Permit to Work
By the Riskora Editorial Team · Last reviewed
A permit to work is a formal written authorisation that a specific high-risk task can proceed at a specific time, signed by a competent person after pre-task checks.
Permits exist for activities where the risk is high enough that a RAMS alone is not enough — typically hot works, confined space entry, work on live electrical systems, excavation near services, and lone working in hazardous areas.
A permit is time-limited. It is issued for a defined window, often a single shift, and must be returned and closed out when the work ends.
Permits do not replace RAMS — they sit on top. The RAMS describes how the work will be done; the permit confirms that on this specific day, on this specific site, the conditions have been checked and the work can proceed.
Why it matters
Permit-to-work failures are over-represented in HSE incident reports. Treating the permit as a paperwork formality rather than a checkpoint is what causes incidents.