1. Safety Permits & Inspection
Booker Investigations Pty Ltd
Process & procedure when Issuing a Hot Work /Working at Heights/Confined
Space/Excavation Permit.
As a freelance Permit writer I am required to issue permits in a different format on a daily
basis. Some of the permit systems have been developed by the retail fuel companies &
some are generic.
Although retail fuel companies all have different permit systems & their expectations in
which documents will be produced vary, it is my intention a Safe Work Permit issuer
that all permits meet & determine (but are not limited to) the following criteria.
1. Assess if the proposed work is safe to complete
2. To discuss & prepare (if not available) a safe work method / JSA regarding the
tasks at hand
3. Ensure the contractor on site is qualified to complete the tasks & holds the
necessary experience/ license/accreditation as required. Also assess the demeanor
of the contractors & whether they are fit for work or under the influence of drugs
&/or alcohol
4. Ensure all hazards are identified & suitable control methods are in place
5. Ensure the proposed equipment to be used is compliant and correct
6. All contractors to be suitably equipped with the tools they require (Including
personal protection equipment)
7. To ensure all contractors on site are responsible for their own safety & for the
safety of their colleagues.
8. To nominate a responsible person to implement the conditions of the permit
issued.
9. Ensure the contractors are in compliance with the terms & conditions specified
within the issued permit while engaged in the work.
Before the permit is issued & any work is commenced, a tool box safety brief / scope of
work discussion is always convened on site.
From my experience such a discussion can be based on a contractors JSA/SWMS &/or a
JSA risk assessment prepared by myself. An opportunity for discussion is to be made for
all workers, to verify they all understand the work at hand & to make any contributions
from their experiences, with a view to producing a more comprehensive & effective
safety permit.
It is important to ensure that the JSA for the work to be done is broken down into tasks &
the role of each worker is discussed as the scope of work unfolds.
A walk around the work location with the contractor team is also important to asses the
task at hand & ensure they are aware of any risks associated with the job. Controls to
Stephen J Wilson – Booker Investigations Pty Ltd – 01.07.2015

2. Safety Permits & Inspection
Booker Investigations Pty Ltd
Eliminate, Substitute or Engineer out hazards will also be discussed & noted on the
permit /JSA documentation. Any questions may be clarified & any additions or
exclusions will be assessed on merit.
Additional discussion will then proceed surrounding the conditions of the permit issued ie
Hot Work Permit/Working at heights. All permits/JSA/ & other certificates when
completed will be read out to the contractors & then the permit will be positioned on site
to be accessible for the workers to read as required during operations.
The permit will be issued to a nominated person/ supervisor & that person will be
responsible to ensure the conditions of the permit are met by the contractor & sub
contractor staff on site. This person will sign an acknowledgement on the permit &
associated documents.
Hazards & control issues specific to a fuel retail site.
There are various aspects & consideration to be taken into account in the production of a
safe work permit. All those familiar with work on a service station are aware that a retail
site is a high risk location to work on, not only due to the fuel stored on site but because
of the many other factors as mentioned below and specifically due to the moving parts
including people & vehicles which frequent a public uncontrolled location. Below are
some of the considerations I take into account when issuing a work permit on a daily
basis.
Human factor/SIMOPS
Customers on site, pedestrians & other operators such as routine work contractors,
delivery person & site staff have to be considered in connection with the tasks to be
performed & the necessary controls put in place to mitigate the risk posed.
Controls may range from barricading of work areas to closing & fencing of the entire site.
Maintaining communications is also an important aspect to control risks.
Mechanical hazards
Consideration & controls need to be implemented for the movement of customer
vehicles, work vehicles, passing traffic as well as the relocation of plant on site.
Controls again may range from barricading work areas, controlling access to work
locations & ensuring spotters are in place to see the safe movement of plant.
Stephen J Wilson – Booker Investigations Pty Ltd – 01.07.2015

3. Safety Permits & Inspection
Booker Investigations Pty Ltd
Chemical hazards
Chemical hazards can range from the effects of chemicals when in contact with workers
&/or other members of the public/staff, to sewer/drain contamination resulting from a
fuel spill &/or slurry contamination resulting from excavation/concrete sawing operations
on site.
Controls range from prevention to ensure spills do not occur in the first place, to ensuring
drain covers / spill kits are in place & storm water drain shut off valves are engaged if
fitted.
Electrical hazard
As any service station has a variety of electrically powered equipment. Electrocution is a
real & present danger. Correct procedures & documentation are to be engaged to ensure
electrocution dose not happen.
Controls range from lock out /tag out procedure, personal tagged placed and checked by
authorized personnel. All electrical supply is to be considered live & treated with caution
Overhead power lines may also to be taken into consideration, for example when working
at heights. As required an electrical supply authority will have to be engaged for
disconnection &/or isolation.
Body mechanics
Types of contractors working on retail service stations can vary but whether they are fuel
based, air conditioning, building or any other discipline lifting may be included in their
operations.
Controls need to be discussed and may range from ensuring contractors bend their knees
& keep a straight back, to multiple contractor personnel being involved. For heavy lifting
a crane may be required. It is important to ensure the contractors JSA/SWMS addresses
issues such as lifting operations.
Working at Heights
When working at heights access, exit & weather conditions (Rain/Wind/Ice) need to be
taken into consideration.
Stephen J Wilson – Booker Investigations Pty Ltd – 01.07.2015

4. Safety Permits & Inspection
Booker Investigations Pty Ltd
Contractors who work at heights require working at heights training & the necessary
equipment. Service stations also need to be correctly fitted with anchor points & need to
be tested/compliant/In test.
Best industry practice requires harnesses to be worn when working or traveling within 2
meters of an exposed edge & also when transitioning from an access ladder to a roof top.
Such a harness requires a lanyard & fall restraint to be connected to a compliant anchor
point.
Confined space
Confined spaces have different definitions for different fuel companies, however if a
work location is not designed for human occupation & various chemical &/or other
vapors may have the potential to be located in such work areas, then they require special
attention to control the potential for injury or incapacitation to the contractor.
Confined space work locations will always require a permit/risk assessment. The
confined space entrant/stand by & observer will need to be confined space trained. A
rescue & retrieval plan will also be prepared, discussed & rehearsed on occasions. Tri
pod with a winch, safety harness & lanyard will also be utilized as required.
Excavation
Fuel companies again have different definitions for ground disturbance & excavation.
However when using heavy plant (Excavator) or just a concrete cutter in a hazardous area
hot works will be conducted & the potential for an ignition source will have been
introduced into the area of works. Consideration also needs to be given to contamination
potential into drains & sewers.
Controls to reduce the hazard from ignition source & contamination range from
eliminating fuel & containing potential contamination.
Stephen J Wilson – Booker Investigations Pty Ltd – 01.07.2015

5. Safety Permits & Inspection
Booker Investigations Pty Ltd
Stephen J Wilson – Booker Investigations Pty Ltd – 01.07.2015

6. Safety Permits & Inspection
Booker Investigations Pty Ltd
Stephen J Wilson – Booker Investigations Pty Ltd – 01.07.2015