The complete guide to writing method statements for electrical work in the UK. What to include, when required, common method statements for rewires, consumer unit changes, testing, and EV charger installations, and how method statements fit with risk assessments to form RAMS packs.
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Written and reviewed by Andrew Moore, founder of Elec-Mate, against BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, IET Guidance Note 3 and the IET On-Site Guide.
A method statement is a written, step-by-step description of how a specific electrical job will be carried out safely — from site set-up through safe isolation, installation, testing and handover. It states what is done at each stage, who does it, the equipment used and the safety controls in place. Paired with a risk assessment it forms a RAMS pack, the standard document clients and principal contractors require before work begins.
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A method statement is a written document that provides a step-by-step description of how a piece of work will be carried out safely. It follows the chronological sequence of the job from start to finish, describing at each stage what work is being performed, what safety precautions are in place, what equipment is being used, and who is responsible.
Think of a method statement as the instruction manual for a safe job. Where a risk assessment identifies the hazards and specifies the control measures, the method statement describes how those controls are implemented within the practical sequence of work. The risk assessment says "safe isolation is required before working on conductors"; the method statement describes exactly how that safe isolation will be carried out — at which distribution board, on which circuit, using what voltage indicator, with what lock-off devices.
A good method statement has three qualities: it is specific (it describes the actual work on the actual site, not a generic template), it is sequential (it follows the natural order of the work from mobilisation to completion), and it is practical (it describes what will actually happen on site, not an unrealistic ideal that nobody follows).
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A method statement is expected for any significant electrical work. While there is no single regulation that requires a "method statement" by name, the duty to plan, manage, and monitor work safely under CDM 2015 and the MHSWR 1999 is in practice fulfilled by producing a method statement.
In practice, producing a method statement for every job — including domestic work — is good business practice as well as good safety practice. It demonstrates professionalism, gives the customer confidence in your approach, and provides documented evidence of your safe system of work in the event of any future dispute or investigation.
An effective method statement covers the complete work process from mobilisation to handover. While the specific content varies with the type and complexity of the work, every electrical method statement should include the following core elements.
Project name and address, client name, contractor details, document reference number, revision number and date, author name and qualification, scope of work description, and duration of works. This information identifies the document and links it to the specific project.
Personnel required (number, qualifications, competence requirements), tools and equipment (test instruments, power tools, access equipment), materials (specification and quantities), and PPE requirements (type, standard, rating). All resources must be identified before work begins to prevent improvisation on site.
The step-by-step work sequence in chronological order. Each step describes the work activity, the safety precautions in place, the quality checks required, and who is responsible. For electrical work, this typically covers: site induction and set-up, safe isolation, first fix (containment and cabling), second fix (accessories and terminations), testing and commissioning, and handover.
Actions in the event of electric shock, fire, injury, or other emergency. Location of first aid equipment, defibrillator, and fire extinguisher. Emergency contact numbers. Evacuation routes and assembly points. Name of the designated first aider.
How waste materials will be handled and disposed of. Segregation of waste types (general, electrical, hazardous). Disposal of old cables, consumer units, and components. WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) disposal requirements. Asbestos waste handling if asbestos-containing materials are encountered.
Writing an effective method statement requires a balance between sufficient detail and practical readability. The document must be detailed enough to describe a safe sequence of work but concise enough that the people doing the work will actually read it.
Start by walking through the job mentally (or physically, if you have access to the site) from arrival to departure. At each stage, ask yourself: what am I doing, what could go wrong, what precautions do I need, and what equipment do I need? Write each stage as a numbered step in clear, plain language.
Use specific, measurable language rather than vague generalities. Instead of "ensure safe isolation is carried out," write "isolate Circuit 3 at MCB position 6 in DB-1, apply lock-off device and personal padlock, prove dead using GS 38 compliant two-pole voltage indicator (prove-test-prove), and attach warning label." This level of specificity demonstrates that you have actually planned the work rather than copied a template.
Include safety hold points — critical checkpoints where work must stop until a specific safety condition is verified. Common electrical hold points include: safe isolation verified before working on conductors, insulation resistance confirmed satisfactory before energising new circuits, and all covers and barriers replaced before leaving the work area unattended.
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While every method statement must be site-specific, certain types of electrical work are common enough that standard method statement structures can be identified. Here are the key sections you would expect in method statements for the most common electrical jobs.
Site-specific risk assessments and method statements, written to CDM 2015 expectations and ready to send. From £6.99/mo.
Try the safety tools freeThe method statement and risk assessment are two halves of the same safety document package. The risk assessment identifies the hazards and specifies what control measures are needed; the method statement describes how those controls are implemented within the practical sequence of work. Neither document is complete without the other.
The relationship is directional: the risk assessment must be completed first because it identifies the controls that the method statement must incorporate. If the risk assessment identifies "safe isolation required before working on conductors" as a control measure, the method statement must describe exactly how safe isolation will be carried out, at which point in the work sequence, and with what equipment.
When reviewing method statements, clients and safety teams check that every control measure identified in the risk assessment appears in the method statement at the appropriate point. If the risk assessment says "RPE required during chasing" but the method statement describes the chasing process without mentioning RPE, the documents are inconsistent and will be rejected.
Elec-Mate's AI generates both documents together as a coherent RAMS pack, ensuring that the control measures in the risk assessment are automatically reflected in the method statement. This eliminates the inconsistency that often occurs when the two documents are written separately or by different people.
RAMS stands for Risk Assessment and Method Statement — two separate documents presented together as a single safety pack. When a principal contractor or client asks for "your RAMS," they expect to receive both the risk assessment and the method statement for the specific work being carried out on their specific site.
A complete RAMS pack for electrical work typically contains the following parts.
Project details, contractor information, and document control (reference, revision, date).
Hazard identification, risk matrix scoring, control measures, and the hierarchy of controls.
Step-by-step work sequence, safety precautions at each stage, and emergency procedures.
Where hazardous substances are involved — for example resins, solvents, or dust from chasing.
Site plans, circuit diagrams, competence records, and insurance certificates.
The quality of your RAMS directly affects your ability to win work. Principal contractors and safety teams review RAMS for substance and specificity — they can immediately identify generic template documents that have not been adapted for the actual job. Poor RAMS reflect poorly on the contractor and may result in rejection and loss of the contract. Conversely, well-written, site-specific RAMS demonstrate competence and professionalism, building confidence with clients and safety teams.
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Try it free for 7 daysMethod statements fail when they are treated as a box-ticking exercise rather than a genuine planning tool. These common mistakes undermine the document's value and may result in rejection by clients and safety teams.
A method statement that says "carry out electrical installation work" without specifying what work, where, or how is not a method statement — it is a blank page with a header. Generic templates must be thoroughly customised for each job and site. If the document does not mention the specific property address, the specific circuits, and the specific equipment, it has not been customised enough.
If the risk assessment identifies "working at height — use podium steps" as a control measure, but the method statement describes installing ceiling lights from a ladder, the documents are inconsistent. Every control measure in the risk assessment must be reflected in the method statement. Safety teams check for these inconsistencies and will reject the RAMS pack if they find them.
"Carry out safe isolation" is not a method statement instruction. The method statement must describe the full safe isolation procedure, following the minimum sequence set out in OSG Reg 12.5: (1) locate and positively identify the correct isolation point; (2) check the physical condition of the voltage indicating device (VID) for obvious damage or deterioration; (3) confirm the VID is functioning correctly on a known live source; (4) test the circuit dead at the point of work (L-N, L-E, N-E); (5) confirm the VID on the known live source again (prove-test-prove). Apply lock-off device and personal padlock before beginning work.
Many method statements describe the installation in detail but gloss over testing with a single line: "carry out testing as per BS 7671." The testing and commissioning phase has its own hazards (repeated isolation and re-energisation cycles) and its own sequence (dead tests before live tests, specific test order per GN3). This phase must be described in the same level of detail as the installation phase.
Every method statement must include emergency procedures. What happens if someone receives an electric shock? What if there is a fire? Where is the nearest first aid equipment? Who is the designated first aider? What is the emergency assembly point? These are not afterthoughts — they are essential elements that the workforce must know before starting work.
The step-by-step process for creating effective, site-specific method statements for electrical work.
Clearly describe what work is to be carried out, where, and when. Be specific: "Installation of new 18-way metal consumer unit (AMD3 type) replacing existing 8-way plastic consumer unit at 42 Oak Road, Ground Floor Hallway Cupboard. Supply: single-phase 100 A TNS. Duration: 1 day." The scope defines the boundaries of the method statement — work outside this scope needs its own assessment.
Document the personnel (number of people, qualifications, competence requirements), tools and equipment (test instruments, power tools, hand tools, access equipment), materials (consumer unit, cables, accessories, containment), and PPE required. Include specific requirements such as "GS 38 compliant two-pole voltage indicator" and "insulated tool kit to BS EN 60900." This ensures everything is available before work begins and nothing is improvised on site.
Describe the work in chronological order from arrival on site to handover. Each step should describe what is being done, who is doing it, what safety precautions apply at that stage, and what equipment is being used. Include critical safety checkpoints such as safe isolation verification following the OSG Reg 12.5 minimum sequence — positively identify the isolation point, check VID condition, confirm VID on a known live source, test dead, confirm VID again — insulation resistance testing before energising, and correct GS 38 prove-test-prove before working on any conductors. The sequence must be logical and workable — it should reflect how the work will actually be done, not an idealised version that bears no relation to site reality.
Document what to do if something goes wrong. Location of the nearest first aid kit and defibrillator. Name and contact number of the site first aider. Emergency services contact procedure. Action in the event of electric shock (isolate supply, do not touch the casualty if still in contact, call 999, begin CPR if qualified). Action in the event of fire (raise the alarm, evacuate, call 999, do not fight fires beyond your training). Location of emergency assembly point.
Have the method statement reviewed by a competent person before issuing it. Check that the sequence is logical, the safety precautions are adequate, the resources are realistic, and the document is specific to the actual job and site. On commercial sites, the method statement will be reviewed by the principal contractor or their safety team as part of the RAMS approval process. Incorporate their feedback and resubmit if required. Only begin work after the method statement has been approved.
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