�UNIT 5 �HEALTH & SAFETY �IN CONSTRUCTION
Dr Adewale Abimbola, FHEA, GMICE.
AIM & OBJECTIVES
Aim:
Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
INTRODUCTION
TYPES OF PERMITS TO WORK
Hot Work Permit:
Example Activities: Welding, cutting, or any activity that generates heat or sparks.
Requirements: Ensures fire precautions are in place.
Confined Space Permit:
Example Activities: Work in confined spaces like tanks or tunnels.
Requirements:
Specifies safety measures for entry and rescue procedures.
Excavation Permit:
Example Activities: Digging trenches or excavating.
Requirements: Addresses risks related to collapsing soil and utilities.
Working at Height Permit:
Example Activities: Tasks involving working at an elevation.
Requirements:
Emphasises fall protection measures.
THE COMPONENTS OF A PERMIT TO WORK
PERMIT TO WORK – APPLICATION PROCESS
PERMIT TO WORK FLOWCHART
Requesting a Permit:
Initiation: The permit requestor, the person in charge, initiates the request for a permit.
Review and Approval:
Assessment: The permit authoriser reviews the application, ensuring all safety measures are in place.
Issuance:
Authorisation: Upon approval (once signed by the permit requestor, and in some cases the permit operator), the permit is issued, granting permission to proceed with the work. This will be displayed at the work location.
Figure 1. Permit to work flowchart (Coventry City Council, 2017).
PERMIT TO WORK – IMPORTANCE/BENEFITS
Permits to work are essential for identifying, assessing, and managing risks associated with specific high-risk construction activities.
They establish and communicate specific control measures, ensuring that workers follow prescribed safety protocols during hazardous tasks.
Permits to work are a legal requirement in many jurisdictions, contributing to compliance with health and safety regulations and standards.
Permits serve as essential documentation for regulatory audits, demonstrating a commitment to safe work practices and compliance with regulations.
The permit process involves a thorough identification of potential hazards, ensuring a proactive approach to safety.
Emergency procedures are an integral part of permits, enhancing the ability to respond effectively to unforeseen incidents.
Permits provide formal authorisation to carry out work and establish accountability, specifying roles and responsibilities of those involved.
Ultimately, permits to work prioritise the well-being of workers, providing a structured and formalised approach to ensuring their safety on construction sites
PERMIT TO WORK – IMPORTANCE/BENEFITS
They serve as a communication tool, ensuring that everyone involved is aware of the risks, control measures, and safety procedures.
Permits highlight the importance of training and awareness, ensuring that workers are competent and informed about the specific risks involved.
Permits create a documented record of safety planning, risk assessments, and control measures, aiding in audits and compliance checks.
The permit system is adaptable to different construction activities, ensuring that safety considerations are tailored to specific tasks.
By systematically addressing risks, permits to work play a vital role in preventing incidents, accidents, and injuries on construction sites.
The permit process allows for continuous improvement, as lessons learned from incidents or near misses can be incorporated into future permits and safety procedures.
For clients, permits provide assurance that construction activities are being conducted safely, meeting health and safety standards.
Well-managed permits contribute to the efficiency and success of construction projects by minimising disruptions, delays, and incidents.
PERMIT TO WORK
Best Practices
Training and Awareness:
Importance: Ensuring all personnel involved are trained in permit procedures.
Regular Audits:
Benefits: Conducting regular audits to assess the effectiveness of the permit system.
Communication:
Key: Effective communication between permit issuer, receiver, and safety officers.
Challenges and Solutions
PERMIT TO WORK— CASE STUDY
(Health and Safety Executive,1994a)
Self-assessment Task
Instructions: Fill in the blanks with the correct words or phrases from the list provided below. Each answer can be used only once.
A Permit to Work system is primarily designed to control __________ activities on a construction site. The person typically responsible for issuing a Permit to Work is the __________ or another authorised person. A Permit to Work should always be issued __________ the work begins. __________ is an example of an activity that usually requires a hot work permit. After work is completed, the Permit to Work should be __________ to the issuing authority. If the scope of work changes during a task, workers should __________ and obtain a new or amended permit. The __________ procedure ensures that the work area is safe and the work is complete before closing out a permit. Both the __________ and the __________ are responsible for ensuring the conditions of the permit are followed. The purpose of displaying the Permit to Work at the work area is to __________ of the ongoing high-risk activity. At the end of each shift, the Permit to Work should be __________ to the issuing authority.
Answer options:
a) stop work b) returned c) high-risk d) before e) inform all personnel
f) site manager g) returned `` h) welding i) handback j) issuer
k) worker
SELF-ASSESSMENT TASK
Additional Information: Use the provided templates.
REFERENCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY