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A permit to work template for high-risk jobs.

A permit to work (PTW) is a written approval to do a specific high-risk job, after the hazards are checked and the controls are in place. One permit per job. The issuer and the person in charge of the work both sign, and the permit is closed when the work is done. Print it, or download Word to fill it in.

Also calledPTW template, Permit to work form, General work permit, Safe work permit template

See the sheetAll free tools

How to use it

Three habits that make it worth filling out.

  1. Step 1

    One permit, one job

    A permit covers one job, in one place, for a set time. If the job, the place or the conditions change, stop and issue a new one.

  2. Step 2

    Check it at the job, not the desk

    The issuer walks the area, sees the isolations and the controls in place, then signs. The crew reads the permit and signs on before work starts.

  3. Step 3

    Close it out

    When the work stops, the person in charge signs it back and the issuer checks the area before closing it. An open permit nobody owns is a hazard.

When to use a permit to work.

Use one for work where a mistake can kill or seriously hurt someone: hot work, confined spaces, work on isolated equipment, breaking into lines, work at height, digging and heavy lifts. Which jobs need a permit is set by your company, your customer and the rules that apply.

Some work has its own permit rules. Hot work and confined space entry are covered by their own OSHA standards, so use those permits alongside this one and list them on it.

Do this on a phone instead of paper.

Fill this out on a phone, with photos and signatures, with no signal needed. The record is kept for you and nothing gets lost in a truck.

Book a walkthroughSee how digital forms and logs work

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Common questions

What is a permit to work?
A written approval to do a specific high-risk job. It says who is doing what, where, when and under which conditions, and it's issued only after someone with authority has checked that the controls are in place.
When do you need a permit to work?
For higher-risk work such as hot work, confined space entry, work at height, work on energized or isolated equipment, and excavation. Your company, your customer and the rules that apply decide the list.
Can we run permits in PortalBase?
Yes. Build your permit as a form, with the checks, photos and sign-offs you need, and keep every one on record. Start from this template and adapt it to your site's permit procedures.
Is a permit to work an OSHA requirement?
OSHA doesn't have one general permit to work rule. Some of its standards call for written permits or authorizations for specific work, like confined space entry and hot work. Many companies use a general permit system for other high-risk jobs. Check the rules that apply to your work and your own program.

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Glossary

Permit to work

A permit to work is a written approval to do a specific high-risk job, with the hazards, controls and conditions checked before work begins.