A Permit-to-Work (PTW) system is a formal safety control process used to authorise and manage high-risk work on construction sites. It ensures the right precautions are taken before hazardous tasks begin—such as hot works, confined space entry, or working at height.
In Singapore's built environment, PTW systems are essential for meeting Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) regulations. According to industry data, projects with robust PTW systems see significantly fewer safety incidents than those without structured authorisation processes. As construction projects grow more complex, many companies are now turning to digital PTW systems (ePTW) to improve safety, accountability, and compliance.
What is PTW in Construction
A Permit-to-Work (PTW) is a structured process that ensures hazardous jobs are properly planned, risk-assessed, authorised, and safely executed.
It is widely used for:
- Controlling high-risk activities
- Preventing accidents on-site
- Ensuring regulatory compliance
- Documenting safety procedures and responsibilities
- Establishing clear communication between work teams
PTW systems are especially critical in large-scale construction projects where multiple teams are working in complex, overlapping environments. According to the Singapore Workplace Safety and Health Council, proper implementation of PTW systems is a key factor in reducing workplace fatalities — and a cornerstone of the country’s WSH 2028 strategy — through structured controls and digital accountability.
Types of Permit-to-Work (PTW) in Construction
Different types of work require different permits to ensure proper controls are in place. Here are some common PTW types in construction:
| Type of Permit | Purpose | Key Safety Controls |
|---|---|---|
| Hot Work Permit | Required for welding, grinding, or any task involving open flames, sparks, or heat | Fire watches, combustible material clearance, fire extinguishers on standby |
| Confined Space Entry Permit | Needed for accessing tanks, pits, tunnels, or areas with restricted airflow | Gas testing, ventilation, emergency rescue plans, attendant stationed outside |
| Work at Height Permit | Required for work above ground level (typically more than 3 meters) or into depths (e.g. trenches, pits) | Fall prevention/protection systems, safety harnesses, exclusion zones below |
| Excavation Permit | Used for digging or trenching, especially where underground utilities may be present | Utility scans, soil assessment, shoring requirements |
| Electrical Work Permit | For installation, repair, or testing of energised systems | Isolation procedures, appropriate PPE, qualified personnel verification |
| Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Permit | Ensures machinery is properly isolated before maintenance or servicing | Energy source identification, verification of zero energy state |
Read more about other types of PTWs →
These permits ensure that specific risks are clearly identified and mitigated, and that only qualified personnel are allowed to carry out the work.
Real-World Applications: The Cost of Inadequate PTW Systems
Despite being a regulatory requirement, PTW lapses continue to cause serious incidents in the construction sector. In recent years, firms in Singapore have faced severe penalties due to improper or missing PTWs — especially for work at height incidents, which remain one of the top contributors to workforce fatalities.
Cases include workers falling due to missing fall protection, lack of documented permits, or falsified approvals. In one particularly severe case, unauthorised high-risk work led to a fatality, and several site personnel were jailed for falsifying safety documents to conceal the breach.
These real-world examples highlight how PTW non-compliance can lead to:
- Severe injuries or fatalities
- Legal consequences including fines of up to S$500,000
- Jail terms of up to 2 years for individuals involved in permit falsification
- Project shutdowns or delays
- Reputational damage and increased scrutiny from authorities
Proper implementation of PTWs—including approval, display, and adherence before work begins—isn’t just about ticking a box. It’s about protecting lives, projects, and your company’s future.
The Traditional PTW Process vs. Digital Workflow
To understand the transformation that ePTW brings, let's compare the traditional and digital permit workflows:
| Traditional PTW Process | Digital PTW Process |
|---|---|
|
|
Switching to ePTW can reduce permit processing time by up to 60%, while significantly improving compliance, traceability, and coordination.
What is ePTW in Construction
ePTW (Electronic Permit-to-Work) digitises the entire PTW process — replacing manual forms, signatures, and paper records with a streamlined, cloud-based system accessible for safer, faster approvals across teams.
It is now mandatory for public sector construction and construction-related projects in Singapore valued at S$3 million or more, as of 1 April 2024, under WSH sectoral requirements.
Key Benefits of ePTW
- Enhanced Safety Outcomes
- Reduce unauthorised high-risk work potentially causing incidents on site
- Automated checks prevent common permit errors and omissions
- Real-time visibility into all high-risk activities across the entire site
- Operational Efficiency
- Faster approvals with digital sign-offs and notifications
- Mobile-friendly access for field teams and safety officers
- Elimination of permit duplications, lost paperwork, and documentation errors
- Improved Compliance
- Real-time dashboards for tracking permit status and compliance metrics
- Role-based access control to prevent unauthorised work
- Audit-ready logs for inspections and reporting
- Automatic flagging of expired or soon-to-expire permits
- Better Coordination
- Integration with workforce and site systems for better resource planning
- Automatic, real-time notification of affected teams when high-risk work begins
- Visualisation and conflict alerts for overlapping high-risk work
- Data-Driven Safety Management
- Analytics on high-risk activities, trends, and potential issues
- Historical data for continuous improvement of safety protocols
- Performance benchmarking across projects and teams
Learn how digital PTW improves workplace safety and accountability →
Why Traditional PTW Systems Fall Short
While traditional PTW processes are foundational, they come with several limitations that can have serious implications:
- Manual workflows are time-consuming
- Paper permits are prone to loss, duplication, or misfiling
- No real-time tracking of permit status or location means safety blind spots and increased incident risks
- Siloed information delays coordination between teams
- Limited transparency and auditability in the event of incidents with paper trails
These issues can delay projects, reduce accountability, and expose companies to compliance risks — especially on high-stakes sites.
Implementation Best Practices: Making the Switch to ePTW
Transitioning from traditional to electronic PTW systems requires careful planning. Based on successful implementations across Singapore's construction industry, here are key best practices:
- Phase Your Implementation
- Start with one permit type (e.g. hot work) before expanding
- Run parallel paper/digital systems temporarily during the transition
- Build internal champions and celebrate early wins for team buy-in
- Provide Comprehensive Training
- Focus on both safety principles and technical system use
- Create simple reference guides for common tasks
- Customise to Your Specific Needs
- Align digital workflows to your existing safety protocols
- Configure permit types specific to your project risks
- Integrate with workforce and project management systems
- Measure and Optimise
- Establish baseline metrics before implementation
- Track processing time, compliance rate, incident reduction, and user adoption
- Gather user feedback and make continuous improvements
Customer Spotlight: Jacobs Engineering gained over 50% efficiency in processing ePTW applications, potentially saving $120,000 in a year.
How Hubble's ePTW System Solves These Challenges
At Hubble, we've built an ePTW module as part of our integrated Safety Management System, specifically tailored for construction and the wider built environment in Singapore.
With Hubble's ePTW, you get:
- A centralised digital system accessible by all site teams
- Verified access only for workers with proper safety briefings and certifications
- Features like geolocation tagging and Conflicting Work to streamline processing
- Real-time dashboards for project teams and safety officers to track permits
- Seamless integration with your workforce system, toolbox meetings, and other project workflows
- Alignment with WSH Council guidelines and BCA requirements following a strict approval chain (applicant → assessor → approver)
Our digital workflows ensure proper authorisation, documentation, and monitoring of all permit activities — providing peace of mind during regulatory inspections and audits.
Looking for a fully integrated PTW system with accountability, safety, and compliance in mind? See how Hubble's Safety Management System works →
Why ePTW Is the Future of PTW in Construction
As projects scale and regulatory expectations rise, traditional PTW systems are no longer sufficient. With ePTW now mandatory for public sector projects valued at S$3 million and above, the shift to digital is no longer a question of if — but when.
Digitising PTW with Hubble enables you to:
- Create safer working conditions
- Minimise downtime with faster work approvals
- Meet regulatory requirements with ease
- Make faster, smarter decisions
- Improve project accountability and coordination
Whether you're managing a single site or overseeing mega infrastructure projects, ePTW is now a critical tool for operational success.
Next Steps: Preparing for Your ePTW Journey
As Singapore's construction industry continues to advance its safety practices, now is the time to assess your organisation's PTW readiness:
- Review your current PTW process and gaps
- Identify high-risk work types and pain points
- Engage stakeholders and safety leads early
- Evaluate systems for technical fit for your teams
Ready to Upgrade to ePTW?
Hubble's ePTW system is a pre-approved solution under the IMDA SMEs Go Digital Programme, where Singapore companies can claim up to 50% support under the Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG).
- Request a walkthrough of Hubble's Safety Management System
- Check your PSG eligibility
- Download our free PTW Needs Assessment Checklist
FAQs: PTW & ePTW in Singapore
- What is PTW in Singapore?
PTW is a legal requirement for certain types of hazardous work under Singapore's WSH Act. Companies must ensure that only trained, authorised personnel carry out such work under documented safety conditions. Recent updates to WSH guidelines have placed increased emphasis on digital systems for better traceability.
- Is ePTW mandatory in Singapore?
Yes — as of 1 April 2024, the adoption of ePTW systems is mandatory for all public sector construction and construction-related projects valued at S$3 million and above. For private sector and smaller projects, ePTW is increasingly expected and often specified in tender requirements by major developers and regulatory bodies like LTA and BCA.
- Which companies need a PTW or ePTW system?
All construction and infrastructure companies performing high-risk activities must implement a PTW system. For larger-scale, multi-contractor, or government-linked projects, a digital ePTW system is often the most effective way to ensure compliance, visibility, and coordination. Many public project tenders now specifically require digital safety management solutions—including ePTW.
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