Purpose

By using work permits, you can make sure that safety measures for carrying out certain works are complied with, and safety barriers are not taken out of service unless compensating measures are put in place. The work permit is an operational safety barrier to protect against undesired incidents.

A work permit is a written document that authorizes specified persons to carry out specified work at a specified time. It describes both the work to be carried out and the requirements that must be fulfilled. At the same time, it ensures that necessary and adequate safety measures are carried out before work can start.

It is the duty of everyone involved in the planning, approval, and execution of work to evaluate the need for a work permit for a particular piece of work.

Work permits are categorized in different levels, depending on risk considerations and the need for coordination.

The oil and gas industry distinguishes between two levels of work permits:

Work permits of level 1are used for work that involves high risks and hazards. This work requires a comprehensive safety and approval process. It includes hot work, work in an area with special entry restrictions, and so on.

Level 1 work permits are usually valid for only one working shift. An extension of the work permit is only possible under certain conditions (for example, 4 hours). Afterwards, the work permit can no longer be extended. If the work is not yet completed at this point in time, a new work permit must be applied for.

Work permits of level 2are used for all work with lower risks/hazards. This work must also be completed within a predefined time period, although the time period is defined more generously (for example, 14 days).

By using work permits, the following points can be fulfilled:

They provide guidelines as to which work requires a work permit.

They ensure that the permission to carry out specific work is given in agreement with the persons responsible for the technical asset.

They describe in detail the requirements to be fulfilled, including the risks that may arise from hazardous substances, electricity, and other energy forms.

All persons have access to the all required information in the system.

Coordination of simultaneous activities is possible.

When the work permit is returned after completion of the work, this ensures the following:

The technical asset affected by the work is in a safe condition.

The technical asset can be commissioned again.

Cleaning and clearing up have taken place on site.

A work permit can be created for a WCM-relevant order or for one or more operations.

Integration

Prerequisites

Work permit management presupposes the enhanced model .

Valuation and work clearance management for the operation must not be active.

In Customizing for Work Clearance Management , you have defined the settings under Master Data → Architecture → Configure Work Permits

We also recommend that you define the following settings in Customizing:

Under Master Data , you define the work to be carried out and requirements to be fulfilled.

Under Master Data → View Profiles , you define a suitable view profile and assign it to the work permit. This view profile should provide, in particular, subscreens for the work to be carried out and the requirements to be fulfilled.

If you want to use work permits on the Web-based user interface, you must first install Business Package for Generic EAM Functions and Business Package for Maintenance Worker

Process Flow

The maintenance planner creates a maintenance order for the repair.

Since the work involves high risks and hazards, the technician who is to carry out the work creates a level 1 work permit for the maintenance order, which is valid the next day.

The work permit describes the work to be carried out and the requirements to be fulfilled.

In the afternoon, there is a coordination meeting to check all work permits for the next day. They are added to if necessary and approved by the person responsible.

At the end of the meeting, all approved work permits are printed and set out to be picked up the next day.

The next morning, the technician who is to carry out the work picks up his or her printed work permits.

At this point in time, the work permit is not yet active. This means that you cannot start the work.

Together with the person responsible for the technical asset, all of the required safety measures are put in place.

The person responsible for the technical asset confirms the execution of all safety measures to the control room and applies for activation of the work permit.

The work permit is activated by the person responsible in the control room, and after this the technician who is to carry out the work can start work.

Once the technician has carried out the work, he or she does the cleaning and clearing up work on site.

The technician gives the work permit back.

All returned work permits are closed in the system.

See also:

View Profiles for WCM Objects