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WORK PERMIT PROCEDURE

Contents
1.0 Purpose................................................................................................................................................... 3

2.0 Reference Standard(s) .......................................................................................................................... 3

3.0 Definitions .............................................................................................................................................. 3

4.0 Competency / Certification Required ................................................................................................. 4

5.0 Types of Permit ..................................................................................................................................... 4

5.1 Hot Work Permit .............................................................................................................................. 4

5.2 Electrical (Isolation) Permit ............................................................................................................. 4

5.3 Excavation Permit ............................................................................................................................. 4

5.4 Confined Space to Entry Permit ...................................................................................................... 5

5.5 Lifting Permit .................................................................................................................................... 5

5.6 Work At Height Permit .................................................................................................................... 5

5.7 Cold Work Permit............................................................................................................................. 6

6.0 Work Permit Procedure ....................................................................................................................... 6

6.1 Issue & Acceptance of permit ......................................................................................................... 6

6.2 Filling & Required Documents ........................................................................................................ 7

6.3 Displaying Permit.............................................................................................................................. 7

6.4 Permit Revalidation .......................................................................................................................... 7

6.5 Suspension or Cancelation of Permit .............................................................................................. 7

6.6 Clearance of Work Permit ............................................................................................................... 8

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1.0 Purpose

The purpose of this procedure is to establish the Saudi Electricity Company is to maintain a system
for issuing, receiving, transferring and clearance work permits for specific hazardous activities
performed in the SEC . Departments may develop additional practices or procedures to cover their
own specific requirements.

2.0 Reference Standard(s)

 SEC 5 Star Health and Safety: 5.21 & 5.21.1

3.0 Definitions

Restricted Locations - The location or activities which have been designated by division managers
requiring the work permit procedure. These include all areas where energized substation, nearby
energized transmission line& road crossing, power plant and construction of Extra High Voltage and
High Voltage etc.,

Work permit Issuers - The Contractor's Site Manager / Construction Manager or his designate
(Project Engineer) who are certified & appointed by SEC Project Manager or Engineer / SEC Site
Manager to issue work permits for restricted location under their supervision. They must be
experienced, competent and familiar with the requirements of SEC 5 Star Safety & Health
management system Element 5.21 work permit and be able to perform the duties associated with
issuing work permits.

Work permit Receivers - Contractor engineer/supervisor who have been certified and appointed by
their department heads to sign and receive work permits.

Acknowledgement - The Contractor's safety personnel who appointed/approved by SEC Safety

Department assigned at restricted location who is responsible to ensure all the precaution measures
has been provided for the job and as mentioned in the permit and ensured that the employees
executing the activity have understand the risk and its precaution .

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Verification - The SEC Consultant designated by SEC at restricted location to ensure that work
permit system are being implemented properly and verified that all the precaution measures has been
provided for the job and as mentioned in the permit.

4.0 Competency / Certification Required

Work permit issuers and receivers shall have a valid third party issuer or receiver certificate,
respectively.

The issuer/receiver’s in the case of a contractor, the SEC project engineer responsible for the work
location, shall sign the issuer/receiver certificate.

5.0 Types of Permit

The work permit system authorizes specific construction of Substation, Transmission line,
Underground cable, and maintenance to be conducted in the within the Saudi Electricity Company's
restricted locations..

5.1 Hot Work Permit (Red Color)

The purpose of the Hot Work Permit is to control work activities that may produce sufficient energy
to ignite flammable atmospheres or combustible materials.
Hot work permit system is used for any activity which involves welding, cutting, brazing, soldering,
grinding and any work that involves fire or heat as source or outcome of the activity being performed

5.2 Electrical (Isolation) Permit (Yellow Color)

The purpose of the Electrical isolations Permit is to ensure that proper planning and precautions are
taken during work activities where the unknown release of hazardous energy may occur.
Electrical work shall be classified majorly into work performed in live or energized electric lines and
de-energized electric lines. Implementation of proper LOTO system using approved tags and locks as
per the LOTO procedure must be ensured.

5.3 Excavation Permit (Brown Color)

The purpose of the excavation permit is to ensure that proper planning and precautions are taken
during before, during and after excavation.

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If any excavation more than 4 feet (1.2m), protective measures should be taken such as
Shoring/Shielding or Stepping/ Benching or Slopping. Documents related to the excavation
activity such as soil test report, excavation design, competency of the professional engineer
who designed the excavation in case of 20 feet depth shall be verified.

5.4 Confined Space to Entry Permit ( Pink Color)

The purpose of the Confined space entry permit is to ensure proper planning and precautions are
taken for the entry of personnel into any space or structure (i.e., tank, vessel, vault, excavations when
or deeper, 4 feet (1.2m),etc.) not normally intended for human occupancy, where entry, movement
within, or exit is restricted

A confined space work permit shall be issued for working in areas where location is unsuitable for
continued worker occupancy, having poor ventilation, containing hazardous atmosphere, containing
flammable gases or lack of oxygen.

5.5 Lifting Permit (Blue Color)

The purpose of the lifting permit is to ensure proper planning and precautions are taken for
performing any lifting operation using a lifting equipment.
The following lifting operation shall be considered as heavy lifting and a lifting plan shall be made
by a competent lifting planner (rigger level 1, 2, & 3).

 Any load forty (40) tons or greater.

 Any load that exceeds eighty-five percent (85%) of the crane’s rated load capacity or
manufacturer’s specifications for that specific lift.
 Any crane lift with explosion/fire/high heat hazards.
 Cranes having to suspend a load over tanks, pressure vessels, piping, and/or equipment
containing pressurized liquids, pedestrians, vehicle traffic, occupied construction equipment,
and/or occupied buildings.

5.6 Work At Height Permit (Orange Color)

The purpose of the Work at height permit is to ensure proper planning and precautions are taken for
all activities that are performed above the height of 1.8 meters from ground level.

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Activities involving using of scaffolds, ladders, MEWP and working on roofs shall be classified as
height work

5.7 Cold Work Permit (Green Color)

The purpose of the Cold work permit is to control work activities that will not produce sufficient
energy to ignite flammable atmospheres/materials. Work with hand tools, sand removal, asbestos
removal or repair, scaffold erection, brush painting, etc

6.0 Work Permit Procedure

6.1 Issue & Acceptance of permit

1. The issuer will issue the work permit after he has conducted a joint site inspection with the
receiver as appropriate, performed the necessary precautions and restrictions which is given
in the permit and reviewed all aspects of the job with the receiver.
2. Once the issuer's and receiver's signatures done finally the SEC Consultant / Contractor
Safety personnel who will ensure all potential hazards identified, appropriate precaution
measures taken by issuer/ receiver, and then give acknowledgement signature .
3. The issuer and receiver are jointly responsible for the safety of personnel and equipment in
the area. The issuer is responsible for specifying precautions so that the work can be done
without injury or loss. The receiver is responsible for performing the work in accordance
with the conditions and requirements agreed upon with the issuer and specified in the work
permit.
4. Before issuing the work permit all necessary actions to approve the proposed work and/or
possible configuration changes must be completed. The issuer must verify that the receiver's
certificate is valid and approved for the type of work to be done: (i.e., Electrical, hot work,
cold work, excavation, work at height, confined space to entry).
5. These additional approvals or signatures are required for extended permits or for some
specific jobs, the issuer must countersign the permits.

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6.2 Filling & Required Documents

1. The description of the work, location of work and the risks involved in the work & workplace
shall be identified and addressed in the work permit.
2. The availability of Job safety practices , risk assessment and the measures necessary for safe
operation shall be verified and ensured by the permit issuer and the receiver and attached with
permit.
3. Use of appropriate PPEs and implementation of all safety measures as required by the work
permit shall be inspected and ensured by the permit issuer and the receiver.

6.3Displaying Permit
1. The receiver of a work permit must keep a copy in his possession or in view at the job site for
the duration of the job so that it is available for inspection and cancellation if necessary.
2. The receiver is expected to remain at the job site to adequately supervise the work, however, if
he must leave the job site for any reason, for example to obtain additional tools or equipment,
etc., he must, if the issuer agree.

6.4 Permit Revalidation

1. The work permit is permissible for one working day (8 hours) only but the revalidation of
work permits may be issued for periods more than one day but not in excess of 7 working
days with the following conditions must be satisfied
 The permit must be signed by both the issuer and the receiver every day before
starting of activity.
 It must be highly unlikely that conditions will develop which would create an
additional hazard to personnel or operating facilities.
 Precautions must be taken prior to starting the job, to ensure safe conditions
throughout the job.

6.5 Suspension or Cancelation of Permit

1. If an unsafe condition develops when neither the issuer nor the receiver is available at the
work site, the acknowledged person (SEC Consultant / Contractor Safety personnel) authority
to suspended /stop the job. When work is suspended/ stopped the issuer must pick up the work

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permit, write on the permit the reasons for the work cancellation, the time, and other relevant
information.
2. All work permits are cancelled in the event of an emergency, such as a fire or medical. Permits
may be re-issued once the “all clear” has been declared and the work sites have been returned
to their pre-emergency conditions.
3. All unnecessary personnel whose presence adversely affects the safety of the job must be kept
away from the job site or work shall be stopped.

6.6Clearance of Work Permit

1. Work permits shall be clearance by the issuer and the receiver signing the permit.
2. Both the issuer and receiver shall conduct a site inspection to ensure that the work area has
been returned to its pre-work permit condition before the work permit can be closed. If the
work has not been completed, the work site shall be left in a safe and secure condition.

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