CLEAN Services has rolled out the Pisys Permit to Work system throughout its operations in the United Kingdom, replacing its previous paper-based method and quickly improving operational visibility, contractor oversight and the speed at which permits can be processed.
Pisys, a Scotland-based software developer specialising in cloud-based HSEQ systems, supplies its flagship Permit to Work platform to organisations across a range of sectors including energy, food production, education and healthcare. The system is designed to help businesses manage operational risk more effectively.
CLEAN Services delivers laundry and linen rental solutions to hotels, hospitality organisations and workwear clients. The company runs seven facilities across the UK, each of which may include as many as 50 separate work areas. Across the organisation, hundreds of subcontractors may be active at any given time carrying out maintenance work, inspections and equipment upgrades.
As operations expanded, the company found its existing paper-based permit system increasingly difficult to manage. It provided limited visibility of activity between sites, made reporting more complex and created a heavy administrative workload for teams responsible for contractor approvals and competence checks before work could begin.
The Pisys platform addressed these challenges by introducing a streamlined digital system. Its straightforward interface allows permits to be issued and returned rapidly, an important advantage in an environment where tasks move quickly. A centralised dashboard provides managers with real-time insight into work taking place across every site, helping them allocate resources more effectively and identify potential conflicts between tasks in nearby areas.
The system also supports isolation management, including Lockout/Tagout procedures for electrical equipment, within the same platform. Risk Assessment Method Statements are integrated directly into the permit workflow, while contractor certification and insurance documentation can now be monitored proactively so expired records are identified well before contractors arrive on site.
Pisys additionally created detailed plot plans for each facility, mapping the exact location of every active permit. These digital schematics provide managers with a far clearer operational overview than was possible using traditional paper processes.
Chris Bell, Head of Safety, Sustainability and Environment at CLEAN Services, commented: “This was a really great strategic move for us. We’re now able to work more efficiently and plan tasks more effectively, which in turn means our clients get a quicker response. The system is excellent, Pisys have been around for decades and their attention to detail and overall care and pride in their work is evident in every interaction we have with them.”
