A permit to work system is an integral part of a safe system of work and is used to ensure that work is done safely and efficiently. These are typically used in hazardous industries and involve procedures to request, review, authorise, document and most importantly, de-conflict tasks to be carried out by front line workers. Permit to work is an essential part of control of work, and the integrated management of maintenance processes. Control of work is made up of permit to work, hazard identification and risk assessment, with the necessary mitigation and control measures, including isolation management.
A permit-to-work is not simply permission to carry out a dangerous task but is an essential part of a system which determines how that task can be carried out safely and helps communicate this to those performing the task. The issue of a permit does not, by itself, make a task safe - that can only be achieved by those preparing for the work, those supervising the work and those performing the work.
A permit-to-work system is a formal recorded process used to control work which is identified as potentially hazardous. It is also a means of communication between site/installation management, plant supervisors and operators and those who carry out the hazardous work.
Permits to work is dependent on objects and setups in related modules, for example:
A typical Permit to work flow is depicted as follow:
The use of some of the features listed below is optional.
A hazard is a situation that poses a threat to life, health, property, or environment. Most hazards are dormant with only a theoretical risk of harm. However, once a hazard becomes active it can create an emergency situation. A hazardous situation that has come to pass is called an incident.
Hazard and possibility interact together to create risk.
To create or add hazards to the list in HSE 365:
Go to: HSE > Safety and security > Hazards > Hazards
The permit to work formalises the controls needed to mitigate Hazards and clearly sets out the responsibility for supervision and naming those operators involved. It's not just about checking that it is safe to start the work, but also that it is safe to continue the work, and is safe to return to normal operation after work (think maintenance) is completed. For example, work in confined spaces or at heights may need to be stopped if the weather changes. A hazard control program consists of all steps necessary to protect workers from exposure to a substance or system, the training and the procedures required to monitor worker exposure and their health, to hazards such as chemicals, materials or substances, or other types of hazards such as noise and vibration.
Go to: HSE > Permits to work > Setup for permits to work > Control measures
Dynamics 365 HSE allows you to pre-configure your isolation procedures in the system. Each isolation procedure will contain all the details of the necessary isolations. The isolation procedure can be linked to a specific item of equipment, a certain type of equipment and/or activities that may be in progress at the time. The system will then help you to identify the correct isolation procedure to use as well as ensuring that all the necessary isolations are correctly detailed on the permit to work.
Go to: HSE > Permits to work > Setup for permits to work > Isolation points
Go to: HSE > Objects
Tag outs are safety procedures that ensures that dangerous objects/equipment (or situations) are properly shut down. Also known as LOTO; this stands for lockout/tagout. When done properly before objects/equipment service or maintenance, lockout/tagout procedures control hazardous energy and protect workers from harm.
Without the use of proper LOTO safety procedures, the serviced objects/equipment can unexpectedly start up or otherwise release these forms of energy. This can lead to injuries and even death to the people working on the machine and even to others working in the area or living in the community.
Energy sources including electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, or other sources in machines and equipment can be hazardous to workers. During the servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment, the unexpected startup or release of stored energy can result in serious injury or death to workers.
A lockout/tagout procedure should include at least the following steps:
To do this inside Dynamics 365 users should go to Tag out Fast tab of the Object detail form as per above.
Go to: HSE > Setup > Work > Job plan
When signing actions are attempted on a Permit to work, a check is done to ensure that the worker has the necessary competencies (if competency checking is enabled). Certificates in the D365 Human resources module are used to define the competencies.
The required Certificate types are grouped in a Certificate group providing for multiple competencies to be selected.
Certificates in the D365 Human Resources optionally provides for Certificate types that expire and require renewal.
Certificates must be allocated to the relevant workers in D365 so that the system can compare the required competencies against the worker’s actual competencies.
The competency checks (if active) are done as follows on the Safety plan:
PTW rules - Competencies tab: | Competency check done on: |
Requestor | Submit |
Approver | Approve/Reject/Cancel |
Issuer | Issue/Receive back/File |
Acceptor | Accept/Sign off |
Competency checks cannot be performed if the Acceptor is not on D365 as a worker, for example where the permit is accepted by a vendor employee
Go to: Human resources > Competencies > Setup > Certificate types
Go to: Human resources > Competencies > Setup > Certificate group
Go to: HSE > Worker
When you use the same type of permit to work over and over again; users can choose to make use of a safety plan (template) to enable a consistent process, format and ensure productive use of time. Safety plans together with Permit to work types are the driving force and governance of the Permit to work "system". This setup is crucial and will determine important things such as:
For additional detail please refer to the Wiki page on Safety plans
Go to: HSE > Safety and security > Safety plans
Under the More Index tab:
Under the General Fast tab
When the satus is changed to Approved, the Approved by and Approved date fields will display the logged in user's name and the current date
OR
There are three index tabs that need to be opened and completed in order to provide all the necessary information for the safety plan: Object, Locations and Jobs
OR
A Preparation checklist for before work is started, and a Safety checklist for after the work has been completed, can be specified on the Safety plan
OR
OR
Based on a risk assesment done before, users can "call up" a risk assessment method statement ('RAMS'). A RAMS is a written record of the potential hazards involved in certain tasks, the precautions put in place to reduce these risks and how to carry out these workplace activities safely. A method statement may not be required for every risk assessment, just those tasks or activities that are high risk eg some construction site tasks. The method statement helps manage any planned work and ensure that the necessary precautions have been communicated to all those involved. It’s becoming a standard requirement by third parties for tradespeople to produce RAMS should they wish to support larger jobs or projects.
When a Safety plan is selected for a Permit to work, all Hazards, controls and attachments on the Safety plan will be copied to the Permit to work
Everyone who carries out work, whether it is contractors, subcontractors, and all employees and managers, have responsibilities and duties under a permit to work system. It is therefore imperative that every role player is trained and that they know what their responsibilities are so that they can be carried out properly. To facilitate clear roles and responsibilities users should create Signature types and link them to related types of permits
Go to: HSE > Permits to work > Setup for permits to work > Permit to work type signatures
Go to: HSE > Setup > Signature type
Vendors can also be added to signature types
Many industries involve tasks that are considered to be high-risk or have workplaces that can be hazardous. For example, permits to work are common in the construction industry since building sites contain a variety of hazards and much of the work involved is high-risk. Permit to work types are defined and help to group related safety rules together for each type of work to be executed.
Go to: HSE > Permits to work > Setup for permits to work > Permit to work types
The Requires approved safety plan tick box gives the user the option to enable/disable the mandatory approval of Safety plans
There are typically several types of permits, each addressing a specific type of job or work activity. Users can group different types of work (Permit type id) together.
Go to: HSE > Permits to work > Setup for permits to work > Permit to work type groups
There are several signing actions associated with permits, and questions can be setup to appear on the signing action canvas/dialogue when performing a signing action. For example, a declaration must be done when Approving a permit, then the relevant question would be the declaration text.
The questions are setup per permit type (Type) and signing action (Action).
The Question text is the text that is displayed on the signing action dialogue.
A question must have an Answer type:
The response to the question is set by the Negative outcome setting:
Go to: HSE > Permits to Work > Setup for permits to work > Permit to work type actions and questions
Users have the option to Show lifecycle related buttons and columns.
Users have the option to change the labels of the two Note fields under the Other Fast tab on the Permit to work header view.
These values will be the labels for the two note boxes on the Permit to work header, under the Notes Fast tab
This is a setup that is be done once to enable (or disable) the capturing of electronic signatures within D365 HSE from the signature pad.
Go to: HSE > Setup > Health, Safety and Environment parameters
A signature pad must be setup on the workstation where the signature is being captured.
Electronic signatures are used in the HSE module under Permits to Work to capture signatures made on the signature pad for some of the permit signing actions.
The following diagram describes the information and processes involved in issuing a Permit to work
Locks can be set up to isolate a particular piece of machinery or object.
For example, repairs to electrical equipment may require switching off of supply - a physical lock will be used to isolate this item.
Certain items of equipment, particularly large and complex pieces of plant, will often have lengthy complicated isolation procedures. The safety of workers can depend on equipment being correctly isolated. Isolation procedures will often be documented and filed. Operational staff have to look up the correct procedures when issuing a permit. These procedures are time consuming and are subject to human-error. When permits are issued, operators may be tempted to rely on memory for the isolations instead of taking the time to look up and verify the correct procedures. There is also the chance that the wrong isolation procedure is used.
Go to: HSE > Permits to work > Setup for permits to work > Lock box
Go to: HSE > Permits to Work > Setup for permits to work > Locks
When a lock is not being used any more it can be marked as Inactive, rather than deleting the lock. This ensures that historical records can reference back to the lock.
If this lock is being used on a Permit to work, the user can see the details under the Currently used by these safety permits Fast tab
If this lock has been issued to a worker on the Locks issue register, the user can see the details under the Currently issued to this worker Fast tab
The Personal lock slider under the General Fast tab will be on Yes
The history of the locks will be tracked in terms of the Permit to work that used the lock.
HSE 365 is a module inside Dynamics 365 FO which manages the process whereby permits to work (also known as clearances) are recorded, approved, issued and eventually filed. When recording and issuing of a permit to work, Dynamics 365 HSE will help with the safety preparations, identification of hazards, the PPE and proper lock out procedures. The result is clearance of high integrity done in a formal way.
The sub-module caters for all the formal procedures and rules surrounding hazardous materials, safety equipment, isolations and protective equipment. The system is set up to ensure that safety regulations established in your company are adhered to by either prohibiting any action that is contrary to these rules, or in special circumstances, by raising an “exception” in the system and ensuring that the user enters a reason for his actions. These matters can then be escalated to line management for follow up where needed.
The following statuses and sub-statuses (cycles) are supported:
Status: | Sub status: |
Requested | Not issued |
Recorded | Issued |
Submitted | Surrended |
Prepared | Handed back |
Rejected | Signed off |
Approved | |
Issued | |
Accepted | |
Cancelled | |
Signed off | |
Filed | |
Voided |
Contractors can request Permits to work on Dynamics 365 by using the Contractor safety and security workspace.
Please refer to Workspace and Reports & Inquiries guide to see how to enable a contractor to access Dynamics 365 without adding them as a system user.
From a contractor point of view in Dynamics 365 FO; contract workers can log into the portal and only see related information for the contractor (vendor):
Go to: Workspaces > Contractor safety and security
The Valid from and Valid to date and time fields will be populated according to the selection made in the Duration field. These values can be edited
For a work order line to be selectable:
- The Work order must be active
- The Work order line has to have the following:
- No Permit to work record already assigned to it
- No preferred vendor, OR the preferred vendor has to be the same as the portal vendor (Refer to Contractor safety self-service workspace section in the Reports and inquiries Wiki page)
- A site is specified, where the Functional location of the work order line's site, is the same as the filter site
- For the maintenance job type on the work order line, the Permit to work slider has to be on Yes (Step 21 below)
A Permit to work with status Requested will be created
A few validations happen on creation of a Permit to work based on the Permit to work Type selected.
Go to: HSE > Permits to work > Record a permit to work
The worker selected in the Requested for field, will see the Permit to work on the Permits to work assigned to me list page
The Valid from and Valid to date and time fields will be populated according to the selection made in the Duration field. These values can be edited
The approver of the Permit to work is the one specified on the Header of the safety plan under Permit to work rules
The employees that can be issued with permits, as well as those to whom permits can be handed over to, are validated based on the rules specified on the Header of the safety plan under Permit to work rules
This List page shows all permits to work. Other menu steps are available with predefined filters.
Go to: HSE > Permits to work > Permit to work list pages > All Permits to work
The Parent permit is selected in the Header view of the child permit
To view the Permit types in the selected Permit to work type group, click on the Show permit types button in the Action pane
Permits to work allow for interactive comments to be added anywhere during the life cycle.
The comment will automatically be entered on the status that the permit is currently on
When creating a Permit to work from a Safety plan which has no Objects, Locations or Job plans linked to it, the following can be done:
- Manually add Objects, Locations or Job plans.
The Hazards linked to the Objects, Locations or Job plans (as well as the Control measures linked to the hazards), will default in on the Permit to work
- Add additional Hazards to the Objects, Locations or Job plans on the Permit to work.
The Control measures from the hazards will default in on the Permit to work
High risk work needs to be carried out in accordance with a company’s standard operating procedures relating to the work activities at hand in order to ensure compliance. These are recorded in Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) that can be referenced during the permit to work process.
The Permit to work has to be Approved for the following step
Possible risk impact on other work can be entered under this Fast tab
A Preparation checklist aims to help everyone concerned with the preparation of the work place, to decide whether the permit to work covers all the points that are considered essential. The checklist is intended for use when setting up a new permit to work.
Feedback can also be done on checklists by following this path: HSE > Permits to work > Checklists for permits to work
When you want to change the date and time that is needed to complete the tasks, you can extend the duration beyond the validity of the permit to work. Operational rules might dictate that a permit to work requires an extension.
Expand the Extension Fast tab to view the entered data
It is imperative to control these Permit to works as they could save lives. For example:
The issuing, Hand-over and Surrendering of permits should only be to qualified workers.
Approvals of permits should be controlled by competent people.
It is of utmost importance to ensure that overlapping work group interactions are checked. If more than one open Permit to work exists, the system should check if teams could potentially step on each other’s toes. This overlapping check must flag additional Hazards on a permit to work.
All the controlling functions are accessible on the Action pane in the Control group of the Permits to work list page.
It is important to note that the Controls that are available for the various permits will depend on the Permit to work type actions and questions that were setup for the different Permit types.
This setup is covered under the Setups section of this document.
Below is an example of what the controls for the Permit type Hot work will implicate as setup in this specific environment:
Steps/Phases |
Next step |
Optional |
1. Recorded |
The permit has to be submitted Can reject |
|
2. Submit |
The permit has to be approved Can reject |
|
3. Approve |
Requires a signature A declaration must be done The permit has to be accepted |
|
4. Void |
The permit has to be Submitted The permit has to be Approved The permit cannot be voided after “Issue - Accept” The permit is no longer in use |
|
5. Issue - Accept |
Can surrender Can hand-over Can sign off |
Requires a signature A declaration must be done |
6. Hand over |
The permit must be Accepted | |
7. Surrender |
The permit must be Accepted |
Requires a signature A declaration must be done |
8. Signed off |
A declaration must be done |
Requires a signature A declaration must be done |
9. Cancel |
Can file | Requires a signature |
10. File |
The permit is no longer in use | Requires a signature |
After recording a Permit to work, it has to be submitted and approved
Only APPROVED Permits to work can be issued to a worker with the relevant competencies
The permit can only be approved by the person specified on the Header of the safety plan under Permit to work rules
The permit can only be issued if it is still valid according to the date of the permit
The list of workers that have been selected as Approvers on the Safety plan, can be viewed in the Related information pane under the Approvers Fact box
Once the Permit has been approved, the Issue-Accept button becomes available on the Action pane
When a specific job is not completed at the end of a shift, another qualified worker/team has to take ownership of the work. It is important to formally hand over the Permit to work to the new worker/team.
When a specific job is not completed at the end of a shift, the permit can be surrendered by the worker to be accepted by the same worker on the next day
The history of workers who had taken ownership of a Permit to work (either through issuing, hand-over, surrendering or re-issuing) will be displayed on the Header view of the permit.
Go to: HSE > Permits to work > All permits to work
Ticked check boxes will indicate what actions have been taken
Qualified personnel must be authorized to review and approve permits to work. Before a permit to work can be issued, it must first be reviewed and then approved. This could include multiple pre-approvals. Dynamics 365 HSE has functionality for different roles and responsabilities and signature types to support pre-approvals.
Go to: HSE > Permits to work > All permits to work
To view the comment entered by the user, open the Comments Index tab under the General Fast tab on the Permit header.
A log of all signatures done on the permit, is kept under the Actions Fast tab on the Permit header
Seeing that the Permit to work starts with and is based on a safety plan, users can do the following while interacting with the permit:
All these additions/alterations can be sent back to the safety plan where this Permit to work originated from
The Permit to work is essential but not always sufficient. Another critical safety procedure is the job risk assessment (JRA). Depending on the industry and organisation terminology, the JRA is sometimes referred to as the point of work risk assessment (POWRA). Both the permit to work and the job risk assessment are critical procedures designed to mitigate risk ensure that work takes place safely. Lets look at the Hazard identification and mitigation on the Permit to work.
Go to: HSE > Permits to work > Permit to work list pages > All Permits to work
The hierarchy of controls is a method of identifying and ranking safeguards to protect workers from hazards. They are arranged from the most to least effective and include elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls and personal protective equipment.
When Hazards are added to the Safety plan/Permit to work, a validation is done to check for mitigating controls. If the same control exists on a previously selected hazard, the user is presented with a pop-up message to warn them of the duplication of control measures.
The following Index tabs form the hierarchy of control measures used to mitigate safety risks:
Tick the Applicable box to choose/indicate the applicable precaution from the default list, received from the Safety plan
The isolation procedure for the Permit to work is entered under the Loto Fast tab
OR
Click on the Add all button to add the tag outs from a specific Isolation group
The permit status has to be Submitted for Isolations/Locks to be issued
During the course of work execution under a valid permit to work, it may be necessary to record values, for example, hourly gas test measurements, etc. The safety checklist is a very valuable tool that is configurable for this purpose, and can be printed out with a permit when it is issued, for recording such values.
On the Checklist feedback form, do feedback on the checklist lines
Open the Measurements Index tab if the checklist lines require measurements to be entered
Permit to work pools are used to group permits together. This allows users to do bulk actions like Suspend. It allows users to have many permits linked/created to/from one Asset management work order line, or even many permits to one Project WBS (Future release).
Go to: HSE > Permits to work > Permits to work pool
If you want to add all Permits to work to a pool, regardless of the permit to work type, leave the Permit to work type field on the dialog blank
Only permits with status Approved can be suspended.
The Suspended slider under the General Fast tab will be moved to Yes
The Suspended box for all the lines under the Permits to work Fast tab will be ticked, and the status of these Permits to work will be changed to Suspended
If additional Permits to work were added to the pool after the Bulk suspend button was clicked, and these permits must be suspended too, the user can move the Suspended slider under the General Fast tab to Yes. This will enable the Bulk suspend button in the Action pane.
To unsuspend a Permit to work, select the Permit and click on the Unsuspend button under the Permits to work Fast tab.
Users can choose to copy an existing permit. This function is also available on the Asset management work order lines. This is usefull when a permit was created for example for a Monday and operations requires to copy this permit 4 times for the additional days of the week. Options exist to specify how many permits to be created as copies as well as how to cascade the valid from and valid to dates.
Go to: HSE > Permits to work > Permit to work list pages > All Permits to work
The copied permit will open with a new permit number
Go to: Asset management > Work orders > All work orders
All the copies as well as the Original Permit that was created initially against the Work order line, will be copied into the Permit to work pool.
Assuming the Asset management to Permit to work integration setup was done. In specific the rules on the Maintenance job types and the Work order lifecycle state. Refer to step 21 below.
Assets
It is possible to link Safety objects one-to-one with the Microsoft maintenance asset as well as Safety location with Microsoft maintenance functional location.
For completeness the Microsoft master (static) data elements will display the above reference.
Location
Work order maintenance job type
Maintenance and safety users can choose to create rules on when and how to allow the creation and adding of existing permits to maintenance work orders (job cards). These include specifying which type of maintenance work (job type) must have a Permit to work and a risk assessment.
Work order life cycle state
In addition, users can control when (at which status) to:
HSE parameters
When starting a Maintenance work order or assigning a maintenance job; HSE 365 can check if a risk assessment was done. To enable this, users must mark “Risk assessment” as mandatory on the Work order type and then choose a status where this check must be performed on the HSE parameters form.
A request for a maintenance job could include the request to also have a Permit to work. This will be based on a safety plan that will mitigate any possible hazards. HSE 365 supports the above. When users create a maintenance request, they can enter a permit to work type (e.g. working at heights, working at night etc.) as well as safety plan that uses the same type. Then, when the request is approved and a work order is created, there is an option to automatically create a permit to work. These two transactions will be linked via a Permit to work reference on the work order line.
Then when users create ("convert") a Work order from an existing maintenance request, an option exist to also automatically create a new Permit to work.
Users have two options. They can create a new Permit to work directly on the Work order line or users can choose from an existing list of permits that were created in side HSE.
Creating a new safety permit:
Go to: Asset management > Work orders > All work orders
Adding an existing safety permit:
Go to: Asset management > Work orders > All work orders
When creating a Permit to work from the Work order line, users will be given the option to copy the work description text, found on the Work order line details (Description Index tab) to the Work to be performed Fast tab (on the Permit to work header).
Permits to work linked to work order maintenance jobs can be viewed by following the path below.
Go to: Asset management > Work orders > All work order maintenance jobs
OR
Go to: HSE > Permits to work > All work order maintenance jobs
On this list page the user has the option to change the view to Location focus
Link Risk register
A focus and commitment to construction safety is critical. Workplaces are often high-risk, and workers are required to undertake tasks that could put them in harm's way if correct induction and safety procedures are not followed.
To keep construction sites safe, compliant, and to prevent employees and contractors from injuring themselves, a construction worksite should have permits.
Users have two options. They can create a new Permit to work directly on the Work breakdown structure, or users can choose from an existing list of permits that were created inside HSE.
Creating a new safety permit:
Go to: Project management and accounting > Projects > All projects
Go to: Project management and accounting > Projects > All projects
The Project work to be done can be viewed on the Permit to work
Go to: HSE > Permits to work > All project WBS with permit
The Workflow editor can only be opened in Microsoft Edge
To create workflow for Permits to work, go to:
HSE > Setup > Health, Safety and Environment workflows
Below is a screenshot of the Permit to work approval workflow
Users receive notifications to action workflow in D365
List page | Filters |
All permits to work |
|
All open permits to work |
|
Permits to work in the field |
|
Asbestos permits to work |
|
Confined space permits to work |
|
Permits to work requested by me |
|
Permits to work assigned to me |
|
Signed permits to work |
|
Permits to work to be filed |
|
Suspended permits to work |
|
Permits to be prepared |
|
Permits to be issued |
|
Permits to be approved |
|
Go to: HSE > Permit to work > Reports and Inquiries > Permit to work
The HSE > Permits to work > Reports and Inquiries > Permit in columns menu will always print VIEW ONLY watermarked reports, regardless of permit or issue status, to prevent un-watermarked permits to be accidently circulated.
Go to: HSE > Permits to work > Permit to work list pages > All permits to work
- The Print permit in columns button generates a DRAFT watermarked report until the report’s Permit Status = Approved, and the Issued field = Yes
- Once the PTW becomes Permit Status = Approved and the Issued field = Yes, then an un-watermarked report is generated, but only for the first time after this print button is clicked! Every time it is printed again from this button, the report will print with a COPY watermark
To cater for printer jams or when a second reprint of an unwatermarked report is required, the Print permit in columns (admin) button on the Permit detail form, will generate unwatermarked reports, but the same conditions apply:
- A DRAFT watermarked report is generated, until the report’s Permit Status = Approved and the Issued field = Yes
- There is in essence no difference between the Print permit in columns, and Print permit in columns (admin) buttons, up until the report is Approved and Issued, thereafter this button continues to print un-watermarked reports
- Access to the Print permit in columns (admin) button is controlled by security rights and roles to prevent general access to this feature
Go to: HSE > Permits to work > Reports and Inquiries > Permit to work register
On this progressive graph the number of created permits to work are displayed per site and type.
Go to: HSE > Workspaces > Safety management