Why use web-based Permits?
News item added on: 2009-02-22 00:00:00
Why is web-based different?
E-permit systems ultimately generate a piece of paper at the end of the process and may always be required to do so. If the end result is the same as from a paper pad, what then is the difference? Do web-based systems simply offer a neater way to produce and store the same information? Not at all, it is the ‘intelligent’ process that precedes their paper Permits that makes e-permits so distinctly different to paper systems and accounts for the principle benefits.
Principal benefits
The main benefits from web-based systems fall into three categories:
- Risk reduction
- Management control
- Productivity gains
E-permit systems are designed to reduce the risk of injury to people, damage to property and disruption to business by ensuring that the right people, with the right skills, work to the right method statement, in the right place, at the right time. These are the fundamentals of any permit system, paper or web-based, but it is when one of these things goes wrong that someone gets hurt or money is wasted. The process behind an e-permit system ensures that these requirements are in place on every permit, before it is printed. In short, they ensure that the permit is worth the paper it is written on.
By running predetermined checks that reflect current HSE guidelines and the prevailing Safe-system-of-work, web-based systems can recognise ill-conceived or poorly resourced plans so that APs can prevent them from proceeding. The system recognises which APs are required to assess any particular request and automatically notifies them to become involved. Some systems can also check that the working party has the appropriate competencies to undertake the work safely and the company has valid insurances.
A great advantage of web-based systems is their power to share information that can keep people safe. If the facilities and engineering teams are familiar with the hazards of a property or process, such as the presence of asbestos or stored chemicals, the information can be shared with the team coming on site while they are still considering the risks they will face and planning their precautions to mitigate those risks.
Even when a Permit request has been well prepared and is, in isolation, an appropriate way to work, there is still the danger that it will interfere with or be compromised by another piece of work, creating an unforeseen and dangerous situation. Web-based systems that check for clashes of concurrent activity can highlight these potential dangers to the APs when they are assessing the request. For instance, they could highlight multiple isolations of a Fire alarm system associated with unrelated jobs or plans to work on a fire detection system at the same time as a fire protection system.
Particularly when there are a large number of activities under permit at one time, the simple presentation of this information can be invaluable to an AP and a life saver to the parties planning to work. These systems can point out when two parties are applying to work on the same service or a related service or in the same location, at the same time. In a small building with few permits open simultaneously, it is quite practical to keep track of what is happening throughout the property. If however a permit system spans a large building or a disparate campus and there is a large amount of permitted activity going on, it can be very difficult for a permit office to know who is working, where they all are or what presents the greatest danger at any given moment without an e-permit system.
The web provides users with accessibility and with that comes visibility. The transparency of the systems makes it possible for management to monitor activity across multiple buildings, focusing on time-frames, activity types or locations of particular interest. Management information is the key to control. To be able to see at a glance what is going on allows the permit system to perform its prime function of controlling work that is potentially hazardous.
Suitable sectors
The best indication of which sectors are most suited to web-based systems comes from looking at the companies that have implemented them so far. They range from Petrochemicals to Local Government and include companies in Banking, Insurance, Manufacturing, Processing, Transportation, Healthcare, Telecoms, Property management, Property development and Retail sectors.
The systems are sufficiently flexible to suit almost any industry and scenario. They simply need to be configured to reflect the regime they are to operate in, which can range from very rigorous for a highly regulated, secure or dangerous environment, to a more relaxed regime for a lower risk situation. If the risk-profile changes because of increased activity, the system can easily be re-configured.
Conclusion
In recently years, much has been achieved by changing attitudes at work and encouraging everyone to take ownership of their H&S, but the adoption of new technologies is needed to achieve step changes in safety performance.
Led by those at the forefront of best practice, we will witness the adoption of e-permit systems widely in the next few years as they fast become the industry standard. These systems are well worth a closer look.
If you would like to learn more about why e-permits are such a popular safety tool, please contact Banyard Solutions, part of the Banyard Group on 01483 413 770 or email solutions@banyards.co.uk.