Work on Energised Equipment Permit

An educational library of workplace documents — purpose, who completes them, when they are used, typical fields, common mistakes and how they connect. Linked to workplace safety, workplace training, occupations, industries and employment documents. Informational only — template examples, not legal advice or official documents; employers remain responsible and using a document does not guarantee compliance.

What a work on energised equipment permit is

A work on energised equipment permit is a controlled authorisation for the unusual situation where equipment must stay energised or running while work is done — for example certain commissioning, fault-finding or testing — because it cannot be isolated for the task. It records why energised work is justified, the additional precautions and the strict limits.

This page is an educational overview with a simplified example. It is not an official template, not jurisdiction-specific and not legal advice — energised work should be the exception and is restricted by the applicable law and the employer.

Purpose

• Record the justification for working on energised equipment.
• Confirm the additional precautions, barriers and PPE used.
• Limit the work to competent people and a defined, minimal scope.
• Document that the decision and controls were assessed and authorised.

Who completes it

• An authorised person competent in the energised system, who issues it.
• The competent worker, who accepts the conditions.
• An accompanying person may be required by the employer.
• The employer decides who is competent for energised work and to authorise it.

When it is used

• Only where isolation is not reasonably practicable for the task.
• For a defined, minimal task within a competent person’s scope.
• For a stated period, with the work stopped if conditions change.
• Whenever the employer’s system and the law permit energised work at all.

Typical fields

• Permit number, equipment, justification for working energised.
• Additional precautions: barriers, PPE, exclusion and accompaniment.
• Minimal scope and limits of the energised work.
• Competence confirmation for the people involved.
• Issuer and acceptor signatures, and completion sign-off.
• Example fields only — adapt to the system and the applicable law.

Common mistakes

• Working energised when isolation was actually reasonably practicable.
• Inadequate barriers, exclusion or PPE for the energy present.
• Energised work by someone not competent for it.
• No accompaniment or means of raising the alarm.

Document workflow

A work on energised equipment permit is the exception beside the isolation-based permits: where most work is done after an isolation permit, this permit covers the justified energised case, raised under the permit to work system after a risk assessment. For live electrical conductors specifically, a live working permit is used.

See the related documents below for what is commonly required before, used with and completed after a work on energised equipment permit.

Retention (high level)

Completed permits are usually kept for a period afterwards as a record of how an exceptional task was controlled, in line with the employer’s obligations and data-protection duties. This page does not state a period — confirm with the applicable law and the official authority.

Completing and sharing as a PDF

These permits are commonly completed, signed and stored as PDFs alongside the system records. Exporting to PDF supports the record; it does not make the permit official or guarantee compliance.

Employer checklist

• Treat energised work as a last resort and require justification.
• Ensure only competent people undertake and authorise it.
• Provide the right barriers, exclusion, PPE and accompaniment.
• Keep completed permits as records and review after any incident.

Worker notes

• Do not work on energised equipment unless it is justified and you are competent.
• Use the barriers, exclusion and PPE the permit specifies.
• Stop if conditions change or you are outside your competence.

Country considerations

Whether and how energised work is allowed varies by country, and the official authority differs. This page is general and high-level — not a statement of any country’s law and not a guarantee of validity.

Confirm current requirements with the official authority for your country and a qualified professional.

Who is responsible

The employer is responsible for justifying and controlling any energised work, the competence of those involved, and compliance. This page is an educational overview with a template example; it does not authorise any energised work and does not transfer responsibility.