Permit to work software
GM of Operations
Permit-to-work software digitally manages the approval, issuance and closure of work permits for high-risk tasks, ensuring all safety controls are verified and documented before work begins on site.
Permit to work software is a digital system for managing high-risk work permits such as hot work, confined space entry, working at heights, electrical isolation and excavation. It replaces paper-based permit books with electronic permits that are created, approved, issued and closed out within a single auditable platform.
Why it matters
Permit to work processes exist to control high-risk activities that could result in serious injury or death. Paper-based permit systems are vulnerable to lost forms, expired permits remaining active, approvals bypassed under time pressure, and incomplete close-out records. Digital permit to work software enforces the correct approval workflow, prevents work from starting until all preconditions are met, automatically expires permits at the designated time, and creates a complete digital record for compliance audits and incident investigations.
How MapTrack helps
MapTrack supports permit-to-work workflows through its digital forms engine. Teams can create permit templates (hot work, confined space, LOTO isolation, working at heights) with required fields, approval signatures, risk assessment attachments and close-out checklists. Permits are linked to the asset or location via QR code, creating a complete permit history. Automated expiry and escalation rules prevent permits from being left open, and all permit records are instantly accessible for audits.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a permit to work system?
A permit to work system is a formal process for controlling high-risk work activities. It requires a written permit to be issued before work begins, specifying the hazards, preconditions, controls and duration. The permit must be approved by an authorised person, and work cannot proceed until all preconditions (e.g. isolation verified, gas testing completed) are confirmed. Digital permit to work software replaces the paper-based version with electronic permits that enforce the correct workflow and create an auditable record.
Which industries use permit to work software?
Permit to work software is used across construction, mining, oil and gas, utilities, manufacturing, facilities management and any industry where high-risk activities require formal authorisation. Common permit types include hot work permits, confined space entry permits, electrical isolation (LOTO) permits, working at heights permits and excavation permits. Australian WHS regulations require documented safe work procedures for these activities.
Related terms
Compliance Management
Compliance management in asset-intensive industries is the systematic process of ensuring that equipment, operations, and personnel meet all applicable regulatory, safety, environmental, and contractual requirements. It encompasses tracking inspection due dates, certifications, licences, safety checks, environmental obligations, and industry-specific standards. Compliance management requires both proactive scheduling and thorough record-keeping.
Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)
Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) is a safety procedure used to ensure that equipment is properly shut down, isolated from all energy sources, and cannot be restarted until maintenance or repair work is completed. Lockout involves physically locking energy isolation devices (such as circuit breakers or valves) in the off position, while tagout involves attaching a warning tag to the isolation point. LOTO protects workers from the unexpected release of hazardous energy during servicing.
WHS compliance software
WHS compliance software is a digital WHS management system that helps organisations meet Work Health and Safety obligations by managing inspections, incident records, risk assessments, corrective actions, contractor compliance, regulatory reporting and audit trails. It replaces paper registers, spreadsheets and email chains with a searchable system of record that shows what was checked, when it was checked, who completed it, what failed and what evidence was attached.
Working at Heights
Working at heights refers to any work performed in a location where a person could fall a distance likely to cause injury. In Australia, this generally means any task carried out 2 metres or more above ground level, though the risk applies at any height where a fall hazard exists. It includes work on roofs, scaffolds, ladders, elevated work platforms (EWPs), and open edges. Controls follow the hierarchy: eliminate the need for height work first, then use passive fall prevention, work positioning, and finally fall arrest systems.
Confined Space
A confined space is an enclosed or partially enclosed area that is not designed or intended for continuous human occupancy, has limited entry and exit points, and may pose a risk to health and safety from atmospheric hazards (oxygen deficiency, toxic gases, flammable vapours), engulfment, entrapment, or other dangers. Australian WHS Regulations define specific criteria for classification. Common examples include tanks, silos, pits, sewers, tunnels, and roof voids.
Cite this definition
Writing about this topic? You’re welcome to quote this definition. Here’s the wording to use so your readers can find the original.
Permit to work software is a digital system for managing high-risk work permits such as hot work, confined space entry, working at heights, electrical isolation and excavation.
- Short attribution
- MapTrack Glossary: Permit to work software, https://www.maptrack.com/glossary/permit-to-work-software
- Reference list
- MapTrack. (2026). Permit to work software [Glossary definition]. Retrieved from https://www.maptrack.com/glossary/permit-to-work-software
Free to reuse with credit under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. If you’d rather link straight to it, the page is https://www.maptrack.com/glossary/permit-to-work-software.
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