For any permit system to be effective those persons involved in the issue of permits must be fully trained. This includes not only HOW to issue the permit but also in the subject matter, i.e. the person issuing the permit should also be familiar with the type of work and associated hazards that the permit is being issued for.

• Are those who issue permits sufficiently knowledgeable concerning the hazards and precautions associated with the plant and proposed work?
• Do they have the imagination and experience to ask enough 'what if' questions to enable them to identify all potential hazards?
• Do staff and contractors fully understand the importance of the permit-to-work system and are they trained in its use?

A record should be kept of all training completed by those persons who are nominated as authorised to issue permits to work, sample training logs are given below: