Opening/blinding permit

Permit system—a regulated system that requires a variety of permits for various applications. The most common applications are cold work, hot work, confined space entry, opening/blinding, permit to enter, and lock-out/tag-out. 

Opening/blinding permit—removing blinds, installing blinds, or opening vessels, lines, and equipment... 

Permit to enter—designed to protect employees from oxygen deficient atmospheres, hazardous conditions, power-driven equipment, and toxic and flammable materials Unplugging permit—barricades area, clears lines for unplugging, informs personnel, issues opening/blinding permit, issues unplugging permit... 

The types of permits used in the chemical processing industry include cold work permits, hot work permits, opening/blinding permits, permits to enter, unplugging permits, energy isolation procedures, and lock-out, tag-out procedures. 

Hazards associated with using natural gas Hazards associated with leaks Instrument failures Confined Space Entry permit Opening blinding permits... 

Permit systems are designed to protect workers from dangers involved in hazardous energy, hot work, opening and blinding, confined-space entry, and cold work. A good permit system can easily be integrated into normal operations to protect employees, equipment, and the environment. 

When the work is complete all copies of the permit should be returned to the issuing point. The permit-issuer should then inspect the worksite to confirm that the work has been completed as intended and that the worksite has been left in a safe and tidy condition, that all blinds have been removed, and that there are no other open permits that apply to the same equipment. Only then should the permit-issuer sign off the permit. 

If two or more jobs are being carried out on the same piece of equipment or in the same area, the chance for confusion as to which permit applies to which controls arises. Failure to control multiple permits was a major factor in the Piper Alpha incident—two permits were open on one compressor. When the first job was finished, its permit was closed and the compressor was started, even though the machine had a missing blind flange associated with the second job. 

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