Method statement for hot work
A hot-work method statement should define the process, location, equipment and permit controls for welding, flame cutting, brazing or spark-producing work. Fire, explosion, burns, fumes, cylinders and heat transferred through walls or floors all need consideration. The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 require risks from flammable substances and ignition sources to be assessed and controlled; premises fire-safety duties also apply. Use competent operatives and suitable extraction or respiratory protection where exposure remains. Inspect both sides of the work area, remove or shield combustibles, isolate detectors only through the authorised process, and maintain a documented fire watch during the job and for the site-defined period after it ends.
- ✓5 steps from preparation to completion
- ✓Covers: 3 key hazards and their controls
- ✓Permits: hot-work permit
In short
A method statement sets out how a task will be carried out safely, step by step: preparation, set-up, the work itself and completion, with the plant, permits, competence and supervision needed. It puts the controls identified in the risk assessment into a safe system of work.
What it must include
- ✓Task description, location and duration
- ✓Step-by-step sequence of works
- ✓Plant, equipment and materials
- ✓Permits and isolations required
- ✓Competence, training and supervision
- ✓PPE and emergency arrangements
You stay the duty holder: review the document for your site before work starts. SitePaper is a drafting tool, not a consultancy.