Posted By Michael Turner I wonder if there is any clear guidance as to when a method statement should be requested. It is my understanding that should the risk assessment highlight a high risk i.e asbestos removal then it would be prudent to request a method statement, but for lower more routine activities a risk assessment accompanied by a permit to work is sufficient. Any help would be appreciated.

Posted By ian mcnally Hi Michael, As you are probably aware HASAWA requires a safe system of work (SSW) and this is really the driver behind production of a method statement. Your SSW may well require a Permit to Work to form part of your SSW, although this in my experience is rarely used in isolation. I will go out on a limb here and suggest that you should be able to demonstrate you have a safe system of work in place for every work activity. You could refer to company procedures in your risk assessment for low risk activities. ( this may well provoke some response) The MHSWR requires the employer to carry out risk assessment, significant risk is key here, trouble is, if somebody gets hurt and a risk assessment wasn’t done due to a decision based on low or insignificant risk not requiring one, the company runs the risk of being accused of failing to carry out a risk assessment. If you did a risk assessment but didn’t record it due to 5 or less. Proving it was done would also be difficult. Some would argue that if it is in black and white but was a load of rubbish you would be found wanting here too! I would play safe and insist on it and get somebody to review it and sign it off. It doesn’t have to be war and peace just a simple form may be suitable. I work in the construction sector and for most of our work activities there is a clear need to produce a suitable risk assessment and SSW. The HSE are beginning to scrutinise these documents more and more and will expect them to be site/task specific. Care should be taken with generic documents as these are rarely appropriate or transferable to numerous sites without amendments. There is enough guidance out there to sink a fleet and the HSE website may be a good start if you haven’t already tried it here is the link: http://www.hse.gov.uk/ Regards Ian

Posted By Michael Turner Thanks for the replies to my question. It stems from the advise of an external H&S consultant who has suggested that as part of contrator approval method statements must be provided or the application rejected. We are not a construction company, our buisness is warehouse based so any contrator on-site should be engaged in maintenance activities typical of this type of environment. It seems a bit heavy handed requesting full method statements for every activity no matter how minor the task or how comprehensive the risk assessment is. Surely we shouldn't get bogged down in paperwork if the RA is suitable and sufficient, and highlights the controls needed to protect all.

Posted By Mark Talbot I would disagree with Alison.. a method statement is a communication, not an instruction. There are many cases where people are prosecuted under s.3 of the HSAW for failing to control, but I know of none for 'agreeing a bad method statement'. It cannot change your liability [ask Royal Ordnance, recent prosecution]. A good method statement will help all from costing a job, to doing the job, to analysing what went wrong if an accident happens. It also helps the area manager look for clashes of planned activity .... how does one plan around the statement "they're just bringing in some new shelves" ? How do you record the fact that next time, you would like them to do 'x' instead of 'y' ?