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    Software Guide

    Best Control of Work Software (2026)

    Control of Work (CoW) is the integrated system that governs how hazardous tasks are planned, authorised and executed on site. In 2026, oil & gas, petrochemical, utilities, mining and construction operators are consolidating standalone permit, isolation, risk assessment and SIMOPS tools into a single CoW platform — driven by IOGP 660, OSHA Process Safety Management (29 CFR 1910.119), UK HSG250 and the post-Piper Alpha lessons that still shape audits today.

    Why Control of Work Software Matters

    Every serious incident investigation in the last decade — Deepwater Horizon, Buncefield, Pryor Trust, Grosvenor — has surfaced the same root cause: fragmented control of work. Permits issued without cross-check against isolations, risk assessments filed but not linked to the task, SIMOPS conflicts invisible to the permit issuer.

    Modern CoW platforms bind permit to work, energy isolation, risk assessment, JSA and management of change into one authorisation workflow — with live SIMOPS conflict detection.

    Core Capabilities

    Integrated Permit Authorisation

    Permits cannot be issued without linked isolations, valid risk assessment, competent authoriser and clear SIMOPS check — all in one workflow.

    SIMOPS Conflict Detection

    Real-time visualisation of simultaneous operations on the same asset, elevation or system — flags conflicts before permits go live.

    Full Chain of Custody

    Every signature, suspension, extension and closure timestamped with competent-person verification — audit-ready for regulators and inquiries.

    Feature Checklist

    Integrated permit + isolation + risk assessment workflow
    SIMOPS conflict detection (asset / elevation / system)
    Competent-person authorisation matrix
    Live permit register with map visualisation
    Isolation register with long-term isolation controls
    Permit suspension and reinstatement workflow
    Cross-shift handover of live permits
    Toolbox talk and gas test capture at permit issue
    Contractor competency verification at permit acceptance
    Offline mobile permit issue and acceptance
    Integration with CMMS work orders
    Emergency permit revocation from control room
    Real-time dashboards for control room and OIM
    Audit-ready evidence export aligned to IOGP 660 / PSM

    Top Control of Work Platforms

    #1

    Tekmon

    Configurable CoW workflows with integrated permit, isolation, risk assessment and SIMOPS on one mobile-first platform

    #2

    Enablon

    Enterprise CoW module within broader operational risk suite — strong in oil & gas majors

    #3

    Intelex

    Permit and CoW workflows within full EHSQ platform

    #4

    Cority

    CoW within enterprise EHS platform with occupational health integration

    #5

    SafetyCulture

    Digital permits and pre-task risk assessment with strong mobile execution

    #6

    ETQ Reliance

    Configurable authorisation workflows within regulated-industry quality/EHS platform

    Consolidate Your Control of Work Stack

    Compare integrated CoW platforms and eliminate the gaps between permits, isolations and risk assessment.

    Browse All Software

    Related Guides

    Permit to Work SoftwareLockout / Tagout SoftwareRisk Assessment SoftwareJob Safety Analysis SoftwareProcess Safety Management SoftwareManagement of Change Software

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is Control of Work (CoW)?
    Control of Work is the integrated management system that governs how hazardous non-routine work is planned, authorised and executed — combining permit to work, energy isolation, risk assessment, competency verification and SIMOPS coordination into one controlled process. It is mandated in high-hazard industries under regulations like OSHA PSM 29 CFR 1910.119 and UK COMAH.
    How is CoW different from permit to work?
    Permit to work is one component of CoW. CoW is broader — it also covers energy isolation, task risk assessment, SIMOPS management, contractor competency, and the authorisation logic that binds them all. A standalone PTW system without integrated isolations and risk assessment is not true CoW.
    What is SIMOPS management?
    Simultaneous Operations management identifies conflicts between concurrent activities on the same asset, elevation or system — e.g. hot work above confined-space entry, or lifting operations over live process equipment. Best-in-class CoW platforms surface these conflicts before permits are issued.
    Which regulations drive CoW software adoption in 2026?
    IOGP Report 660 (Framework for Process Safety), OSHA PSM 29 CFR 1910.119, UK HSE HSG250 (Guidance on Permit-to-Work Systems), Seveso III / COMAH, and Australia's WHS Regulations for high-risk construction and mining work all effectively require integrated CoW — increasingly evidenced through digital audit trails.