WORK PERMIT SYSTEM Definition: = Meaning

An organized method which authorizes specific activity such as Construction, Maintenance, Inspection or Repair in areas identified by management as restricted and which represent a potential Hazard to company operations, personnel or equipment

(HAZARD means Danger)

AIM OF THE WORK PERMIT SYSTEM

∫ AUTHORIZATION-of Specific Work, in a Specific Location, inside Restricted Areas

∫ SAFETY – provide a Safe Work Location by identification and elimination of Hazards and lists Minimum Precautions for working Safely

∫ COMMUNICATIONS – awareness

∫ RECORD KEEPING – provides an official record of events and agreements

∫ ACCESS CONTROL – limits personnel in Hazardous Areas

WORK PERMIT SYSTEM BASIC TERMS

RESTRICTED AREAS: 1. AREAS WHERE HYDROCARBONS, FLAMMABLE

LIQUIDS, GASES OR OXIDIZING AGENTS, ARE HANDLED, STORED, PIPED OR PROCESSED, IN SIGNIFICANT QUANTITIES.

2) WITHIN 200 FEET OF POWER LINES.

3) WITHIN 100 FEET OF PIPELINES.

4) AREAS OR ACTIVITIES WHICH HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED, BY A DEPARTMENT MANAGER.

WORK PERMIT SYSTEM BASIC TERMS

∫ DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE: (CHOSEN) A COMPETENT EMPLOYEE, DESIGNATED

(CHOSEN) BY THE ISSUER, WHO IS FAMILIAR WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE WORK PERMIT SYSTEM AND IS ABLE TO PERFORM ASSOCIATED WORK PERMIT DUTIES. HE DOES NOT SIGN THE WORK PERMIT.

∫ ISOLATION: A PROCESS WHEREBY THE SYSTEM OR

COMPONENT, IS REMOVED FROM SERVICE AND IS COMPLETELY PROTECTED AGAINST THE UNPLANNED ENTRY OF ENERGY, WHETHER IT BE CHEMICAL, MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL OR PNEUMATIC ENERGY.

REQUIREMENTS OF ISSUING/RECEIVING PERMITS

∫ KNOWING THE SCOPE OF WORK

∫ KNOWING AND UNDERSTANDING THE TYPE(S) OF PERMIT(S) NEEDED

∫ SPECIFIC HAZARD IDENTIFICATION

∫ LOCATION

∫ JOINT SITE INSPECTION

SCOPE means RANGE OF WORK SPECIFIC means (ACCURATE)

HOT WORK ANYTHING THAT CREATES FLAMES, HEAT OR OTHER

IGNITION SOURCES SUCH AS:

∫ HOT TAPPING.

∫ WELDING AND TORCH CUTTING.

∫ VEHICLE ENTRY.

∫ FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY, ABRASIVE GRINDING BLASTING, AND GRINDING.

FIRE TRIANGLE

COLD WORK WORK THAT DOES NOT CREATE AN IGNITION

SOURCE - HEAT, FLAME OR SPARK

∫ BRUSH PAINTING

∫ HAND TOOL WORK

∫ INSPECTION

∫ SCAFFOLD ERECTION

RELEASE PERMIT POTENTIAL RELEASES OF HAZARDOUS

GASES & CHEMICALS SUCH AS:

∫ SWINGING BLINDS

∫ GAS FREEING EQUIPMENT

∫ VENTING TO ATMOSPHERE

∫ OPENING LINES

∫ DEPRESSURIZING HIGH PRESSURE AIR LINES

CONFINED SPACE PERMIT ENTRY OF PERSONNEL INTO ANY SPACE OR STRUCTURE NOT NORMALLY INTENDED FOR HUMAN OCCUPANCY, IN WHICH ENTRY, MOVEMENT OR EXIT IS RESTRICTED

∫ TANKS, TOWERS, VESSELS, EXCAVATIONS 4ft OR DEEPER, SUMPS, SEWERS, VALVE PITS, VESSEL SKIRTS

PEOPLE INVOLVED IN WORK PERMITS

EACH CRAFT MUST HAVE A SEPARATE PERMIT

∫ CERTIFIED ISSUER

∫ ISSUES WORK PERMIT ONLY AFTER:

∫ VISITING THE SITE TOGETHER WITH THE RECEIVER

∫ PERFORMING GAS TEST

∫ LISTING PRECAUTIONS AND RESTRICTIONS

PEOPLE INVOLVED IN WORK PERMITS (CONT.)

∫ CERTIFIED RECEIVER ∫ REQUESTS WORK PERMIT FROM OPS.

∫ ISSUER & RECEIVER ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR:

∫ COMPLYING WITH CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

∫ KEEPING COPY OF PERMIT IN POSSESSION OR WITHIN VIEW OF THE JOB SITE

∫ STOPPING WORK

∫ CLOSING A WORK PERMIT WITH ISSUER

JOINT SITE INSPECTIONS

∫ DISCUSS SCOPE OF WORK

∫ GAS TESTING

∫ LOCKOUT/HOLD TAGS

∫ SAFETY EQUIPMENT NEEDED

∫ PROCESS HAZARDS

∫ ISOLATION/DEPRESSURIZATION

∫ PHYSICAL HAZARDS

∫ RADIATION HAZARDS

CLOSING A WORK PERMIT

∫ “WORK PERMITS SHALL BE CLOSED BY RECEIVER AND ISSUER EXCEPT WHEN:”

∫ DISTANCE OR REMOTENESS MAKE SIGNING IMPRACTICAL

∫ MUST BE STATED WHEN PERMIT IS ISSUED

PERMIT HAZARDS

∫ FLAMMABILITY/COMBUSTIBILITY ∫ LOWER EXPLOSION LIMIT (LEL) – TOO LEAN ∫ UPPER EXPLOSION LIMIT (UEL) – TOO RICH ∫ FLAMMABLE RANGE – MIXTURE WILL BURN

LIMITS:

∫ ANY READING ABOVE 0% LEL- NO HOT WORK PERMITTED.

∫ 5% TO 50% LEL- SCOT AIR PAK USED FOR COLD

WORK ONLY

∫ ABOVE 50% LEL – NO ENTRY PERMITTED NO

WORK PERMITTED

PERMIT HAZARDS (CONT.)

∫ HYDROGEN SULFIDE- TOXICITY ∫ 10 PPM, CAN SMELL, PERMISSIBLE FOR

8 HOURS ONLY.

∫ 100PPM, KILLS SMELL IN 3-15 MINUTES

∫ 500PPM, UNCONSCIOUS IN 15 MINUTES

∫ 700PPM, BREATHING STOPS WITHIN MOMENTS

∫ 1000PPM, IMMEDIATE UNCONSCIOUSNESS AND DEATH IF NOT RESCUED AND RESUSCITATED

PERMIT HAZARDS (CONT.)

∫ OXYGEN ∫ 21% - IS NORMAL

∫ LESS THAN 20%, REQUIRES DIV. HEAD APPROVAL + SAP

∫ ABOVE 23.5% EXTREME FLAMMABILITY HAZARD

∫ EXPOSURE TO LESS THAN 16% CAUSES RAPID UNCONSCIOUSNESS

DURATION OF WORK PERMITS & EXTENSIONS

∫ NORMAL DURATION IS FOR 8 –HOURS ONLY

∫ CAN BE INCREASED TO 16 – HOURS IF SIGNED BY ISSUER AND RECEIVER COMING ON SHIFT

∫ UP TO 30 DAYS FOR CERTAIN JOBS WITH DIVISION HEAD APPROVAL

GAS TEST LIMITS

H2S )PPM) 0 - 10 OK TO WORK

11 – 100 SCOTT AIR PAK

> 100 SCOTT AIR PAK & SUPT. APPROVAL

OXYGEN (%) 20 – 23.5 OK TO WORK

<29 & > 23.5 SCOTT AIR PAK & SUPT. APPROVAL

FLAMMABLE GAS (% LEL)

0.0 HOT WORK

0.5 CONFINED SPACE ENTRY

5 – 50 COLD WORK WITH SCOTT AIR PAK

ISOLATION, LOCKOUT, AND USE OF HOLD TAGS

∫ TYPES OF ENERGY SOURCES EXAMPLES:

∫ ELECTRICAL

∫ FLUID

∫ GASEOUS

∫ MECHANICAL

∫ CHEMICAL

ISOLATION, LOCKOUT, AND USE OF HOLD TAGS

∫ MEANS OF ISOLATION

WHEN THERE IS A POTENTIAL ENERGY, THE SOURCE SHALL BE ISOLATED

∫ BLINDS

∫ CLOSING AND LOCKING OF VALVES

∫ REMOVAL OF PIPING

∫ OPENING AND LOCKING CIRCUIT BREAKERS

∫ DISCONNECT POWER SUPPLIES

ISOLATION, LOCKOUT, AND USE OF HOLD TAGS

∫ PROCEDURES

∫ SPECIFIC ISOLATION, LOCK, HOLD AND TAG PROCEDURES

∫ EACH DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING LOCKOUT PROCEDURES AND TRAINING

∫ OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE SHALL PROVIDE LOCKOUT EQUIPMENT

∫ OPERATIONS SHOULD BE FIRST ON AND LAST OFF LOCK

∫ LOCK, TAG AND TRY

ISOLATION, LOCKOUT, AND USE OF HOLD TAGS

∫ LOCKS

∫ EACH CRAFTSMAN SHOULD HAVE HIS OWN LOCK

∫ ONE LOCK, ONE KEY

∫ TAG MUST HAVE NAME AND PHONE NUMBER AT MINIMUM

∫ FORCED REMOVAL REQUIRES TWO SUPERINTENDENTS. AND DOCUMENTATION

EXCEPTION TO OBTAINING A WORK PERMITS

∫ EMERGENCY ONLY

∫ STILL MUST DO THE JOB SAFELY

∫ COMPLETE PERMITS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE