The International Labour Organization (ILO) reported that there are more than 2.3 million fatalities per year as a result of occupational accidents or work-related illnesses. This translates to 6,300 fatalities on a daily basis. Meanwhile, the ILO also reported that there were 317 million accidents that occur on the job yearly. Many of these tragedies are avoidable through the implementation of sound prevention, inspection and reporting practices.

*Data source – International Labor Organization

Frontline workers are constantly exposed to significant risks when operating in unsafe environments. Mishaps can often be the result of overlooking even the tiniest details, including delayed communication or miscommunication, incompetent work procedures or workers, inaccurate risk assessments, or most importantly, a redundant safety system.  

When incidents such as these occur, human factors such as failure to implement procedures properly are often found to be the root cause.  As statutory norms keep tightening, the challenge to manage operations faster, safer and with better accountability has become of paramount importance. These failures are often attributable to a lack of training or lack of understanding of the Permit to Work (PTW) system. 

What Specifically is a Permit to Work?

A Permit to Work (also known as Safe Work Permit) is a formal document that describes the work to be performed, potential hazards included, precautions to take, required authorizations, and other information. It is a written record authorizing a specific work at a specific location, and for a specific time. A Permit to Work is used to identify, communicate and make critical safety information understandable for workers. Hot Work and Confined Space Entry are good examples of types of tasks where permits are necessary.