Courses / Module 1 / Planning
Permits, Isolation and Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)
Safety: Educational overview only. Always follow your site's procedures, permits and applicable regulations.
Module 1 Est. 3.5 h · estimated
You'll be able to
- Put isolation and permit needs into the job plan
- Recognize the permit and Work Clearance Management (WCM) transactions
Why it matters in the plant
Planners don't do the isolation, but the job plan has to make it impossible to miss. A SIF bypass is a safety risk and must be controlled.
In this lesson
- Specify isolation and LOTO in the job plan
- Control SIF bypasses
- Record permits in the system
IPMDIPM2IPM3WCTA
Common mistakes
- Leaving isolation needs vague in the job plan: field supervisors can't coordinate LOTO [S17].
- Leaving a SIF bypass in place after the test [S7].
Steps and transactions
Each step pairs the planning work with the transactions you'll use. Codes link to the reference.
1Specify isolation and LOTO in the job plan
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147 requires documented, equipment-specific energy control procedures: shut down, isolate, apply locks and tags, relieve stored energy, and verify the equipment is de-energized. This is a US general-industry rule; other jurisdictions and offshore sites differ. Field supervisors coordinate LOTO during the week, so the planner states isolation needs clearly. Your site's procedures override this course.
Craft notes
Mechanical: motor electrical energy, plus process pressure and fluid in the pump casing.
Sources [S15] OSHA 1910.147; [S17] Palmer
2Control SIF bypasses
Testing often uses a bypass, override or inhibit, which defeats or disables part of the function. It must be controlled, coordinated with operations, and removed after the test.
Craft notes
I&E only.
Sources [S7] SINTEF
3Record permits in the system
Classic PM permits: IPMD, Maintain/Display Permits (sources: T3 sap-tcodes.org plus a T2 SAP Community blog on ECC 6.0 EHP6; no SAP Help page). IPM2, Change Permit. IPM3, Display Permit. ECC WCM, from a third-party list (tcodesearch.com PM-WCM): WCTA, Create Work Approval (WAP); WCTK/WCTL/WCTM, Create/Change/Display Work Clearance Application (WCA); WCT6/WCT7/WCT8, Create/Change/Display Operational Work Clearance Document (WCD), the LOTO document; WCL9/WCLA, Change/Display Work Approvals list; WCLO/WCLP, Change/Display Work Permits. In the standard model, the WCA controls the order's 'Released for execution' status (SAP Help NW 7.0). S/4HANA Permit to Work: PTWMASSGEN (Private Edition 2023 FPS02+); Fiori F6579, Manage Work Permits (S/4HANA only, not ECC).
Craft notes
Same transactions for both crafts. Which ones apply depends on whether your site runs classic permits, WCM, or S/4 Permit to Work.
Sources (sap-tcodes.org; SAP Community permits-part1; tcodesearch.com PM-WCM; SAP Help NW 7.0 WCM; SAP Community 2023 FPS02 blog [map M])
Templates for this lesson
- Task list template CSV · opens in Excel or Google Sheets
- Weekly scheduling board CSV
- Backlog tracker CSV
Related: Complete template bundle · Free PM Planning Checklist
Check your understanding
Questions
- Name three of the energy-control steps OSHA 1910.147 requires.
- What is a bypass or inhibit, and what must happen after the test?
- In WCM, which document is the LOTO document?
Answers and scoring are included in the full course.
Keep going with the full course
12 modules for Mechanical and I&E planners, with templates, quizzes and a certificate of completion.
This certificate confirms completion of a course from The Planner's Bench. It is not a professional license, accreditation, or SAP certification, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by SAP SE or any employer.