Digital Permit to Work System | TECH EHS Solution

Table of Contents

Introduction

A digital PTW system can be a very effective option for almost all industries where permits are raised regularly. A digital platform provides many benefits to corporations, both in operations and in providing valuable information—all this while being proactively safe.

Digitalization is the need of the hour. But what actually does digitalization mean?

Let’s clarify: Digitalization does not mean eradicating humans from the process. It means helping humans to eliminate errors and improve the process. It also decreases the workload and automates and escalates work processes, leaving more room for productivity.

So how does digitalization help in work permit digitalization?

The PTW process is designed and managed to safely execute any activity or task. With changing times and tides, digital technology is considered one of the best platforms for automating routine processes (like PTW systems).

Therefore, a digital PTW system can be a very effective option for almost all industries where permits are raised regularly. A digital platform provides many benefits to corporations, both in operations and in providing valuable information—all this while being proactively safe.

Let us explore the electronic permit-to-work system in brief.

The Electronic Permit to Work System

A digital Permit-to-Work solution revolutionizes permit lifecycle management. It seamlessly synchronizes operational, maintenance, shutdown, project, and other scheduled or unscheduled work, thereby enhancing operational efficiency, productivity, and safety compliance.

The system can integrate with existing ERP systems to synchronize all related work easily. This helps collect and display data from different supporting activities and consolidate it. The digital permit-to-work system plays a crucial role in risk management. With it, organizations can seamlessly manage changing floor operations while averting potential hazards.

Even if you are worried about shift handovers, the electronic permit-to-work system manages a standardized procedure. Also, other features include;

  • The management and information of energy isolations

  • At-a-glance dashboard and automated report generation

  • Area map gives a bird’s eye view of all permitted work being carried out or commencing upcoming permits across all sites/plants/facilities

The above features of the e-PTW system not only improve the PTW processes but also amplify safety processes. This proactive safety management ensures minimal or no incidents.

Now that you are aware of the features, let us discuss the benefits of permit to work system.

Benefits of Digital Permit to Work

If the above features are not enough to convince you, here are five great benefits of electronic permit to work.

Convenience in carrying out a PTW process

Permit to work digitalization makes it convenient to carry out the PTW issuance process.

For instance,

  • Lengthy, intricate, and voluminous jobs usually engage a large number of agencies, authorities, and workforces. Tackling a variety of hazardous work, along with the application of ‘lockout-tagout’ isolation systems, becomes a gigantic task. One has to run about, contact people personally, take their clearances and approvals, make entries on the forms with appropriate and authorized signatures, and do many more such activities. A digital PTW process can make this process simple and easy to monitor.

  • When the control centers are located at far distances and in tough geographical terrain, exercising physical control becomes extremely tedious and time-consuming. A digital permit can be shared/sent through the entire authorization process without consuming time or traveling physically.

  • If any reference is needed with previous jobs undertaken, one has to search the same physically from a library of paper based documents. Digital repositories can search through many documents using simple prompts or commands.

  • The authority in command is faced with a large number of PTW applications for various locations of an industrial complex. One has to scrutinize all the PTW applications considering the entire work process. A digital PTW system enables him/her to carry out such work easily.

Digitalization – the Need of the Hour

An automated, ‘web-based’ application saves time and resources and enhances transparency in managing and monitoring the PTW process.

  • A digital process is largely developed to reduce time, resources, and energy taken when following the approval channels within the PTW premise.

  • Real-time notification mechanisms alert authorities about permit requests, permit applications’ pending approvals, and any immediate steps to be taken in active or ‘Live’ permits, etc.

  • An electronic data storage system makes it easy to maintain the history of the PTW system components. One can even retrieve and maintain empirical records for audits and analytical purposes.

Time status of any work certainly gives an edge to decision-makers.

A Consistent and Uniform Permit Issuance Process

Companies that have various plants/facilities spread across vast geographies might be following different PTW processes. Standardization of the PTW system can be a huge logistical and systemic challenge. A digital permit-to-work system can be one of the primary solutions.

A digital system helps in designing and maintaining all the

  • Forms

  • Workflows

  • Reporting standards

  • Approval mechanisms

  • Hazards

  • Control measures

  • Risk management

  • Checklists

that are being followed for carrying out the work activity accurately, safely, and efficiently. Any change in any of the standards of a work permit can be done through a central control center electronically.

A Digital PTW System for Operational Effectiveness

A digital PTW system brings along excellence in operational effectiveness for organizations as it;

  • Increases efficiency

  • Increases uptime

  • Lowers operational cost

  • Provides a transparent system

  • Can be accessed from any place (or device)

  • Brings about effective interactions without the physical presence of any individual

MIS and KPIs

For companies with plants/facilities worldwide, getting regular updates and/or reports about work permits can be a huge challenge. Control centers in corporate offices might want reports about permits that are in circulation. Similarly, preparing such reports for individual plants might be tedious. Preparing such reports manually might be prone to human errors and inaccuracies.

A digitally enabled PTW system can provide accurate information at a simple button click. Predictive analytics, Insightful trends, Statistical graphs and charts, etc., are part of any digital ecosystem. Companies can benefit from such “real-time” and “click-ready” reports for better decision-making.

Conclusion

Implementing an e-ptw system offers several hidden benefits that can significantly enhance safety, efficiency, and overall operational excellence. We all know that permit processing includes complex processes. And to streamline these processes is another crucial task. All the PTW processes can be simplified and improvised with a digital permit to work system.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)

Real-time monitoring in a digital PTW system offers several advantages such as immediate updates and alerts, continuously monitor ongoing activities and compliance in real-time and track hazards.

Yes, a digital PTW system streamlines compliance and audit processes through automatic documentation, simplified audits, regulatory alignment and more.

Yes, integrated communication tools improve real-time communication, all stakeholders have access to up-to-date permit information and safety documentation from a single platform, and teams can coordinate more effectively.

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5.8 min read Views: 821 Categories: Safety Software

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