Doc. No.

: L3-031-HSE-01
AZN Procedure
Rev. Date: 01-Oct-2018
Issue No Issue Date Revalidation
Safe System of Work
2 28-Jul-2015 30-Sep-2020 Page 2 of 21

Distribution List
Department/Section Recipient Department/Section Recipient
Management GM Stores All staff
Operations All staff Chemistry All staff
H.R. & Administration All staff Electrical All staff
I.T. All staff Mechanical All staff
Finance All staff Instrumentation & Control All staff
Procurement All staff Engineering All staff
H.S.E. All staff Performance All staff
Security All staff

Revision Record
Revision
Issue No. Description of Change Effective date
No.
1 0 First issue 28/06/2015
2 1 Routine review format change 10/10/2018
 Doc. No.: L3-031-HSE-01
AZN Procedure
Rev. Date: 01-Oct-2018
Issue No Issue Date Revalidation
Safe System of Work
2 28-Jul-2015 30-Sep-2020 Page 3 of 21

Contents
1.0 PURPOSE............................................................................................................... 1-4
2.0 PRINCIPLE ............................................................................................................. 2-4
3.0 SCOPE.................................................................................................................... 3-4
4.0 RESPONSIBILITY .................................................................................................. 4-4
5.0 DEFINITIONS/ ABBREVIATIONS .......................................................................... 5-4
6.0 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................ 6-5
7.0 HSE AND BUSINESS RISK.................................................................................... 7-5
8.0 PROCEDURE ......................................................................................................... 8-5
8.1 Safe system of work steps..................................................................................... 8-5
8.2 Assess the task (Maintenance).............................................................................. 8-5
8.3 Assess the task (Operations) ................................................................................ 8-5
8.4 Work planning ........................................................................................................ 8-5
8.5 Safety from the System .......................................................................................... 8-6
8.6 Setting people to work ........................................................................................... 8-6
8.7 Execute the work .................................................................................................... 8-6
8.8 Safety Document and Notification clearance ....................................................... 8-6
8.9 Plant RTS ................................................................................................................ 8-6
9.0 AUDIT / REVIEWS .................................................................................................. 9-6
10 ATTACHMENTS ..................................................................................................... 9-6
Appendix 1 Safe System of Work Flowchart (Engie)................................................ 7
 Doc. No.: L3-031-HSE-01
AZN Procedure
Rev. Date: 01-Oct-2018
Issue No Issue Date Revalidation
Safe System of Work
2 28-Jul-2015 30-Sep-2020 Page 4 of 21

1.0 PURPOSE
This procedure details the requirements and good practice to be observed when
managing arrangements for safe systems of work.

2.0 PRINCIPLE
A safe system of work is a defined methodology for performing work safely. It takes
account of all foreseeable hazards to people’s health and safety and seeks to eliminate
or minimise these, and must be documented.

3.0 SCOPE
All work on site. Additional systems are in place where the requirements of the Safety
Rules apply, but this may only be decided by a safety controller, and the initial assessment
of work is still required.

4.0 RESPONSIBILITY
The Planning Engineer:
Ensure the safe and efficient use of resources to meet the routine and non-routine
maintenance and inspection requirements of the plant
Review the Preventative Maintenance work load to ensure both frequency and content
are compatible with business planning objectives.
Ensure consistency of application between the 3 maintenance disciplines.
Ensure adequate recording and reporting is performed.
Ensure adequate checks are maintained and contractors, so they retain approval status.

The Shift Engineer:

Ensure that no work is allowed on plant until it is risk assessed and safety assessed and has
an associated method statement.

Lead Maintenance Engineers:

Ensure that no work is planned or carried out until it is risk assessed and safety assessed
and has an associated method statement.

5.0 DEFINITIONS/ ABBREVIATIONS

A safe system of work is a formal procedure or framework which results from systematic
examination of a task in order to identify all the hazards. It defines safe methods to ensure
that hazards are eliminated or risks minimised.

A safe system of work should not be confused with safe methods of work. Safe methods
of work are developed during the systematic examination of a task and are then
communicated to the people who will perform the work prior to starting the task. The safe
methods of work are implemented during execution of the work. Safe methods of work
are a sub-set of a safe system of work.
 Doc. No.: L3-031-HSE-01
AZN Procedure
Rev. Date: 01-Oct-2018
Issue No Issue Date Revalidation
Safe System of Work
2 28-Jul-2015 30-Sep-2020 Page 5 of 21

POWRA or Point of Work or Last Minute Risk Assessment. This is sometimes

LMRA called a Take 5 assessment, or a 20-second scan, and is simply a
formal way of stopping before work and looking around the work area
to make sure that the area is safe for work and nothing has changed
since the task and area risk assessments were created.

RTS Plant Return to Service, or Normalisation. This done at the end of the
work after any isolations have been removed, and is the process of
returning the plant to its normal operating mode.

6.0 REFERENCES
None

7.0 HSE AND BUSINESS RISK

Risk of unsafe practices from failure to assess and agree the risks from work hazards.

8.0 PROCEDURE
8.1 Safe system of work steps
1. Assess the task
2. Identify the hazards
3. Define safe methods
4. Implement the system
5. Monitor the system

8.2 Assess the task (Maintenance)

All maintenance work on site requires a Notification. All work is to be risk assessed and
a method statement produced. The risk assessment should assess the need for
additional assessments, such as manual handling, confined spaces, Work at Height etc.
or if a Gas Free Certificate is required. The Notification with RA/MS attached should
then be safety assessed by the duty Shift Engineer, normally on the day prior to the
scheduled day for the work, and a decision made on the level of documentation required
(e.g. Permit to Work).

8.3 Assess the task (Operations)

All Operations work must be risk assessed and a method statement produced. The risk
assessment is in the form of a generic table and the method statements are in the form
of operational procedures.

8.4 Work planning

All work must be planned in advance, preferably a week ahead. Planned Maintenance
Notifications should always be planned well in advance, leaving space for urgent and
unexpected work. This work must, however, still be risk assessed and safety assessed.
The day's schedule is then discussed and agreed at the daily production meeting.
 Doc. No.: L3-031-HSE-01
AZN Procedure
Rev. Date: 01-Oct-2018
Issue No Issue Date Revalidation
Safe System of Work
2 28-Jul-2015 30-Sep-2020 Page 6 of 21

8.5 Safety from the System

The duty Shift Engineer or an alternative Safety Controller determines the safety
precautions required and whether or not a Safety Document is required.

8.6 Setting people to work

The process of setting individuals to work is complex and is primarily to ensure that all
the relevant information is communicated to the individual prior to starting work and
permission for the work to commence has been granted from Ops

8.7 Execute the work

Once set to work the worker goes to the workplace and carried out a LMRA. The KKS
number on the item or items of plant must be cross checked against numbers on the
Notification and any Safety Document. General Safety must be established and
maintained, including checking that access and egress, lighting etc. are suitable and
consistent with the area assessment. The work should not create an impact on any
other working party. All members of the working party must understand the RA/MS and
have the relevant PPE. Safety Documents and key safe keys must be kept secure
during the work.

8.8 Safety Document and Notification clearance

The Safety Document may only be cleared when the work is either complete or any
exceptions noted. The Notification may not be cancelled until the work is complete or
alternative arrangements have been made to record the reasons for the cancellation.

8.9 Plant RTS

Plant may only be normalised when the Safety Documents have been cleared and the
plant fully pre-start checked.

9.0 AUDIT / REVIEWS

This document will be reviewed every 2 years or as a result of audit findings.

10 ATTACHMENTS
Appendix – Engie flowchart
 Doc. No.: L3-031-HSE-01
AZN Procedure
Rev. Date: 01-Oct-2018
Issue No Issue Date Revalidation
Safe System of Work
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Appendix 1 Safe System of Work Flowchart (Engie)

ALL WORK REQUIRES A SUITABLE AND

SUFFICIENT RISK ASSESSMENT
Target: zero fatal accident
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AZN Procedure
Rev. Date: 01-Oct-2018
Issue No Issue Date Revalidation
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WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLY

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS MUST BE CLEAR
AND UNDERSTOOD
Target: zero fatal accident
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AZN Procedure
Rev. Date: 01-Oct-2018
Issue No Issue Date Revalidation
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PRECAUTIONS TO ACHIEVE SAFETY

FROM THE SYSTEM SHALL BE
CORRECTLY IMPLEMENTED AND THEN
VERIFIED
Target: zero fatal accident
 Doc. No.: L3-031-HSE-01
AZN Procedure
Rev. Date: 01-Oct-2018
Issue No Issue Date Revalidation
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2 28-Jul-2015 30-Sep-2020 Page 10 of 21

BEFORE COMMENCING WORK IT SHALL

BE SANCTIONED
Target: zero fatal accident
 Doc. No.: L3-031-HSE-01
AZN Procedure
Rev. Date: 01-Oct-2018
Issue No Issue Date Revalidation
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BEFORE COMMENCING WORK GENERAL

SAFETY SHALL BE ESTABLISHED AND A
POINT OF WORK RISK ASSESSMENT
CARRIED OUT
Target: zero fatal accident
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AZN Procedure
Rev. Date: 01-Oct-2018
Issue No Issue Date Revalidation
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ALL WORK REGARDLESS OF

COMPLEXITY MUST BE SUPERVISED
APPROPRIATELY BY A COMPETENT
PERSON
Target: zero fatal accident
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AZN Procedure
Rev. Date: 01-Oct-2018
Issue No Issue Date Revalidation
Safe System of Work
2 28-Jul-2015 30-Sep-2020 Page 13 of 21

DURING THE COURSE OF WORK, THE

SUPERVISOR AND ALL MEMBERS OF THE
WORKING PARTY ARE RESPONSIBLE
FOR GENERAL SAFETY
Target: zero fatal accident
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AZN Procedure
Rev. Date: 01-Oct-2018
Issue No Issue Date Revalidation
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IF A HAZARD ARISES OR IS SUSPECTED

DURING THE WORK, STOP THE WORK
AND REPORT THE SITUATION TO THE
SUPERVISOR
Target: zero fatal accident
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AZN Procedure
Rev. Date: 01-Oct-2018
Issue No Issue Date Revalidation
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ON COMPLETION OF WORK, ALL

PERSONS SHALL STOP WORK AND
WITHDRAW, LEAVING THE AREA IN A
SAFE CONDITION
Target: zero fatal accident
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AZN Procedure
Rev. Date: 01-Oct-2018
Issue No Issue Date Revalidation
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ON COMPLETION OF WORK ANY

EXCEPTIONS ARE TO BE REPORTED AND
ANY ISSUED SAFETY DOCUMENT
CLEARED AND RETURNED
Target: zero fatal accident
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AZN Procedure
Rev. Date: 01-Oct-2018
Issue No Issue Date Revalidation
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AFTER COMPLETION OF WORK AND THE

CANCELLATION OF THE SAFETY
DOCUMENT EQUIPMENT CAN BE
RESTORED TO NORMAL OPERATION
Target: zero fatal accident
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AZN Procedure
Rev. Date: 01-Oct-2018
Issue No Issue Date Revalidation
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WORK WILL BE PLANNED TO PROCEED

ONLY WHEN ALL REQUIRED RESOURCES
AND THE EQUIPMENT TO BE WORKED ON
ARE AVAILABLE
Target: zero fatal accident
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AZN Procedure
Rev. Date: 01-Oct-2018
Issue No Issue Date Revalidation
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FOR WORK ON PLANT AND APPARATUS A

SAFETY CONTROLLER SHALL DECIDE ON
THE PRECAUTIONS REQUIRED TO
PROVIDE SAFETY FROM THE SYSTEM
Target: zero fatal accident
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AZN Procedure
Rev. Date: 01-Oct-2018
Issue No Issue Date Revalidation
Safe System of Work
2 28-Jul-2015 30-Sep-2020 Page 20 of 21

WHEN A SAFETY DOCUMENT IS ISSUED

IT MUST BE UNDERSTOOD AND ALL
ITEMS ISSUED WITH IT
Target: zero fatal accident
 Doc. No.: L3-031-HSE-01
AZN Procedure
Rev. Date: 01-Oct-2018
Issue No Issue Date Revalidation
Safe System of Work
2 28-Jul-2015 30-Sep-2020 Page 21 of 21

ALL WORK SHALL BE CARRIED OUT IN

ACCORDANCE WITH A SAFE SYSTEM OF
WORK
Target: zero fatal accident