Traditionally, we think of permits to work as a tool to protect employees, contractors and the assets that they are maintaining.   Permits characteristically list possible hazards in the workplace and spell out how these are to be mitigated through isolation of energy sources and appropriate use of PPE. 

In the context of a greater social awareness of the impact of industry on the environment and surrounding communities, we have seen changes to the type of instructions and conditions for work included on permits.    An excellent example is the use of IntelliPERMIT to support Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) protocols in food processing factories.

HACCP is a requirement for FDA approval for certain food and pharmaceutical products. In short, it is focussed on making sure that your morning yoghurt is not flavoured with axel grease, that the number of bolts in your muesli is minimised and that there are no pigeon droppings in your sugar.    (You can read more about HACCP here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazard_Analysis_and_Critical_Control_Points ) 

IntelliPERMIT assists permit issuers to identify work taking place in HACCP-related areas and ensures that the appropriate measures to be taken are acknowledged on the permits.  Once the job is complete, the responsible team is prompted to make certain that hygiene guards have been replaced and maintenance debris such as iron filings or grease have been cleared. These steps are signed off by the appropriate HACCP authorities in the specific work area (as verified by their competencies in IntelliPERMIT.)  The benefit of this approach is that it streamlines the work approval process and eliminates the need for dedicated HACCP-related forms to be completed and signed off.  Furthermore, the system provides a time-stamped audit trail to help with the investigation of any non-conformances.

The benefits of a well planned and comprehensive permit system needn’t stop at the factory gate: they may be traced through the supply chain right onto the shelves of your local grocery store.