Permit To Work Checklist
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About this permit to work checklist
A permit to work checklist keeps higher-risk tasks controlled, consistent, and properly authorised. It replaces “I think it’s fine” with clear checks you can evidence — before work starts, while it’s happening, and when you hand the area back.
Use this permit to work checklist to confirm the right permit is in place, controls are verified (especially isolations), escalation triggers are clear, and close-out is completed without leaving unknowns for the next shift.
What this permit to work checklist covers
- Preparation checks: scope, authorisation, competence, and emergency arrangements
- Controls and isolation checks: lockout tagout verification, access control, and task-specific controls
- In-process monitoring: keeping the permit live as conditions change
- Stop-work and escalation criteria: when to pause and who to contact
- Close-out and handback: reinstatement, re-energisation, and sign-off
When to use it
This checklist fits any operation where work needs formal control and evidence — for example maintenance, shutdown tasks, contractor work, isolations, or any job where the risk changes quickly if a step is missed.
How to use it on the frontline
- Start with the permit, not the task. If the permit is missing, expired, or doesn’t match the job, stop and escalate.
- Verify isolations — don’t assume. Record what’s been isolated and how it was verified.
- Keep checking during the job. If people, tools, scope, or conditions change, pause and revalidate.
- Close out properly. Reinstate guards, remove isolations under control, tidy the area, and sign off.
Common stop-work triggers to include
If you want fewer incidents, you need fewer grey areas. These are the moments where teams tend to guess — and where a stop-work rule prevents harm:
- The permit is not available, not valid, or doesn’t match the work
- Any isolation is uncertain or cannot be independently verified
- The job becomes hot work, confined space, or work at height without the correct permit and controls
- An incident, injury, near miss, or unsafe condition is identified
Want to run this digitally and see trends?
Ocasta turns checklists into real-time operational insight. You can standardise permit to work checks across sites, capture issues consistently, and spot repeat failures (like isolation problems or recurring handback defects) before they become incidents.
Disclaimer: This checklist is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal, regulatory, health and safety, or professional advice. You are responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable laws, standards, and internal policies.
Included questions
Here's what's included in this permit to work checklist:
Job and permit preparation (13)
Confirm the work scope, risks, and controls before any work starts. If anything is unclear, stop and escalate.
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Text
Permit reference number
Enter the permit ID or reference from your system or paperwork.
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Text
Work location
Be specific (site, area, asset ID, floor, bay, room).
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Yes/No
Does the work description match the planned scope?
If the job has changed, the permit must be reviewed and reissued where required.
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Dropdown
Permit type
Select the permit type that applies to this work.
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Yes/No
Is the permit current and valid for today’s date and time window?
Check start time, expiry, and any shift or site restrictions.
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Yes/No
Has an authorised permit issuer approved and issued the permit?
If you cannot verify authorisation, stop and escalate.
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Text
Contractor company (if applicable)
Include lead contractor and any subcontractors if known.
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Person
Responsible person on site
Name the person accountable for safe delivery of the work.
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Yes/No
Is the task risk assessment complete and reviewed with the team?
Use the current version and confirm it matches the job and location.
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Yes/No
Is the method statement available and understood?
If the method cannot be followed as written, stop and escalate for review.
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Yes/No
Have competence and required training been confirmed for everyone doing the work?
Include licences, authorisations, and any site inductions.
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Yes/No
Are PPE requirements confirmed and available in good condition?
Check any task-specific PPE (e.g. face fit, arc flash, fall arrest).
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Yes/No
Have emergency arrangements been briefed (alarms, muster points, first aid, rescue plan)?
For higher-risk work, confirm who initiates rescue and how it will happen.
Controls and isolation checks (9)
Verify the controls that make the work safe — especially isolations, access control, and monitoring.
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Yes/No
Have all required isolations been identified (electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, process)?
If you are unsure, stop and confirm with the authorised person.
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Yes/No
Have isolations been applied and independently verified?
Confirm lockout tagout points, test for dead where required, and record any verification method.
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Yes/No
Are isolation points recorded on the permit (or attached isolation certificate)?
The record should match what is physically in place.
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Yes/No
Is the work area barricaded and signed to prevent unauthorised access?
Think about customers, other teams, and vehicle routes.
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Yes/No
Are environmental conditions suitable (lighting, ventilation, weather, housekeeping)?
If conditions change during the job, pause and reassess.
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Yes/No
Have tools and equipment been checked as safe and fit for purpose?
Include PAT where relevant, guards, calibration, and inspection tags.
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Yes/No
If hot work applies, are fire controls in place (extinguishers, fire watch, removal of combustibles)?
If hot work is not part of this job, mark ‘No’ and escalate if the work involves heat, sparks, or open flame.
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Yes/No
If confined space applies, are entry controls in place (permit, gas testing, attendant, rescue plan)?
Do not enter if any control is missing or unclear.
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Yes/No
If work at height applies, are controls in place (edge protection, harness, anchor points, rescue plan)?
Confirm equipment inspection dates and correct setup.
In-process checks and monitoring (7)
Keep the permit live. Monitor changes, record pauses, and stop work when conditions drift.
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Yes/No
Has a pre-start brief been completed with everyone involved?
Cover the job steps, hazards, controls, and stop-work expectations.
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Yes/No
Is the permit displayed at the worksite or easily accessible to the team?
The team should be able to refer to it without leaving the work area unsafely.
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Yes/No
If the work spans shifts, is the handover controlled and documented?
Confirm who holds the permit, what is complete, and what remains.
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Yes/No
Have there been any changes to scope, people, equipment, or conditions since the permit was issued?
If yes, stop work until the risk assessment and permit are reviewed and revalidated.
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Yes/No
Are controls being maintained throughout the job (barriers, signage, isolations, supervision)?
This is where standards slip — check it regularly, not just at the start.
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Yes/No
Has any near miss, unsafe condition, or equipment defect been identified?
If yes, record details and escalate according to your incident process.
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Text
Notes during work
Record key checks, pauses, changes, or anything the next shift needs to know.
Stop-work and escalation criteria (6)
If any of these apply, stop work immediately and escalate. The goal is to remove guesswork before something goes wrong.
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Yes/No
Stop work if the permit is missing, expired, or does not match the job
Escalate to the permit issuer or site responsible person for revalidation.
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Yes/No
Stop work if any isolation is uncertain, incomplete, or cannot be verified
Do not rely on assumptions. Verify and document before continuing.
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Yes/No
Stop work if conditions change (weather, ventilation, access, public interface, new hazards)
Reassess risk and update controls before restarting.
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Yes/No
Stop work if the job becomes hot work, confined space, or work at height without the right permit and controls
Escalate for the correct permit type and specialist controls.
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Yes/No
Stop work if there is an incident, injury, or near miss
Make the area safe, get support, and follow your incident process before resuming.
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Person
Escalation contact
Select the person to contact if work is stopped (permit issuer, site manager, HSE lead).
Close-out and handback (7)
Finish cleanly: confirm the site is safe, controls are removed correctly, and the operation is handed back with no unknowns.
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Yes/No
Is the work completed to the agreed scope (or formally paused with a plan)?
If incomplete, record what remains and what makes it safe until restart.
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Yes/No
Is the work area left safe, tidy, and free of tools, waste, and trip hazards?
Remove temporary materials and confirm safe access routes.
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Yes/No
Have guards and safety devices been reinstated (where applicable)?
Do not hand back equipment with missing guards or bypassed interlocks.
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Yes/No
Have isolations been removed under controlled conditions and with authorisation?
Confirm re-energisation is coordinated and the area is clear.
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Yes/No
Has equipment been tested and confirmed operational (where required)?
Record any defects, limitations, or follow-up actions.
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Signature
Permit close-out sign-off
Signed by the responsible person and/or permit issuer as required by your process.
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Text
Close-out notes and follow-ups
Capture outstanding actions, defects raised, and who owns the next step.