HS&E Operatives practice question: Permits to work (3 of 7)
A. Working environment A free question from our original HS&E Operatives practice exam. Try it, then open the answer to see why each option is right or wrong.
A permit to work has been issued for cutting into a live drainage system.
Which of these is true about the permit?
Choose one answer.
AA. Anyone on site can do the work once it is issued
BB. The permit alone does not make the job safe
CC. It means the job no longer needs a risk assessment
DD. It is just a note saying the job is allowed
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: B
A. Wrong: Wrong. Only the people named on the permit, who understand the precautions, should do the work.
B. Right: Right. HSE says the issue of a permit does not, by itself, make a job safe. Safety depends on the people planning, supervising and doing the work following the precautions.
C. Wrong: Wrong. A permit is part of a safe system of work. The job still needs to be assessed and planned.
D. Wrong: Wrong. HSE says a permit is not simply permission to do a dangerous job. It sets out hazards, precautions and limits.
Explanation
A permit to work sets out the work, the hazards and the precautions. It only works if everyone follows it.