What this template includes
This template covers every section of a compliant Electrical Isolation Permit to Work, designed around UK regulatory requirements and the standard expected by insurers and the HSE.
- Permit details — permit number, site, location, system/equipment being isolated, permit issuer, permit holder, validity period
- Isolation identification — circuit/equipment description, isolation point locations, supply voltage
- Confirmed dead procedure — 5-step checklist: identify → isolate → prove instrument live → test dead → prove instrument again
- Lock-out / tag-out record — lock numbers, tag numbers, responsible persons
- Stored energy controls — capacitors, springs, gravity, hydraulic/pneumatic pressure
- PPE requirements — standard electrical isolation PPE pre-populated (pre-filled version)
- Identified hazards — standard electrical hazards pre-populated (pre-filled version)
- Safety controls & precautions — standard electrical isolation controls pre-populated (pre-filled version)
- Authorised Person (AP) authorisation — print name, signature, date, and time
- Competent Person (CP) acknowledgement — print name, signature, date, and time
- Re-energisation checklist — 6 checks before power is restored
- Applicable legislation — Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, HSE GS38
Pre-filled vs blank — which should I use?
The pre-filled version is the best starting point for most uses. Standard hazards, controls, and procedures are pre-populated — you review them, add or remove items to reflect your specific job and site, and fill in the job-specific details. Think of it as an AI-drafted permit you review and adjust, rather than a form you fill in from scratch.
The blank version has all the same sections but with empty fields throughout. Use this if you prefer to populate everything yourself, or if your organisation has its own standard content you want to use.
How to use this template
- Open the .docx file in Microsoft Word or Google Docs. All sections are clearly labelled.
- Fill in the permit details, work description, and validity period for your specific job.
- Review the hazards and controls. Add site-specific items and remove anything that doesn't apply.
- Complete all checklist fields and inspection records before authorising the permit.
- Print and obtain authorisation and permit holder acknowledgement signatures in person.
- Keep a copy on file. Complete the closure section once work is finished.
Legal requirements
Electrical isolation permits are required under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, which imposes an absolute duty — no risk-based defence is available. Regulation 4(3) requires that no person shall work on or so near any live conductor that danger may arise, unless it is unreasonable to make it dead.
The Authorised Person (AP) is the duty holder who formally authorises the isolation and issues the permit. The Competent Person (CP) is the person carrying out the work. Both roles must be defined and their competency documented — HSE GS38 provides guidance on the required level of electrical competence.
Lock-out tag-out (LOTO) is not a legal requirement in the UK, but is widely recognised as best practice and is increasingly required by clients and insurers. LOTO ensures the isolation cannot be inadvertently removed while work is in progress.
→ Read our full guide to Electrical Isolation permits
Want permits without the paperwork?
Electrical isolation incidents are frequently caused by failures in the permit process — a step missed, an isolation boundary misunderstood, or a lock not applied. Paper permits cannot enforce procedure sequence or flag incomplete steps.
PermitDesk generates electrical isolation permits digitally, with the confirmed dead checklist built in, AP and CP sign-off captured as named digital signatures, and a full timestamped audit trail automatically stored.