Control of Work (CoW)
Control of Work (CoW)
What is Control of Work (CoW)?
Control of Work (CoW) refers to a structured system that ensures all high-risk tasks in industrial environments, such as maintenance, repair, and construction activities, are properly planned, authorised, and executed under strict safety protocols. Control of Work (CoW) combines processes like Permit to Work (PTW), risk assessment, isolation management, and job hazard analysis (JHA) to reduce the likelihood of incidents and ensure compliance with safety regulations.
Modern digital Control of Work (CoW) solutions help industries automate approvals, monitor work status in real-time, and maintain complete safety records. By integrating Control of Work (CoW) with technologies like EHS software, AI-based monitoring, and mobile access, organisations can enhance operational safety, improve accountability, and prevent unsafe work practices.
What are the key components of an effective Control of Work (CoW) system?
An effective Control of Work (CoW) system in industrial settings combines structured processes, clear authorisation, and real-time oversight to ensure high-risk tasks are carried out safely. The key components include:
● Permit to Work (PTW): A formal process to authorise hazardous activities such as hot work, confined space entry, or maintenance tasks.
● Risk Assessment: Systematic identification and evaluation of potential hazards before work begins.
● Isolation Management: Ensuring machinery, energy sources, or hazardous systems are safely isolated during maintenance or repair.
● Job Hazard Analysis (JHA): Breaking down tasks to identify step-by-step risks and implement control measures.
● Real-Time Monitoring & Records: Digital tools to track, document, and audit work activities for compliance and incident prevention.
● Training & Competency Verification: Ensuring only qualified personnel perform high-risk tasks within the Control of Work (CoW) framework.
By combining these components with digital solutions, industries can enhance safety, reduce downtime, and ensure regulatory compliance.
How does Control of Work (CoW) improve safety in industrial operations?
Control of Work (CoW) significantly improves safety in industrial operations by ensuring that all hazardous tasks are properly planned, authorised, and executed under strict safety protocols. It provides a structured approach to manage high-risk activities like maintenance, repair, or construction work, reducing the likelihood of accidents, injuries, and operational disruptions.
With processes such as Permit to Work (PTW), risk assessments, isolation management, and job hazard analysis (JHA), Control of Work (CoW) ensures that potential hazards are identified and controlled before work begins. Digital Control of Work (CoW) systems offer real-time visibility, automated approvals, and comprehensive safety records, enabling faster decision-making and stronger compliance with industry safety standards.
By integrating Control of Work (CoW) into daily operations, industries can minimise human error, prevent unsafe work practices, and create a safer, more accountable work environment.
Why is digital Control of Work essential for high-risk industries?
In high-risk industries like construction, oil & gas, manufacturing, and mining, managing hazardous tasks demands more than just paperwork, it requires real-time visibility, precision, and accountability. This is where digital Control of Work (CoW) becomes essential. A digital Control of Work (CoW) system streamlines the entire process of planning, authorising, and monitoring high-risk activities, ensuring that no work proceeds without proper safety checks and approvals.
By digitising Permit to Work, risk assessments, isolation management, and task authorisations, industries can eliminate manual errors, reduce paperwork, and enhance compliance with safety regulations. Real-time tracking, mobile access, and automated alerts ensure that work activities are always transparent and controlled, significantly reducing the risk of accidents, near misses, and operational delays.
viAct Digital Control of Work (CoW) Solution takes industrial safety to the next level. Powered by AI and Computer Vision, viAct automates key Control of Work (CoW) processes – from digital Permit to Work (ePTW) to real-time hazard detection and isolation management. The platform provides interactive dashboards, automated approvals, and on-site visibility through AI CCTV and video analytics, enabling safety teams to track, control, and audit high-risk tasks with ease.
With viAct digital Control of Work (CoW), industries can not only improve safety performance but also boost operational efficiency, ensure regulatory compliance, and protect their frontline workforce, all in one unified system.
How does integrating Control of Work (CoW) with EHS software enhance safety performance?
In high-risk industries such as construction, oil & gas, mining, and heavy manufacturing, workplace safety relies heavily on well-structured processes, clear communication, and real-time oversight. Yet, in many organisations, critical processes like Control of Work (CoW) and Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) management operate in silos, leading to fragmented information, manual errors, and gaps in safety compliance. This is precisely where integrating Control of Work (CoW) with EHS software becomes a game-changer for enhancing safety performance.
● Why Integration Matters?
Control of Work (CoW) focuses on ensuring that hazardous tasks, such as maintenance, confined space entry, or hot work, are properly planned, authorised, and executed following strict safety protocols. EHS software, on the other hand, provides a central platform to track incidents, monitor compliance, manage safety data, and drive continuous improvement. When these two systems are connected, organisations gain full end-to-end visibility over high-risk tasks, workforce authorisations, hazards, and safety performance, all within a single, unified ecosystem.
Instead of relying on paperwork, isolated spreadsheets, or disconnected tools, an integrated Control of Work (CoW) and EHS system automates processes like Permit to Work, risk assessments, isolation management, job hazard analysis (JHA), and incident reporting. This not only reduces the administrative burden but also ensures that no work proceeds without the required safety checks and real-time oversight, drastically lowering the likelihood of human error, miscommunication, or unsafe work practices.
● How viAct Enhances Control of Work (CoW) & EHS Integration?
viAct EHS Management Software is purpose-built to bridge this gap, offering a fully digital, AI-driven solution that seamlessly integrates Control of Work with EHS management. With viAct, industries can digitise the entire Control of Work (CoW) process, including:
● Digital Permit to Work (ePTW): Create, track, and authorise high-risk tasks in real-time, reducing manual paperwork and improving accountability.
● Risk Assessments & JHA: Identify, evaluate, and control potential hazards before work begins, fully integrated with safety records.
● Isolation Management: Digitally plan and verify energy isolations and lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures for maximum safety.
● Real-Time Monitoring: Leverage AI CCTV, Vision AI, and Edge Devices to monitor work zones, detect unsafe conditions, and trigger alerts instantly.
● Centralised Safety Records: Maintain a digital trail of permits, inspections, hazard reports, and corrective actions, all accessible through interactive dashboards.
What truly sets viAct apart is its AI-powered automation. By integrating Computer Vision and real-time analytics, viAct transforms Control of Work (CoW) from a reactive, manual process into a dynamic, proactive safety system. Unsafe work practices, unauthorised personnel, or overlooked hazards can be identified and addressed before incidents occur, protecting both the workforce and operational uptime.
● The Result?
By combining Control of Work (CoW) with EHS management through viAct, industries can significantly reduce operational risks, improve regulatory compliance, and build a stronger safety culture. This integration not only enhances incident prevention but also empowers safety teams with real-time insights, automated alerts, and complete visibility over frontline operations, ensuring that no high-risk task goes unmanaged and no safety detail goes unnoticed.
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Article by
Barnali Sharma
Content Writer
Barnali Sharma is a dedicated content contributor for viAct. A university gold medalist with an MBA in Marketing, she crafts compelling narratives, enhances brand engagement, and develops data-driven marketing campaigns. When she’s not busy working her content alchemy, Barnali can be found commanding stages with her public speaking or turning data into stories that actually make sense -because who said analytics can’t have a little creativity?