal Five

Failure to stop Failure to disconnect Failure to dissipate

equipment from power source residual energy

Accidental restarting Failure to clear work

of equipment areas before
reactivation of
equipment.
 Lockout/Tagout Lockout Systems

A padlock is placed through a

gate or hasp covering the
activating mechanism of an
energy source, or is applied in
some other manner to prevent
energy from being turned on.

http://www.netherlocks.com/wp-
content/uploads/2012/07/loto-small-
2.jpg
 Lockout/Tagout Tagout Systems

Just like a lockout system

except a tag is included with the
lock. Tags alone should be used
only in cases where a lock is not
feasible. Tags should be sturdy,
waterproof, and large enough to
catch the eye.

http://www.safetypartnersltd.com/wp-
content/uploads/2013/11/LOTO.jpg

Lockout/Tagout
2 types of employees involved in LOTO:
Affected Employee
- employee whose job
requires him/her to operate
or use a machine or
equipment on which servicing
or maintenance is being
performed under LOTO.
Employees
involved
Authorized Employee
- a person who locks out
or tags out machine or
equipment in order to perform
servicing or maintenance on the
machine or equipment.
 Confined Space
Approximately 50 % of the time a confined space is
hazardous because of an oxygen deficiency.

Two out of three deaths in a confined space occur to

persons ill-equipped or poorly trained attempting rescue.

On April 15, 1993, the OSHA rule on Confined Space Entry

(CSE) 29 CFR 1910.146 became effective.
Confined Space
In 29 CFR 1910.146, a confined
space is an enclosed are which:
(1) is large enough to enable
an employee to enter and
perform assigned work,
(2) has limited or restricted
means for entry or exit, and
(3) is not designed for
continuous employee
occupancy.
According to OSHA
A permit-required confined
space is a confined space with
one or more of the following a
characteristics:
(1) Contain/may contain space
with one or more of the
following a characteristics:
contains a material with the
potential for engulfment of
an entrant, hazardous
atmosphere
 Confined Space

https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.-F1xl8f_PqSWuwrsuq5fiwEsDh&pid=15.1
 Confined Space
Flammable and toxic hazards
are the most common CS
hazards

Engulfment hazards are a real

possibility in silos and
excavation. Workers can be
buried alive.

http://cdn1.blog-media.zillowstatic.com/1/SILO-SECTION-92cdea-
837x1024.jpg
 Confined Space
Oxygen-enriched atmospheres are a confined space
hazard. Oxygen-enriched atmospheres occur when the
oxygen level arises above 23.5 %, which creates a serious
fire hazard.

Oxygen deficient atmospheres are another CS hazard.

OSHA regards an atmosphere of less than 19.5% oxygen
as oxygen deficient.
Confined Space Oxygen Atmosphere

Volume % Oxygen Symptom or Comment

23.5 Maximum OSHA permissible level
20.9 Normal air
19.5 Minimum OSHA permissible level
16 Impaired judgment and breathing
14 Faulty judgment, rapid bodily failure
6.0 Difficult breathing, death in minutes
 Gas Testing the Confined
Confined Space Space

Issuing a permit places total

reliability on gas testing devices.
The gas detector must be accurate
and reliable.

Keep a gas detector available as a

spare.
Ensure the detector has been
properly calibrated
Periodically communicate the
instrument readings to the
workers inside the CS
https://tse4.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.GoZF8na4MuNc0EIi4A79QgC9Es&pid=15.1
 Confined Space Confined Space Entry

Test and monitor the tank interior

for hazards.
Provide a means of communication
between the worker(s) in the CS and
an outside hole watch so that help
can be summoned quickly.
Develop plans for rescue and
transportation to medical facilities
Alert the medical facility at your
site of a confined space.

http://firstoncompliance.com/p7hg_img_1/fullsize/Confined_Space_Rescue_Class_Bayer_08_051_fs.jp
g
Confined Space Confined Space Entry
Confined Space Confined Space Team

Entry Supervisor

Entrant

Attendant

Emergency Response
Services
Confined Space Confined Space Team

Responsible to coordinate all

activities related to the CS before
Entry Supervisor issuing a CSE permit.
Plan the entry and develop rescue
Entrant plans
Check the toxic components of the
Attendant confined space and the list of all
LOTO items and signatures.

Emergency Response Assign the hole watch and entry

Services workers
Confined Space Confined Space Team

Must be thoroughly familiar

Entry Supervisor with the space and its hazards,
and
Entrant they should be able to detect
warning signs of over-exposure.
Attendant Should be physically fit to be
able to get out of the vessel on
their own.
Emergency Response
Services
Confined Space Confined Space Team

Also called buddy and hole watch

Entry Supervisor Has the primary responsibility of monitoring

the safety of the persons working in the CS.
Review the permit before any entry and
Entrant keep unauthorized personnel out of the area.
Does not perform any rescue function and
should not enter the CS in the event of a
Attendant problem.
Should not perform any other work, other
Emergency Response than monitoring the atmosphere in the CS
and maintain constant communication with
Services the worker in the CS.
Confined Space Confined Space Team

Plant rescue personnel are selected

in advance and are made ware of the
Entry Supervisor hazards of the CS.

Entrant
Should be given all the pertinent
information:
Attendant Location
Name of the vessel
Permit procedures
Emergency Response List of hazardous chemicals
Services
http://cdn.quotesgram.com/thumb
/97/76/1083622712-SHB-350-
2T.jpg