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Guidance for Employers and Contractors on Permit to Work (PTW) Systems – Part 3 Overview In the workplace, where it is not possible to reduce or eliminate hazards or risks completely, and where employees are exposed to potentially high hazards and risks, it is imperative for a permit to work system to be implemented, monitored, and maintained. The purpose of the sections below is to provide guidance for employers and contractors on Permit to Work (PTW) Systems, the training and competence needed, general design, and work planning as well as risk assessment. Training and Competence There are numerous organisational approaches towards a permit to work system. They do not need to be a complex process but, however, they do require continuous use as well as practise to ensure that workforce risk awareness is reinforced, and that safety performance is enhanced. Effective training is an element which is crucial in achieving quality as well as consistency in the use of a permit to work system. There must be successive levels of training for employees who are involved in work where a permit to work is needed. Training ensures that there is a foundation for effective implementation of the permit to work system and it also supports the competency of users. Training remains the first step for those who use permits to work and it also ensures continued participation of relevant employees necessary to improve understanding as well as system ownership. Training must be shared where it is appropriate, encouraging good practice as well as harmonising permit to work systems.

Guidance for Employers and Contractors on Permit to Work (PTW) Systems – Part 2 When considering the health and safety requirements in which both employees and employers have a duty, there may still be some health and safety hazards and risks that cannot be reduced or eliminated. For this reason, there must be a permit to work system in place which is effective. The purpose of the sections below is to provide guidance for employers and contractors on Permit to Work (PTW) Systems and the various responsibilities associated with them. Responsibilities in Permit to Work Systems The employer along with the occupier of the site and the duty holder have an overall responsibility to ensure that there is a proper and effective permit to work system developed, and that it is followed. However, everyone who carries out work, whether it is contractors, subcontractors, and all employees, have responsibilities and duties under a permit to work system. It is therefore imperative that every person is trained and that they know what their responsibilities are so that they can be carried out properly.

Guidance for Employers and Contractors on Permit to Work (PTW) Systems – Part 1 Overview In numerous industries it is not always possible to reduce or eliminate safety and health hazards and risks. For this reason, there must be permitted to work (PTW) systems which form part of the task risk assessment process. The purpose of the sections below is to provide a guidance for employers and contractors on Permit to Work (PTW) Systems, what they are, when they are required, the essentials needed for such systems, and how roles can be harmonised with permit to work systems. What is a permit to work System?

9 Easy Steps to Work Safe with a Permit to Work (PTW) Overview The purpose of the permit to work is that it helps to reduce the risk of safety incidents. This is done by ensuring that people involved with certain high-risk tasks are aware of the specific hazards, that they take the necessary precautions and that they are competent to conduct the task. Furthermore, it also ensures that there is efficient and effective communication between the different segments throughout the work from planning, preparation, job execution, hand over, and restoring the area to normal operations.

OHS Online - Permit to Work for Contractors and Health and Safety Overview There are some tasks that carry some inherent hazards. To ensure that these hazards are adequately and correctly controlled, it is appropriate to operate and maintain a permit to work system. OHS Online – Permit to work for contractors and health and safety, is a key factor which may be misinterpreted and even misused. It must not be confused with a risk assessment but as an addition to such a process. The procedure will assist managers in identifying the types of tasks that require a permit to work, who is responsible for raising and closing such a permit, and what the role of the contractor or maintenance personnel will play in the process. It should be noted that the procedure on permits to work is accompanied by task identification registers as well as the permit to work which must be completed by the relevant parties. The permit to work system must form part of the Occupational Health and Safety programme, it must be maintained, monitored, and reviewed for its effectiveness to ensure a consistently healthy and safe work environment.

Contractor and Permits to Work (PTW) Overview A crucial factor in ensuring workplace health and safety revolves around contractors and permits to work (PTW), which every employer must consider and make provision for. A permit to work system is a system which is formal and written, used to control certain types of work which may present potential hazards. The permit to work is subsequently a document which specifies the work which must be done, the hazards identified (whether potential or existing), and the precautions that must be taken in preventing an accident or incident from occurring. Permits to work form a crucial part of safety systems of work for numerous activities. They allow for work to start only after the safe procedures have been defined. They also provide a clear record of all foreseeable hazards which have been considered, and the actions to mitigate or control them.

COIDA UPDATE: How to register you Domestic employees for COIDA / WCA Please open the Document to read more - DOWNLOADS AVAILABLE to register as an employer of a domestic worker Overview As per the Department of Employment and Labour Notice 106 of 2021, domestic worker employees must be registered in terms of section 80 of the COIDA Act as amended. What does this mean for domestic employees? The implications of declaring this section of COIDA invalid means that domestic workers/employees are now covered/included under COIDA, meaning that these employees are entitled for compensation if they are injured, or they contract diseases,  or Contact us for more information.

Who is responsible in South Africa when a contractor that you contracted to conduct work for you is injured or killed on your premises? Overview When a client hires an independent contractor to perform services at their place of business, it is imperative to know who is responsible in South Africa when a contractor that they contracted to conduct for them is injured or killed on their premises. Clients must know that their legal standard of care is different from the duties which are owed to a customer, for instance. However, should a workplace injury occur to an independent contractor’s employee on the client’s premises, the client will expect that workers’ compensation is available to cover expenses. However, it must be noted that even though there is workers’ compensation coverage, it may not preclude any third-party liability. This relates specifically to the possessor or owner of the premises, regardless of whether it is leased or owned by the client, being held liable for the injury.

Do you need a Letter of Good Standing from the Compensation Fund (COIDA)? Overview As a new business owner and subsequent employer, you may be wondering: do you need a Letter of Good Standing from the Compensation Fund (COIDA)? The short and simple answer is yes. However, it is crucial to look at what a Letter of Good Standing (LoGS) is, what you need to get one, and how you can go about obtaining a LoGS. What is a Letter of Good Standing (LoGS)? A Letter of Good Standing, simply defined, is an official letter provided to an employer, proving that they are registered with COID and that they are up to date with their payments to COID. The reason so many tenders and contracts require employers to be in possession of a Letter of Good Standing is attributable to ensuring that employers are accountable. This accountability specifically refers to employees and making sure that employers operate within legal parameters. Employers who are not registered with COID or who are not in Good Standing with the Compensation Fund, are not covered and neither will their employees qualify for compensation from COID should work-related accidents occur, attracting medical expenses or compensation in the event of permanent, disabling injury, or even death. What documents are required to obtain a Letter of Good Standing?