Permit to work · 8 precautions · 3 critical

Working Near Live Services
permit to work

Work near overhead power lines, underground gas mains, water mains, or other live services.

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.
    Service drawings obtained and reviewed
    Critical: a fail stops the work
    What to look forStatutory undertaker plans (LSBUD or direct from DNO/gas transporter/water co/Openreach) <28 days old, plus any bespoke surveys for private utilities. Plans annotated for the work area, brought to site, briefed to operatives. For overhead lines, voltage class identified, voltages in the UK include 230/400V (LV), 11kV / 33kV (HV), 132kV / 275kV / 400kV (transmission). Approach distances vary dramatically with voltage.
    Acceptable whenPlans <28 days old. All utilities searched. On site at the work point. Voltage class for overhead lines identified. Briefed to all plant operators and ground workers.
    StandardHSG47 4th ed. HSE GS6 Avoidance of danger from overhead electric power lines (4th ed). New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. ESQCR 2002.
    Common defectsPlans in office, not on site, operative cannot reference at point of workVoltage class not noted, assumed LV, actually 33kV, flashoverPrivate services not on statutory plans, no separate site searchPlans 6+ months old, recent service not shownBriefing limited to ground workers, plant operator unaware
  2. 2.
    Stand-off distances confirmed and marked
    What to look forPhysical stand-off zone marked on the ground / structure with paint, bunting, or kerb stops. Distance per HSE GS6 voltage class: LV (up to 1kV) 1m minimum; 11kV/33kV, 6m minimum; 132kV, 7m; 275kV, 10m; 400kV, 13m. Distance applies to the closest part of any plant including extended jib, raised tipper body, ladder. Where stand-off cannot be maintained, line de-energised by DNO under written agreement.
    Acceptable whenStand-off per GS6 voltage class. Marked physically on ground or with horizontal/vertical barriers. Applies to maximum extension of plant (boom up, body tipped). De-energisation by DNO if stand-off impossible.
    StandardHSE GS6 Avoidance of danger from overhead electric power lines (4th ed). ESQCR 2002. ENA Engineering Recommendation G81.
    Common defectsStand-off measured to the conductor at rest, wind sway can bring conductor 2m closerTipper raised body not considered, body within 3m of an 11kV lineBunting at ground level only, no overhead barrier, telehandler boom enters zoneOperator drives with body raised, reaches stand-off zoneGS6 distances not known by operator
  3. 3.
    Goal posts / height restrictors in place (overhead lines)
    Critical: a fail stops the work
    What to look forWhere plant must pass under overhead lines, physical goal posts / height restrictors at the crossing point, set at a height that includes the GS6 stand-off PLUS a safety margin. Goal post is a physical bar at controlled height, bunting alone is NOT a goal post. Reflective tape, lit at night, signs warning of voltage. Crossing point briefed to all plant operators; no off-route crossings.
    Acceptable whenGoal post height = OHL height minus GS6 stand-off (e.g. 11kV at 7m height, GS6 stand-off 6m, goal post height 1m maximum at crossing). Reflective + lit. Single defined crossing point. Off-route crossing prohibited.
    StandardHSE GS6. ESQCR 2002.
    Common defectsBunting only, not a physical bar, can be passed underGoal post height set at OHL height with no stand-off subtraction, plant passes within stand-off zoneSingle goal post, plant goes around it, GS6 not enforcedGoal post rotted/damaged, ineffectivePlant operator takes a "shortcut" off the marked crossing route
  4. 4.
    Banksman appointed for plant near services
    What to look forTrained banksman (CPCS A73 or NPORS equivalent) at every plant approach to a service stand-off zone. Hi-vis class 3, banksman has direct line of sight to operator AT ALL TIMES. Stop signal pre-agreed and operator complies immediately. Banksman not also doing other work. Where multiple plant in the area, multiple banksmen.
    Acceptable whenCPCS A73 banksman. Class 3 hi-vis. Continuous line of sight or radio relay. Operator stops immediately on signal. One banksman dedicated per plant approach.
    StandardHSG144 The safe use of vehicles on construction sites. CPCS A73 / NPORS scheme. HSWA 1974 s.2.
    Common defectsBanksman doubles as ground worker, leaves position to do another taskOperator views banksman in mirror, momentary loss of sight at critical momentNo CPCS, uncertified, signal vocabulary unreliableSingle banksman supervising multiple plantStop signal not pre-agreed, operator misreads
  5. 5.
    Emergency procedure for service strike briefed
    Critical: a fail stops the work
    What to look forSite-specific emergency plan: for OHL contact, operator stays in cab, no-one approaches, call DNO 105, evacuate to >10m away, treat any rescue with insulated equipment only; for buried strike, stop, evacuate, call utility owner emergency line, 999 if injury or fire. Plan rehearsed at induction. Contact numbers on permit and on cabin window. Pre-positioned isolation requests where DNO can de-energise on call.
    Acceptable whenPlan briefed at induction. Numbers (Gas 0800 111 999, Electric 105 [DNO emergency], local water co emergency) on permit AND on operator cabin sticker. Evacuation distance >10m for OHL strike. No-one touches plant in contact with OHL.
    StandardHSG47, HSG6. Gas Safety (Management) Regs 1996. ESQCR 2002. RIDDOR 2013.
    Common defectsOperator jumps from cab during OHL contact, step-and-touch potential, electrocutionBystander touches plant in contact, electrocutionNo 105 number known, calls 999 only, DNO not alertedPlan briefed at induction 6 months ago, not rehearsedNo procedure for buried-cable strike, operator pulls excavator clear, exposes live conductor
  6. 6.
    Service owner contacted and advice obtained
    What to look forDirect contact with the asset owner (DNO planning team, gas transporter, water company asset team, Openreach, district heating operator) to obtain specific advice, agree de-energisation if possible, agree witness presence for crossing or excavation. Written agreement on file. ENA G81 (electrical) or equivalent process applied. Voltage / pressure / depth confirmed.
    Acceptable whenAsset owner contacted in writing. Advice received in writing. De-energisation agreement where applicable. ENA G81 procedures for electrical. Voltage/pressure/depth confirmed.
    StandardHSG47, HSG6. ENA G81 (DNO operational practice). Gas Safety (Management) Regs 1996.
    Common defectsAsset owner contacted by phone only, no written recordDe-energisation agreed verbally, never confirmed, line still live on dayVoltage assumed from drawing, actually higher classNo contact for private servicesWitness from asset owner failed to attend, work proceeded anyway
  7. 7.
    Crossing points agreed (if crossing services)
    What to look forWhere new excavation or trafficking must cross an existing service, crossing point agreed in writing with asset owner. Method per asset owner specification, typically protective slabs over cable, sand bedding around pipes, depth ground reinforcement for traffic. Crossing point recorded on permit and as-built. Location witnessed by asset owner where required.
    Acceptable whenCrossing in writing from asset owner. Method per their spec (e.g. protective slab + cable tile for cable, sand backfill for water main). As-built record. Witness presence per asset owner conditions.
    StandardHSG47. NRSWA 1991 s.81 (specifications). NJUG guidelines.
    Common defectsCrossing improvised on day, no asset owner agreement, claim for damageProtective slab missed, future excavation strikeHeavy plant trafficking unprotected service, pipe deformedNo as-built, future projects unaware of the crossing
  8. 8.
    Hand dig within 500mm of service
    What to look forOnce a service is detected, a 500mm buffer hand-dug with insulated tools (insulated shovel, fork, no picks). Service exposed, identified positively (not assumed), marked, photographed. Mechanical resumption only past the service. Re-routing if service in path. Insulated PPE class matched to voltage.
    Acceptable when500mm hand-dig buffer (HSG47). Insulated tools EN 60900. Insulated gloves EN 60903 voltage-class matched. Service positively identified before mechanical resumption.
    StandardHSG47. EN 60900 insulated tools. EN 60903 insulating gloves. Electricity at Work Regs 1989.
    Common defectsMechanical excavator scrapes the 500mm zone, strikePneumatic breaker or pick used, pierces cableService mis-identified, "abandoned" cable actually liveOperative without insulated PPE, shocked through toolRe-route forgotten, machine resumes on the same line

Questions people ask

When is a working near live services permit needed?

Work near overhead power lines, underground gas mains, water mains, or other live services. 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?

3 of the 8 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 8 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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