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Hot Work Permit and Permit to Work Templates

Blank permit forms in Word and PDF: a hot work permit, a confined space entry permit and a general permit to work. Adapt them to your own site rules and permit procedure.

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Download a permit to work template

Hot work permit template

For welding, cutting, grinding, brazing, soldering and torch-on roofing: any work that makes flames, sparks or heat near something that could burn.

  • Type of hot work, and why a cold method won't do
  • Precautions: combustibles cleared or covered, gaps sealed, extinguishers, detectors, cylinders
  • Issue and acceptance signatures
  • Fire watch during the work and for a set time after it
  • Final inspection and cancellation

See HSE's Fire safety in construction (HSG168) and your insurer's hot work conditions, which may set distances and fire watch times.

WordPDF

Confined space entry permit template

For entry into tanks, chambers, manholes, sewers, silos and voids where a lack of oxygen, toxic gas, fire, flooding or heat could cause serious injury.

  • Why entry is needed, and why the work can't be done from outside
  • Hazards, isolations and atmosphere test readings
  • Ventilation, top person, communications and the rescue plan
  • Entry log of everyone going in and out
  • Hand-back and cancellation

Read HSE's Approved Code of Practice Safe work in confined spaces (L101) on the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 before planning an entry.

WordPDF

General permit to work template

For other high-risk work your site controls by permit: work on live or isolated plant, roof access, breaking into pipework or excavating near services.

  • Description of the work and the linked RAMS
  • Hazards and the precautions in place
  • Isolations, locked, tagged and proved
  • Issue, acceptance, extension and shift handover
  • Hand-back and cancellation, plus a briefing record

HSE's Guidance on permit-to-work systems (HSG250) explains how a permit system should work.

WordPDF

The short answer

What is a permit to work template?

A permit to work template is a blank form for authorising high-risk work, such as hot work or confined space entry, at a set place and time. It records the hazards, the precautions that must be in place before work starts, who issued and accepted the permit, and how the work was handed back. swiftRMS offers free hot work, confined space entry and general permit templates in Word and PDF, and issues digital permits linked to the job's RAMS on its Business plan.

For when a permit is needed and how a permit system works, read our permit to work guide. For the method behind the permit, see RAMS for hot works and RAMS for confined space entry.

Tools and options

Paper permits, site systems or digital permits

What each option suits, honestly.

HSE's guidance

HSE does not publish a single permit form for every site, but its guidance on permit-to-work systems, fire safety in construction and confined spaces sets out what a permit system should cover. Read it before adapting any template.

A blank template (this page)

Free and editable. It suits a small team that issues the odd permit and can keep paper permits filed and cross-referenced to the RAMS. The weak points of paper are fire watches that aren't timed and permits that are never formally cancelled.

Your client's or principal contractor's system

Many sites run their own permit system and expect contractors to use it. If so, use theirs: a second permit for the same work causes confusion.

Digital permits

Several health and safety platforms issue permits on a phone or tablet. In swiftRMS, permits to work come with the Business plan: hot work and confined space permits linked to the job's RAMS, with a fire watch timer and an audit trail of who issued, accepted and closed each permit.

See how digital permits to work in swiftRMS handle issue, fire watch and close-out.

FAQ

Permit to work FAQs

What is a hot work permit?

A hot work permit is a written authorisation for welding, cutting, grinding, brazing or other work that produces flames, sparks or heat. It records the precautions that must be in place before work starts, such as clearing or covering combustible materials and having extinguishers at hand, names the person doing the work and the fire watcher, and is cancelled only after a final check once the fire watch has ended.

Is a permit to work a legal requirement?

UK law does not require a permit by name for most work, but employers must control high-risk work through a safe system of work. A permit is the usual way to do that for hot work, confined space entry and work on isolated plant. For confined spaces, the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 require a safe system of work for any entry, and HSE's L101 describes how a permit fits into it.

Who can issue a permit to work?

An authorised person: someone appointed by the site or employer, trained in the permit system and competent to judge whether the precautions are in place. The person doing the work accepts the permit; they should not issue it to themselves.

How long is a hot work permit valid?

Normally for one task in one location and no longer than a single shift. If the work runs on, the permit is extended or a new one issued after the area is rechecked. Your site rules or insurer may set shorter limits.

What is the difference between a permit to work and a RAMS?

The RAMS assesses the risks and sets out the safe method for the job. The permit is a control on the day: it confirms the precautions in that RAMS are actually in place at that location and time, and who is responsible until the work is handed back. A permit refers to the RAMS; it does not replace it.

Are these permit templates legal advice?

No. They are blank forms to adapt to your own permit procedure, site rules and insurer's conditions. A competent person should decide when a permit is needed and what it must contain for your work.

Related: RAMS template, COSHH assessment template and risk assessment templates.

Paper permits today.
Digital ones when you're ready.