Permit-to-work workflow: from request to review on construction sites

The practical starting point

For your subcontractor crews, use this guidance with the current work phase, trade responsibilities and approved procedures in view. Keep your safety manager involved in record reviews and follow-up. This guidance supports record keeping and coordination, not technical authorization to carry out the work.

A permit-to-work workflow keeps the proposed task, work area, requirements and approval status in one record. Before relying on a permit, the crew and supervisor need to confirm that the record matches the work actually planned.

Map the decision before building the form

Start by describing who requests the permit, who reviews the proposed work and who confirms the current status before work starts. Different permit types can require different checks. Ask your competent safety lead to define those checks rather than treating a generic form as sufficient for every task.

What belongs in the record

• Site and specific work area
• Task, scope and planned timing
• Requirements to review and the responsible people
• Current approval status and supporting details

Example: a changed work area

Imagine an excavation permit requested for the north side of a site. The crew is later moved to another area. The original location and approval should not be assumed to apply to the new work. Pause the handover and have the authorized people review the changed scope under your site procedure.

Make the handover explicit

Use this checklist with the people responsible for the work. Adapt the review to your site procedures rather than treating a generic list as authorization to proceed.

• Confirm the permit describes the current task.
• Review the recorded requirements with the crew.
• Confirm approval status with the authorized reviewer.
• Retain the completed record for later review.