Managing hazardous work activities with paper forms or spreadsheets is no longer sustainable — especially in asset-intensive industries operating across remote, complex and high-risk environments such as the mining industry.

Control of Work (CoW) software digitises how non‑routine, high‑risk tasks are planned, authorised, executed and closed out, so you can protect people and keep compliant.

Definition of Control of Work (CoW) software

Control of Work software is a digital framework for safe work that coordinates permits, risk assessments, isolations, work authorisations, shift handovers and close‑out reporting in one system. The goal is consistent controls for hazardous jobs — from hot work and confined‑space entry to line‑breaking, work at height and excavations — with an auditable trail across every site and contractor team.

Why CoW matters for high‑risk operations

Every injury on site costs — not only in compensation and lost time, but also in missed schedules, retraining, higher insurance premiums and reputational damage. CoW platforms help industrial teams prioritise safe site access, health & safety, minimise incidents and support peak performance with reliable tracking and reporting.

Features of Control of Work platforms

  • Digital Permit to Work (PTW): Standardised templates for hot work, confined spaces, excavation, electrical work and more, with rules for approvals, expiry and revalidation.
  • Risk assessment & JSA: Integrated hazard identification, bow‑ties or risk matrices, and clear control measures attached to each permit.
  • Isolation & LOTO: Structured energy‑isolation steps, tags and validation to ensure equipment is made safe before work starts.
  • Contractor & workforce coordination: Assign roles, define responsibilities and confirm competence before work authorisation.
  • Shift handover & management of change: Real‑time status, change approvals and handover notes to maintain continuity.
  • Inspections, audits & reporting: A single, auditable source of truth for compliance and continuous improvement.
  • Mobile-first execution: Issue, sign and close permits in the field; attach photos, readings and notes for evidence.

From gate to workface: connect CoW with site access and onboarding

CoW works best when only the right people can access the right places, at the right time. That’s why many customers pair their CoW platform with Quartex Site Access and Onboarding to create a closed‑loop safety process — from gate control and induction to permit issue and close‑out.

Quartex Workforce Management streamlines logistics and readiness for flights & sites, secures site access and centralises training, qualification checking & compliance — so you can Run Every Site Right.

Site access and onboarding helps you verify who is on site and whether they’re licenced, qualified and inducted before any hazardous work begins. Core capabilities include:

  • Manage access & approve site access
  • Integrate with physical access controls
  • Capture license and job-required records
  • Manage pre-qualification & verify documents
  • Induct & onboard workers

Linking these controls to your CoW workflow means permits can only be raised or issued when the worker’s competencies and compliances are current — and access can be automatically restricted when requirements lapse. This protects your people and minimises operational risk while safeguarding your licence to operate.

Connecting CoW with site access and onboarding

CoW becomes more powerful when integrated with Site Access and Onboarding. By verifying that workers are inducted, licensed and authorised before permits are raised, organisations can close the loop between who is on site and what work is being performed. This connection reduces unauthorised work, strengthens compliance and ensures that only qualified people undertake hazardous tasks.

Extending CoW with Quartex solutions

Beyond Site access & onboarding, Quartex offers a suite of complementary solutions that reinforce safety, compliance and workforce readiness:

Training & compliance

The solution helps ensure every worker entering a CoW workflow is confirmed as trained, qualified and competent. It centralises course management, tracks expiring certifications and validates high-risk role assessments. Linking the solution with CoW means that permits can only be issued when training requirements are verified and current.

Furthermore, it standardises practical assessments and ensures consistent validation across job roles. Before hazardous work begins, you can confirm that a worker’s hands-on skills match your site’s standards. Integrated with CoW, it adds confidence that permits are not just authorised on paper but backed by demonstrated competence.

Frontline worker safety

This solution provides visibility across hazards, risks and injuries in the workplace. When tied to CoW, it tracks these events in follow-up actions for more auditable, highly configurable records. This alignment helps ensure your organisation not only executes safe work but can help demonstrate compliance to regulators, shareholders and communities.

Frontline worker health

This solution helps you manage medical screening, fit-for-work testing and health records. By connecting the Frontline Worker Health solution with CoW, you can take health insights from the solution to confirm if a worker fails fatigue checks or medical clearance. This safeguard ensures only healthy, fit-for-work employees are assigned to crucial, high-risk tasks.

Benefits of a connected safety ecosystem

When CoW software operates alongside our Workforce Management and Health & Safety solutions, you create a closed-loop ecosystem that strengthens every layer of defence. Together, these solutions deliver:

  • Better insights — visibility into competencies and compliances before hazardous work starts, with intuitive dashboards designed to highlight gaps, track compliance, and support proactive decision-making
  • Smarter actions — workflows that help prevent unsafe authorisations from someone entering site that isn’t fit for work
  • Stronger results — a scalable, auditable safety framework that protects people and preserves licence to operate

Why Quartex

Quartex is a global software provider helping large and growing companies in asset‑intensive industries Run Every Site Right. Our software delivers the indispensable tools organisations need to move and house their workforce, protect people and places from harm and reduce operational risk — while safeguarding their licence to operate. We support Workforce Management and Health & Safety alongside Governance, Risk & Compliance and Public Disclosure & Reporting.

The stakes are high. Mistakes can be catastrophic.
Quartex — Run Every Site Right™