Permit to work · 9 precautions · 2 critical

Night Works
permit to work

Any works outside normal hours requiring additional controls for lighting, lone working, noise, and emergency response.

These are the precautions the issuer confirms before signing. Each one says what good looks like, when it passes, the regulation it rests on and how it usually fails. Critical precautions are marked: if one cannot be confirmed, the permit is not issued.

Precautions before issue

  1. 1.
    Section 61 consent obtained (if required)
    Critical: a fail stops the work
    What to look forSection 61 (Control of Pollution Act 1974) prior consent application submitted >28 days before noisy night works begin, granted in writing by the local authority Environmental Health Officer. Conditions on hours, plant, methods, monitoring locations, complaint procedure observed. Where consent not granted (or not yet granted), Section 60 notice received from EHO defines the limits.
    Acceptable whenSection 61 consent in writing or pre-existing Section 60. Conditions on file at site. Working hours, decibel limits, monitoring locations matched to consent. Renewal application before expiry. Public complaint log.
    StandardControl of Pollution Act 1974 s.60-61. Environmental Protection Act 1990. BS 5228-1 noise control on construction sites.
    Common defectsNo consent applied for, works carried out under risk of EHO notice / abatementWorking outside consent hours (e.g. consent says cease at 23:00, works continue to 01:00)Consent expired during long project, not renewedPlant in consent superseded but new plant noisier, exceeds limitsComplaint received, no log kept, EHO escalates
  2. 2.
    Adequate task lighting in all work areas
    What to look forTask illuminance per CIBSE LG7: rough work 100 lux, general construction 200 lux, fine work 500 lux, very fine work 1000 lux. Lighting positioned to avoid glare into the work, into oncoming traffic, or into neighbouring properties. LED floodlights on stable mounts (telescopic mast, scissor lift, fixed bracket), not balanced on a barrier. Coloured temperature 4000K minimum (cool white) to maintain alertness.
    Acceptable whenTask illuminance met (lux meter reading at task plane). Glare controlled (cut-off angle >70 deg from horizontal). Lighting on stable mounts. Standby lighting (battery / generator backup) for emergency. Cool white >= 4000K.
    StandardWorkplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regs 1992 reg 8. CIBSE Lighting Guide LG7 lighting for offices/construction. BS EN 12464-1 lighting of work places.
    Common defectsLux level adequate at the floodlight, dropping to 50 lux at task, wrong measurement planeGlare into a road junction, driver dazzled, near-missLighting on tripod blown over by wind, work area darkWarm white 2700K, fatigue / drowsinessNo backup lighting, generator fails, site goes dark with operatives still working
  3. 3.
    Lighting for access/egress routes
    What to look forContinuous lighting along all access routes from welfare to work area to muster point, minimum 20 lux walking, 50 lux at level changes. No dark spots between floodlights. Emergency lighting (battery-backed) at exits and decision points. Spilling light NOT into residential windows (consent often limits boundary lux).
    Acceptable when20 lux minimum walking route, 50 lux at stairs/ramps. No dark gaps between floods. Emergency lighting at exits + decision points (BS 5266 1-hour minimum). Spill light <2 lux at residential boundaries.
    StandardWHSW Regs 1992 reg 8. BS 5266-1 emergency lighting of premises. CIBSE LG7. ILE Guidance Notes for the Reduction of Obtrusive Light.
    Common defectsFloodlight gap of 30m, pedestrian in dark zone trips on debrisNo emergency lighting at the muster point, evacuation in darkLight spill at 30 lux into bedroom window, public complaintStairwell to compound dark, operative falls
  4. 4.
    Lone working arrangements in place
    What to look forLone worker policy applied, typically prohibited for high-risk tasks (confined space, hot works, work at height, electrical, plant operation alone). Where unavoidable: scheduled call-in (typically every hour), tracked location (lone worker app or device with man-down GPS), pre-agreed escalation if call-in missed. Buddy system encouraged. NO night-time hot works alone, NO night-time confined space alone.
    Acceptable whenHourly call-in or live-tracked device. Man-down detection on lone worker (e.g. SoloProtect, Reliance Protect). Pre-agreed escalation procedure (3 missed call-ins = supervisor dispatch + 999). High-risk tasks NOT done alone at night.
    StandardHSWA 1974 s.2. Management of Health and Safety at Work Regs 1999 reg 3. INDG73 Working alone.
    Common defectsLone worker app fitted but no monitoring at the other end, alarm goes nowhereHigh-risk task done alone (e.g. one-man scaffold strike at night), fall undetected for hoursPhone in pocket no man-down, operative unconscious, no alertCall-in interval too long (4 hours), incident undetected too longNo pre-agreed escalation, when call missed, no-one acts
  5. 5.
    Emergency contact and call-out procedures confirmed
    Critical: a fail stops the work
    What to look forA named on-call manager / supervisor reachable 24/7 with their direct mobile number on the permit, NOT just a generic out-of-hours number. Designated Senior Person (DSP) for the shift on site. Hospital A&E location and route mapped. Local fire/ambulance station notified for high-risk works. Site address with what3words and grid reference posted at the welfare/gate.
    Acceptable whenNamed on-call manager + direct mobile. Site DSP on shift. A&E route mapped. What3words / grid reference posted. Communications backup (where mobile signal patchy, satellite phone or hard-wired line).
    StandardHSWA 1974 s.2. Mgmt Regs 1999. CDM 2015. First Aid Regs 1981.
    Common defectsOut-of-hours number diverts to voicemail, incident response delayedSite DSP went home at 22:00, no replacement on shiftNo A&E address, ambulance team given vague directionsMobile no-signal black spot, no backup commsEmergency procedure on a noticeboard in the office, not on site
  6. 6.
    First aider available on shift
    What to look forFirst aid at Work (FAW, 3-day) qualified first aider on site for the duration of the shift, identified on the permit, with name and phone. First aid kit BS 8599-1 sized for the shift population. Defibrillator (AED) on site for projects >25 personnel or where >12 min ambulance response time. First aid room or designated treatment area with stretcher access.
    Acceptable whenFAW (3-day) qualified, ratio per HSE first aid needs assessment (typical: 1 FAW per 25 personnel high-risk, 1 per 50 low-risk). BS 8599-1 kit. AED if >12 min ambulance response or >50 staff. Treatment area accessible to stretcher.
    StandardHealth and Safety (First Aid) Regs 1981. HSE L74 First aid at work. BS 8599-1:2019 workplace first aid kit.
    Common defectsEFAW (1-day) only on a high-risk site, under-qualified for the riskOnly first aider takes a break, no cover for 30 minutesKit BS 8599-1 small but site has 80 personnel, under-stockedNo AED despite long ambulance response, cardiac event fatalTreatment route blocked by stored materials, stretcher cannot pass
  7. 7.
    Noise restrictions, permitted hours and levels confirmed
    What to look forBoundary noise level monitored at consent monitoring locations, recorded with timestamp. Plant selected for the hours (silenced units after 19:00 / before 07:00). High-noise tasks (impact tools, dropping kerbs) scheduled for daytime. No-noise window (typically 23:00-07:00) free of all but absolutely essential plant. Real-time monitoring where required.
    Acceptable whenBoundary noise within Section 61 consent or Section 60 limits (typical LAeq 65-75 dB(A) day, 55 dB(A) night). Real-time monitor at most exposed receptor. Quiet hours observed. Records available for EHO inspection.
    StandardControl of Pollution Act 1974. BS 5228-1:2009+A1:2014 noise on construction. WHO night noise guidelines (40 dB Lnight).
    Common defectsBoundary monitor not running, no defence to complaintImpact breaker used at 02:00, exceeds night limit by 20 dBReversing alarms at 04:00, broadband alarm replaced with white-noise alarm not implementedPlant idling during a long break, unnecessary noise
  8. 8.
    Neighbours/residents notified
    What to look forLetter drop / leaflet to all properties within the noise/light/dust effect zone, typically 100m for noise, more if works heavy. Notice gives: works description, dates, hours, contact name + 24/7 number for complaints, regulator (EHO) contact. Notification at least 7 days before works. Schools, hospitals, hotels notified separately.
    Acceptable whenLetter drop 7+ days pre-works. Effect zone radius assessed. Sensitive receptors (schools, hospitals, hotels) notified separately. Site contact 24/7 for complaints. Complaint log maintained.
    StandardConsiderate Constructors Scheme. BS 5228-1. CDM 2015 (cooperation with affected parties).
    Common defectsLetter drop only 1 day before, neighbours unpreparedEffect zone underestimated, properties at 200m out of zone affectedNo 24/7 contact, complaint left on voicemail until next morningHospital nearby not separately notified, patient sleep disrupted
  9. 9.
    Security arrangements in place
    What to look forSite secured with hoarding/Heras + sign-in/sign-out at gate. Security guard on site for high-risk locations or where lone working. CCTV with night vision and recording. Plant immobilised when unattended. Fuel and tool stores locked. Adjacent occupied buildings secured (e.g. doors locked into the construction zone). Liaison with local police on-call.
    Acceptable whenHoarding / Heras + locked gate. Security presence proportionate to risk. CCTV recording (kept 30 days minimum). Plant immobilised. Fuel store locked. Police aware.
    StandardCDM 2015. CCS Code of Considerate Practice. Insurance policy conditions.
    Common defectsPlant left running with key in ignition, theft / unauthorised useHeras gap unlocked, public accessCCTV recording but no review, incidents undiscoveredNo security guard on a high-value site overnight, significant theftAdjacent occupied building door not locked, public crosses into construction zone

Questions people ask

When is a night works permit needed?

Any works outside normal hours requiring additional controls for lighting, lone working, noise, and emergency response. A permit is the right control when the work is high risk, time-limited and depends on specific precautions being in place before it starts and being kept in place while it runs. It does not replace the RAMS; it sits on top of it for that shift. Guidance, not legal advice.

Who issues a permit to work?

An authorised person who is competent for that type of work and is not the one doing it. They walk the job, confirm each precaution, sign the permit, and hand it to the person in charge of the work, who accepts it by signature. Two names, two signatures, a start time and an expiry.

How long is a permit valid?

One shift, or a shorter stated period. If the conditions change, the permit is suspended, not stretched. A new day is a new permit, walked and signed again, because the site is not the same site it was yesterday.

What does critical mean on a precaution?

2 of the 9 precautions here are marked critical. If a critical precaution cannot be confirmed, the permit is not issued and the work does not start. The rest can be conditioned or noted; the critical ones cannot.

How is the permit closed out?

The person in charge hands it back when the work stops, the issuer checks the area is left safe, and both sign the close-out. For hot works that includes the fire watch period after the last spark. The closed permit is kept with the job file.

Issue it on a phone, close it out on a phone

The same 9 precautions with the guidance a tap away, issuer and acceptor signatures, start and expiry times, suspension, close-out and a branded PDF in the job file. 14 days free.

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