These are 50 short questions and answers on the Saudi Aramco work permit system, taken section by section from GI 2.100 (Work Permit System, issue date 19 July 2020). Each answer is one or two sentences with the GI section beside it, so you can check your own copy. They are revision notes, not real exam questions.
Items marked (2020) are new or changed in the 2020 revision and may not appear in older copies. If your copy is the 2016 revision, section numbers also shift slightly in the definitions. A newer revision may exist, so confirm with your sponsor.
This set is built around definitions, responsibilities, certification rules and the less-quoted clauses. For gas test limits and permit colors, use the MCQ bank and the printable study set. For spoken-answer practice, use the interview questions page. For the certification route itself, read how to become a certified work permit receiver.
Scope and definitions (Q1 to Q10)
1. What is the purpose of the work permit system?
To authorize specific construction, maintenance, inspection or repair work that poses a hazard. A permit is part of a process that finds the hazards and the precautions, and it is the official record of the conditions the issuer and receiver agreed (section 1.0).
2. Where must GI 2.100 be applied?
To work in restricted areas and to restricted activities designated by proponent organization managers, at all Saudi Aramco facilities, project sites and project support facilities under Land Use Permits, including laydown yards (section 2.1).
3. Can low-risk work be done without a permit?
Yes, if proponent organization managers have classed it as low risk. It must still follow Saudi Aramco safety rules, and the proponent must keep control of the area and account for personnel (sections 2.2 and 4.18).
4. Whose permit system is used on a grassroots project before mechanical completion?
The contractor implements an approved work permit system in line with the GI. After mechanical completion, or for electrical work attached to the Saudi Aramco distribution system, the Saudi Aramco system applies (section 2.3).
5. What must the proponent do before a contractor’s own permit system is used under sections 2.3 or 2.4? (2020)
Perform a documented gap analysis against the GI, with a mitigation plan for each gap. Proponent managers review and approve the contractor’s system, and the gap assessment is updated whenever the system or the GI changes (sections 2.5.1 to 2.5.5).
6. What is a restricted area, and what is a restricted activity?
A restricted area is a location designated by proponent managers as needing the permit system, such as places handling hydrocarbons, flammable liquids or gases or toxic agents in bulk. A restricted activity needs the system wherever it happens, such as hot tap installation or industrial radiography (sections 4.21, 4.22 and Supplement 2.100-1).
7. Which two distances appear in the minimum restricted-area criteria?
Areas within 23 m (75 ft) of hydrocarbon pipelines, manifolds or scraper launchers or receivers, and areas within 15 m (50 ft) of energized power lines (Supplement 2.100-1, 5.2 and 5.7).
8. What is a high risk activity? (2020)
An activity with additional or unique hazards that needs extra approval from proponent management before work starts. The minimum criteria include the initial opening of equipment, vessels, tanks or piping that contain or may contain flammable, combustible, toxic or injurious materials (section 4.14, Supplement 2.100-1, 7.0).
9. What is a countersignature?
The signature of an employee designated by their division or department head, who supervises an area and has authority over the activities and people there. It is needed when another organization’s operations or facilities are affected (sections 4.6 and 7.8).
10. How does a standby man differ from a confined space entry standby man?
A standby man is designated on the permit by the issuer to monitor and know the work, for example during an instrument loop check. A confined space entry standby man is assigned by the confined space entry supervisor at each entry point to monitor entrants continuously (sections 4.4 and 4.23).
Roles and responsibilities (Q11 to Q18)
11. Who is a work permit issuer?
A Saudi Aramco employee who supervises work areas, has authority over the work and people there, and is certified by their division or department head to issue permits (section 4.25).
12. Who counts as a receiver under the GI definitions?
A certified Saudi Aramco employee, or a contractor employee sponsored by the Saudi Aramco organization head with contractual authority over the contractor, who signs and receives permits (section 4.26).
13. Is a designated representative allowed to sign as the issuer?
No. A designated representative performs duties associated with issuing, such as taking part in the joint site inspection for the issuer, but cannot issue permits (section 4.7).
14. What does proponent management have to set up?
A department work permit process that meets the GI, the list of restricted areas, restricted activities and exempt low-risk work, and the criteria for choosing issuers, receivers and designated representatives (sections 5.1.1, 5.1.2 and 5.1.4).
15. What happens when someone repeatedly breaks the permit rules?
Proponent management sets criteria for significant or repeat non-compliance, which may include certificate withdrawal, re-training or an extended period of mentoring (section 5.1.11).
16. Who must monitor the job site while a permit is active?
The issuer must monitor the job site frequently, and the receiver must remain at the job site and monitor the work (sections 5.2.4 and 5.3.5).
17. What does Training & Development (T&D) do?
T&D runs the issuer and receiver classes, administers certification and recertification tests, runs the prerequisite classes for employees, and reissues certificates for transfers on written request from the division head (sections 5.4.1 to 5.4.3).
18. What records must organizations keep about permit people?
Proponent organizations must keep records of their certified issuers and receivers and approved designated representatives (sections 5.1.8 and 6.9).
Qualification and certification (Q19 to Q26)
19. Which three courses come before the receiver certification course?
Hazard Recognition and Control, Lock Out/Tag Out and Confined Space Entry, all classroom courses, before taking the receiver certification course (section 6.7).
20. How do issuer prerequisites differ?
An issuer candidate takes the same three courses plus the Gas Testing Program (section 6.6).
21. What do designated representatives complete? (2020)
Hazard Recognition and Control, Lock Out/Tag Out, Confined Space Entry and Gas Testing Program as classroom courses, plus the Designated Representative Work Permit course (section 6.8).
22. How long is an issuer or receiver certificate valid?
Two years from the date of issue (section 6.10).
23. What must be done before each recertification exam?
Complete the corresponding prerequisite courses and the classroom work permit certification course (sections 6.2 and 6.10).
24. Who signs the certificate to make it valid?
The employee’s division head, or for a contractor the Saudi Aramco organization division head with contractual authority over the contractor (section 6.13).
25. What happens to a certificate when the holder transfers to another organization?
With less than six months of validity left it is not reissued and the person must recertify. With more than six months left it is reissued with the same expiry, on written request from the division head (section 6.14).
26. Who can revoke a certificate, and what follows?
The proponent organization manager, with proper justification. The reasons are documented and communicated to T&D, and the certificate is surrendered and destroyed (section 6.15).
Issuing, renewing and closing (Q27 to Q38)
27. Who asks for the permit, and when?
A Saudi Aramco-certified receiver requests it from a certified issuer before executing any job. The permit must identify the specific work, crew and location (section 7.2).
28. What must the issuer check about the receiver?
That the receiver’s certificate is valid and approved by the proponent organization for the type of work (section 7.4).
29. What are the four sections of the permit form?
Section 1 Work Description, Section 2 Hazard Identification and Control, Section 3 Gas Testing/Monitoring, and Section 4 Permit Authorization and Closure (sections 7.5 to 7.9).
30. What must Section 2 clearly identify?
Types of energy, isolation methods, potential exposures, required protective equipment, fire protection methods, additional safety precautions and the actions to take in an emergency (section 7.6.2).
31. Which supporting forms may be attached to a permit?
Examples are an excavation checklist, confined space entry log and gas test form, blind list or isolation plan, critical lift plan and hydrotest form. Attached forms must be completed (section 7.6.4).
32. What is the default time span of a permit?
A single operating shift (section 7.10).
33. What must happen before a permit is renewed? (2020)
A site inspection to confirm conditions are unchanged and the control measures are still in place. Renewal then needs the signatures of the issuer and receiver coming on shift and notice to countersigning organizations (sections 7.11 and 7.11.1).
34. Can a transferred permit be renewed, or a renewed permit transferred? (2020)
Neither. A permit that was transferred to a new issuer or receiver cannot be renewed, and a renewed permit cannot be transferred (note to section 7.11.4).
35. When can an extended permit be used?
For prolonged work with unchanged hazards, longer than two consecutive shifts and up to 30 days. Equipment opening/line break permits are excluded, and division heads of the issuing and receiving organizations must approve and sign (section 7.12).
36. What if an issuer or receiver has to leave work with permits still open? (2020)
They can close all open permits under their name before leaving, or transfer them following the same requirements as a renewal (section 7.11.4). Custody from a leaving issuer goes to an alternate issuer (section 7.13).
37. How long must the issuer’s copy of a closed permit be kept?
At least three months (section 9.3).
38. What is needed to close a permit?
A joint site inspection to confirm the area is safe and secure, then both issuer and receiver sign. If remoteness makes that impractical, an alternative closing method must be stated on the permit when it is issued (sections 9.1 and 9.2).
Joint site inspection and general rules (Q39 to Q45)
39. Who carries out the joint site inspection?
The issuer or their designated representative, and the receiver. Countersigning organizations may join (Supplement 2.100-3 section 1.0 and section 7.8).
40. What gets completed on site during the joint inspection?
Gas tests recorded on the permit, a hazard analysis of the job steps, equipment and environment, and a review that the permit’s protective measures are in place (Supplement 2.100-3 section 2.0).
41. What is a STOP point?
Any hazard on the checklist answered NO. The issuer and receiver stop, work out controls, list the extra precautions on the permit and brief the crew (Supplement 2.100-3 section 5.0).
42. When should the hazard analysis be repeated?
Whenever an unexpected problem comes up (Supplement 2.100-3 section 3.4).
43. What does the checklist ask about scaffolds?
Whether the scaffold tag is completed correctly, signed and shows a valid inspection date (Supplement 2.100-3 section 4.9).
44. Who must be kept away from the job site?
Anyone not actively involved in performing, managing or reviewing the work (section 10.3).
45. What access do control room board operators need?
Constant access to a log of all work permit activities in their area of control (section 10.4).
Permit-specific details (Q46 to Q50)
46. What must be done with sewers near hot work in hydrocarbon facilities?
Sewers within 23 m (75 ft) of all ignition sources must be covered or water sealed (section 12.4).
47. Who authorizes open fires or open burning?
The Saudi Aramco Fire Protection Department (section 12.9).
48. How should a flange be cracked open?
Assume the line is pressurized and loosen the bolts so the flange opens at the 5 o’clock position, down and away from the worker (section 13.8).
49. What must proponent organizations keep for confined spaces?
An inventory of locations and equipment that meet the definition, with personnel made aware of them. Openings that can be entered without tools or keys need a warning sign saying a permit is required (sections 14.5 and 14.6).
50. Name four items a confined space entry plan must cover.
Hazard evaluation results, location and method of each isolation point, flushing, purging or ventilation procedures, and access and egress barriers. It also covers atmospheric testing, entry equipment, simultaneous operations and rescue procedures (section 14.12).
Video
The video below was already on this page. It has not been checked against GI 2.100, so if it disagrees with the written answers above, follow the GI text and your sponsor’s instructions.
How to use these 50
- Cover the answer and say it aloud, then compare it with the text.
- Mark the ones you missed and look up the section in your own copy of GI 2.100.
- Take the timed practice quiz after two passes through the list.
Questions about this page
Is this the actual Saudi Aramco question bank?
No. Saudi Aramco does not publish its question bank, and this page does not claim to have it. These are study questions written from the GI text.
Which edition of the GI is this written from?
The 19 July 2020 revision, which replaces the 17 March 2019 issue. Items marked (2020) differ from the 2016 revision.
Is there a public link to GI 2.100?
It is an internal Saudi Aramco document, so there is no public official link. Ask your sponsoring organization or training provider for the current copy.
Sources (checked 31 October 2026)
- Saudi Aramco, General Instruction Manual GI 2.100, Work Permit System, issue date 19 July 2020 (replaces 17 March 2019), read as a third-party copy. Section numbers are given beside each answer. The 2016 revision (approved 1 September 2016) was used to check which items changed in 2020.
- Topics that the GI hands over to other documents, such as gas testing and isolation, are not covered here.
Revision notes only. They do not replace Saudi Aramco training, your employer’s procedures or the current GI 2.100.