Permit to work (PTW) software enables organizations to digitally manage and control high-risk work activities through the issuance, tracking, and closure of work permits. It provides a formalized system to authorize work processes that pose safety, health, or environmental risks, such as maintenance, hot work, confined space entry, electrical isolation, or working at height. PTW software ensures that necessary safety procedures, risk assessments, and approvals are completed before work begins.
PTW systems are predominantly used in heavy industries with complex operational risks, including oil and gas, manufacturing, construction, mining, utilities, chemicals, etc. They are often part of a broader suite of environmental health and safety software, but can also exist as a specialized standalone product.
By digitizing permit workflows, PTW software improves compliance with safety regulations, reduces administrative errors, and enhances visibility into operational risks. Key users typically include safety managers, maintenance coordinators, operations supervisors, and contractors.
To qualify for inclusion in the Permit to Work (PTW) category, a product must:
Create, process, and validate work permits for different job types (for example, hot work, confined space, electrical)
Support customized permit approval workflows such as requesting, reviewing, approving, issuing, and closing permits
Provide status tracking of all active, pending, and completed permits in real time
Offer audit trails, access control, and compliance checklists tied to permit types
Provide system-generated report and dashboard for trend analysis and smarter KPI reporting
Facilitate coordination among internal staff and external staff with desktop, mobile phone, or tablet
