How do permits work in Breadcrumb?
An overview of the permit system, such as hot works, confined space or working at heights, and its approval workflow.
Permits to work in Breadcrumb replace paper permits for high-risk work such as hot works, confined spaces and working at heights. Subcontractors apply for a permit in the app, a site host reviews and approves it, and the permit is then opened, put on hold and closed as the work progresses. Every step is recorded, so you always know which permits are active on your site.
1. Your company sets up the permit forms
Your administrator builds a permit form for each type of high-risk work your sites need, for example a Hot Works Permit or a Confined Space Permit, and adds it to your sites. Each form can include:
- The questions and checks the applicant must complete before work starts.
- An on-hold form to fill in when work pauses, for example at the end of a shift.
- A close form to confirm the work is complete and the area has been left safe.
- Who can apply, for example only subcontractors and site employees, not visitors.
2. A subcontractor applies for a permit
Workers apply from the Permit tile in the Breadcrumb app. They need to be checked in to the site first.
When applying, they choose:
- Submit for: Just themselves, or on behalf of their company.
- Permit Period: The dates the permit needs to be active.
- According to Schedule: The times of day they'll use the permit.
They then complete the permit form and submit it. The permit shows as Pending until a host reviews it.
3. A site host reviews the permit
Pending permits appear in your approvals on web and in the mobile app. Open the permit, check the details, and:
- Accept it. Depending on how the form is set up, the permit becomes Open (work can start) or On Hold (approved, but not started yet).
- Reject it. A rejected permit is finished, so the subcontractor needs to submit a new application.
The worker is notified in the app once their permit has been reviewed.
4. The permit moves through its stages
Once approved, a permit has three stages:
- Open: The permit is active and work is underway.
- On Hold: The permit is active but work has paused, for example overnight. It can be reopened when work resumes.
- Closed: The work is complete. A closed permit can't be reopened, so further work needs a new permit.
Hosts move a permit between these stages. If the form includes an open, on-hold or close form, it's completed at that step. Closing a permit is done in the mobile app, so it can be done on site with photos of the finished area.
5. Track permits on your site
The site's Permits register on web lists every permit with its status, so you can see what's open, on hold, pending or closed. You can filter by status, date or permit type, and download a permit as a PDF. The PDF includes the permit and all its related forms in one document.
If your company is connected to Procore, permits sync to Procore Documents automatically.