Three Key Benefits of an ePTW Solution

Introduction

In heavy industry, managing work permits efficiently is essential for ensuring safety, compliance, and operational effectiveness. Traditional paper-based Permit to Work (PTW) systems can be time-consuming, inefficient, and difficult to maintain, leading to administrative bottlenecks and potential safety risks.

A study analysing over 600 process safety-related accidents between 1990 and 2015 found that Permit to Work system failures were the primary cause in approximately 7% of these incidents - Chemical Engineering Transactions Journal (2017)

With failures in permit-to-work systems being directly linked to many major workplace accidents, organisations are now looking towards digital solutions to refine their existing paper-based permit processes. The integration of an electronic Permit to Work (ePTW) can transform operations, enhance safety protocols, improve compliance, and streamline workflows, saving lives, time, money, and reputation. Companies who have already made the switch to ePTW have observed that integrating a digital solution has produced many benefits to their organisations, providing real-time visibility into work permits, reducing safety risks, and enhancing coordination among teams.

Using IAMTech’s ePTW software, iPermit, as a case study, this article explores three major benefits of adopting an ePTW solution: the ability to monitor all permits from a single dashboard, improved management of simultaneous operations (SIMOPS), and enhanced visualisation through Google Maps and Plot Plans.

Centralised Dashboards for Improved Coordination

One of the most significant advantages of an ePTW system is the ability to consolidate and view all work permits in one central location. iPermit’s User Home Screen serves as a centralised dashboard, providing a comprehensive and real-time view of all permitted work across a site.

Through a user-friendly interface, site personnel can quickly access the status of all permits from request to completion. The quick-view ribbon at the top of the dashboard categorises permits, allowing users to filter and sort them based on specific requirements. This ensures that relevant information is always at hand, eliminating the need to sift through paperwork or navigate multiple systems.

Additionally, users can configure the dashboard to display permit details in a way that best suits their needs. The ability to export data into Excel or integrate with analytical tools like Tableau and Power BI further enhances decision-making.

By having a centralised and accessible permit management system, organisations can significantly reduce inefficiencies, enhance collaboration, and improve response times to issues. Instead of spending time searching for paper records, verifying approvals, or interrupting colleagues all necessary data is available at a glance, ensuring better coordination, decision making and control over work activities.

Safe and Efficient Management of SIMOPS

Simultaneous operations (SIMOPS) pose a significant challenge in industrial settings, where multiple teams often work on the same site at the same time. Poorly managed SIMOPS can lead to safety hazards, operational delays, and potential conflicts between activities. iPermit’s Anti-Clash Feature is designed to mitigate these risks by providing real-time visibility into overlapping work activities.

When a permit request is made, the system automatically checks for potential conflicts with existing permits. If a conflict is detected, the anti-clash feature highlights it, prompting users to review overlapping works before proceeding. Users are able to click on the associated permit number to view detailed information about concurrent tasks, allowing them to make informed decisions about prioritisation and risk mitigation.

Unlike systems that automatically restrict conflicting activities, iPermit’s anti-clash feature is designed to encourage human judgment. While the system highlights conflicts, it does not impose unnecessary restrictions, recognising that not all overlapping work presents an immediate risk. This approach ensures that safety and operational efficiency are maintained while still allowing flexibility in decision-making.

By providing real-time visibility into work conflicts, the system enhances safety, reduces downtime, and improves overall planning. Teams can assess risks in advance, ensuring that appropriate measures are in place before work begins. As a result, organisations can minimise safety incidents, avoid unnecessary work stoppages, and improve operational efficiency.

Enhanced Visualisation with Google Maps and Plot Plans

Having a clear understanding of where work is taking place is crucial for effective coordination, especially on large or complex sites. iPermit integrates seamlessly with Google Maps and Plant Schematics, allowing users to visualise the exact locations of work activities in real time.

This functionality helps teams navigate work sites more effectively, reducing the risk of confusion or miscommunication. For example, users can pinpoint the precise locations of permits on a digital map, ensuring that workers can quickly locate their assigned tasks. This is particularly beneficial for new personnel who may be unfamiliar with site descriptions.

During the system implementation, iPermit is configured to reflect the organisation’s site hierarchy within the graphical interface. Once set up, key users can easily modify site locations as needed, ensuring that the digital representation remains accurate and up to date.

The plot plan functionality is especially useful in high-risk environments, such as oil rigs or chemical plants, where multiple levels and confined spaces exist. By overlaying permit locations on site layouts, teams can identify work occurring in close proximity, reducing the likelihood of interference between activities.

By bringing clarity to worksite coordination, iPermit eliminates guesswork, enhances planning, and improves situational awareness. Workers, supervisors, and safety personnel can all benefit from real-time geographical representations of work locations, ultimately leading to safer and more efficient operations.

Conclusion

Adopting an electronic Permit to Work (ePTW) solution like iPermit offers significant benefits for organisations looking to improve safety, efficiency, and compliance. By centralising permit management, providing real-time insights into simultaneous operations, and enhancing worksite visualisation, iPermit transforms the way industrial sites manage work permits.

A centralised dashboard eliminates inefficiencies and ensures clarity on all active permits. The SIMOPS management feature highlights work conflicts before they become issues, reducing safety risks and operational disruptions. Meanwhile, Google Maps and Plot Plans provide a visual representation of permit locations, improving coordination and navigation.

By making the shift to an ePTW solution, organisations can move beyond traditional paper-based processes, embracing a smarter, safer, and more efficient approach to work permit management.

Please note that other ePTW solutions may not have some or all the features and benefits discussed in this article. We advise a full market evaluation of available solutions to determine which ePTW is the best fit for your organisation. To learn more about how iPermit can enhance your operations, visit IAMTech.com