I know about method statements and how they should be put together, basic information, but would like some input on what information an electrical contractor should include in theirs.

I'm looking for the "meat" that goes on the bones but not necessarily the fine detail, just some guidance on what the PC should expect to see.

The work is shop fitting including strip out, and all works involved with starting up a new unit from scratch.

Make suitable and sufficient assessments of the risks to health and safety of your employees and persons not in your employment arising out of work on electrical systems. These risk assessment should then enable you to :-

a. Produce and disseminate a policy detailing how your company will control live testing.

b. Produce and disseminate a policy detailing how your company will control safe isolations of electrical installations.

c. Produce and disseminate a policy detailing how your company will issue and maintain equipment that conforms to GS38 “Electrical test equipment for use by electricians”.

d. Produce and disseminate a policy detailing how your company will control the testing and energisation of circuits that are to be left permanently energised.

2. The above risk assessments and policies should be recorded in writing or by other means (e.g. electronically, providing they are retrievable and accessible to those who require them).

When I reviewed method statements, I looked for one main thing.

It wasn't fine detail on the work being carried out.

Rather, I was looking for how it would be done safely.

So the things I looked for;-
a rigorous risk assessment of the works -
how the risks identified are managed -
who is responsible for ensuring the controls are in place and operating

From the above, you get a pretty good idea of whether the Contractor takes MSs seriously

Thanks Clairel, am I right in saying you have been a HSE inspector?

There are quite varied thoughts on this subject, your point about there being no requirement is another issue.

There is a requirement for a safe system of work and I always link that and the MS together if/when asked.

What is a method statement if it isn't a safe system of work?

Your description of the type of content agrees with my thoughts.

Thanks

Clairel:
Alas we verbally joust once more. The format of the method statement follows the same heading as the HSE-MS, this allows the client to see how their HSE-MS fits in with the contractors. If the client wants a method statement, then in similar fashion to "the plastic box full of stuff", he should get a one. Each one of your bullet points above will fit snuggly into an HSE-MS category, and as HSG-65 Policy being numero uno.
Safety checks - implementation and monitoring
Qualifications - competency / resource management
Equipment - Resource management
As I started off though, I did say not too sure if this was relevant to the UK. To me this format tells me straight away if any of our contractors fit in with our HSE-MS without the need for bridging or gap analysis, as it does with our clients.

Clairel:
When I refer to HSE it will always mean health, safety & environment. As you know the management system that the company decides to operate with is basically a map of their HSE documentation. So if a company I was representing was operating to HSG-65, I would prefer our subcontractors to also, in fact it would be a contractual clause, thus, our HSE-MS would be laid out into the key elements ( Policy - Organising - Planning & Implementing - Measuring Performance - Performance Review - Auditing), to save time, and enable my company to assess the HSE capabilities of a sub contractor, or look at how they would plan a job, I would expect them to structure their "work plan" or "method statement" accordingly. The first part of their method plan would be their policy(s), then the organisation of the company, how the job would be organised, what levels of competency are within the organisation, followed by what plans they would put in place during the job and how they would implement said plans. I would expect to be able to read how the sub contractor would gauge and measure their performances, on the job, how and when they would submit their figures to us the client. The method statement would be a snapshot of the company and how their HSE-MS works to their and our advantage.
As I opened up, this may not be relevant in UK, but every client our company works for expects this to be pin point accurate, and we will be held committed to said method statement, or never work for that customer again.
You may think it just different or even absurd, but it makes a lot of sense to me and obviously our clients / subcontractors within the industry. With such practices throughout, everyone knows exactly where they stand. Thanks OGP!!

I'll try to find the ones I did for industrial machine control systems maintenance fault finding & commissioning which were OK'd by a major global blue chip automotive manuf and their Trade Union H&S reps.
One of whom was subsequently one of my NEBOSH GC trainers!

I'll email it if i can find it.


BTW & read an MS as more of a technical document, however, this one was as generic as we felt we could get away with due to the diverse nature of the work and the competence of the guys. They were all specialists on the equipment, we were the manufacturer.
Also individual jobs were dynamically risk assessed and the customers RA's done for each job too.

All the guys were fully trained on the kit mind.
Paul

Captain Scarlet, I know you are trying to bait me and as tempting as it is to rise to it and tell you what I really think of you and your abilities - I wouldn't give you the pleasure of seeing my post deleted by the Mods.

You have a jolly hockey sticks weekend too!

Phil-R
A method statement CAN be as I have desribed, I even got through my NVQ4 submitting the arguable format, anyway, an SSoW I believe is a work instruction, where the job is broken down into phases.
Although some may say differently.....

Captain Scarlet - perhaps read my post again. I don't think that I suggested otherwise! Did I? NOTHING in my post was intended to contradict ANYTHING that you have posted.

I was trying to calm the 'tit for tat' posts and make a couple of suggestions re SSOW and MS. An SSOW or MS can be whatever YOU want it to be. I did NOT suggest otherwise.