A Permit to Work System provides a formal and disciplined approach to assessing the risks of a job and specifying the precautions to be taken when performing hot work and/or working in a confined space. 

The permit to work system: 

• specifies the work to be done and 
• the equipment to be used 
• specifies the precautions to be taken when performing the task 
• gives permission for work to start 
• advises others that work is being performed 
• provides a check to ensure that all safety considerations have been taken into account, including the validity of permits and certificates and compliance to policies and procedures 
• provides a checking mechanism that all work has been completed to satisfaction