Permits

Due to the high degree of risks to the health and safety not only to those undertaking the work, but to nearby workers, some high risk activities require a Monash permit before works can commence.

Your Monash Supervisor is responsible for ensuring that works are performed in accordance with Monash University requirements including the need to obtain a Permit-to-work prior to works commencing.

The following high-risk activities require a Monash permit:

Hot works (defined as cutting, grinding, welding or any other activity, which creates heat or sparks);
Working from heights (such as work that requires access to a roof)
Entering a confined space
Entering the Clayton Tunnel System
Conducting earthworks
Operating a remotely piloted aircraft (e.g. drone)
Hazardous materials removal.

To request a permit for activities 1-6, please fill in the Work Permit Request Form below. A minimum of 3 working days' notice is required to obtain a permit in most cases unless it's deemed as emergency works.

To request a permit for activity 7, please contact contractorsafety@monash.edu. Note that all hazardous materials removal (hazmats and asbestos) must have a permit issued and follow the Monash Hazardous Materials Management Plan (HMMP) before work commences.

You must not commence any hot work, unless conducted in a location specifically designed for such works (e.g. a Bunsen burner in a laboratory), without first obtaining a Hot Work Permit. Hot works may include:
- Use of an exposed flame (e.g. oxy torch);
- Emission of sparks (e.g. grinding and cutting);
- Generation of radiant heat (e.g. use of cutting torches);
- Conduction of excessive heat (e.g. oxy torch, welding);
- Production of hot-by products, including waste and slag (welding).
The requirements associated with Hot Works are described in the Hot Works Risk Management Procedure.
The key requirements of a hot works permit are:
- Hot works are not undertaken on a total fire ban day (unless you have appropriate government authority permits for working on a total fire ban day);
- A fire watch is undertaken during works and for a duration of at least 1-hour post works based on the likelihood and severity of a fire occurring;
- Flammable materials are removed or controlled to prevent ignition;
- The appropriate number and type of portable extinguishers and other fire prevention measures are provided to the fire watch team;
- Fire detection is in place when practicable and warranted; and
- The work area has been isolated as far as practicable.
You must not commence any work that has the potential for a person to involuntarily fall for two metres without first obtaining a Working From Heights Permit.
The requirements associated with working from heights are described in the Working from Heights Risk Management Procedure.
The key requirements when working from heights are:
- Passive fall protection device (physical barriers) are used where practicable, for all persons at risk and to prevent any items from falling onto persons below the work;
- Fall restraint systems (work positioning device) are used where practicable, for all persons at risk;
- Fall arrest system are used where practicable, for all persons at risk;
- The work area has been isolated, so far as practicable, from other persons;
- That any scaffold has been constructed by a suitably qualified and licenced operator and is then subsequently certified;
- Plant (e.g. elevated work platform) is:
  - Designed and constructed for the task or range of tasks to be undertaken; and
  - Designed and constructed in such a way as to enable its safe use in the physical surroundings in which it is to be used and the conditions in which it is to be used.
- Ladders being utilised are:
- Emergency procedures are in place for the duration of works.
You must not enter a confined space without first obtaining a Confined Space Entry Permit. Confined spaces are defined by the Victorian OHS Regulations as any work environment (either inherently, or as a result of works being conducted) that:
1. Is, or is intended to be, or is likely to be, entered by any person; and
2. Has a limited or restricted means for entry or exit that makes it physically difficult for a person to enter or exit the space; and
3. Is, or is intended to be, at normal atmospheric pressure while any person is in the space; and
4. Contains, or is intended to contain, or is likely to contain:
  - An atmosphere that has a harmful level of any contaminant; or
  - An atmosphere that does not have a safe oxygen level; or
  - Any stored substance, except liquids, that could cause engulfment.
The requirements associated with entering a confined space are described in the Confined Space Risk Management Procedure.

The key requirements when entering a confined space are:
- Equipment necessary to safely enter, work and exit the confined space will be provided, including:
  - Means of delivering and retrieving a person (e.g. life line);
  - Means of delivering and retrieving equipment (e.g. tripod, davit); and/or
  - Appropriate equipment to safely operate within the work area (e.g. lighting, communications devices)
- Isolations are performed on services where warranted;
- Equipment used to monitor conditions are appropriately calibrated;
- Measurement of atmospheric conditions within any confined space being entered is conducted at the top, middle, and bottom of the breathable zone and that hazardous gases or other contaminates are at safe levels:
  - Oxygen concentrations within of 19.5 and 23.5%;
  - Combustible gases are below 5% LEL (e.g. 10ppm is LEL, 5% is 0.05ppm);
  - Hydrogen sulphide is less than 25 ppm;
  - Carbon monoxide is less than 400 ppm; and/or
  - Any other gases or contaminants are at safe levels.
- Any unsafe atmosphere within a confined space being entered is purged or ventilated until the levels are safe. If purging or ventilating the atmosphere is not practicable, that workers wear appropriate breathing apparatus;
- Isolate the work area from other persons (e.g. signage and barricades) as far practicable; and
- Emergency procedures are in place for the duration of works
Earthworks include any activities that have the potential to disturb underground services either as a result of earth removal (excavation, trenching, etc.) or through the introduction of equipment underground (staking, aerating, monitoring, etc.) unless that work is limited to Minor Soil disturbance.
You must not conduct any earthworks without first obtaining a Earthworks Permit unless work is strictly limited to ‘minor soil disturbance’.
Minor Soil Disturbance includes works that only involve the use of hand tools to a depth of less than 60 cm from ground level at the time services may previously have been installed. Where this ground level cannot be clearly identified, works should not be considered as minor soil disturbance.
The requirements associated with earthworks are described in the Earthworks Risk Management Procedure.
The key requirements of an earthworks permit are:
- Existing underground services have been located, so far as practicable, including the use of:
  - Plans and drawings;
  - Scanning technology;
  - Exploratory excavation works; and/or
  - Signage indicating presence of services.
- Powered plant and equipment is used operated in such a fashion as to minimise the potential to damage to any service accidently located during earthworks.
- The edge or bank of any removed soil has been secured to prevent hazardous collapse and that there is a safe means of entry and exit to the workarea.
- For excavations, completion of the WorkSafe ‘Notice of intention to perform construction excavation work’ and evidence of approval from WorkSafe to commence.
- The work area has been isolated, so far as practicable, from other persons;
- Emergency procedures are in place for the duration of works. Emergency procedures are in place for the duration of works.
The Clayton Tunnel System includes a network of tunnels and crawlspaces beneath the ground level at the Monash University Clayton Campus. Due to several significant risks present within these spaces, A Clayton Tunnel Entry Permit must be obtained before works requiring entry to the Clayton Tunnels may commence.
Clayton Tunnel Access Induction must be completed before requesting Clayton Tunnel Entry Permit.
You must not operate any drones at or for Monash University (on or off-campus) until you have been inducted into the University's Drone Safety Management System (DSMS). This may include being formally inducted under Monash University’s RPA Operator’s Certificate (ReOC) by the University's Chief Pilot. All relevant information and links to start this process are available from the Drone Safety topics page.

Request a permit

To submit a permit, please use the submission form located here.

If you are experiencing difficulties in uploading documents on the permit form, you may alternatively send them to bpd-permits@monash.edu

You are also reminded to review our Safety Guidelines on the Safety page.

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