RAMS for Electricians: What Should Be Included?
RAMS for Electricians: What Should Be Included?
Quick Answer
Electrical RAMS should identify the significant hazards associated with the specific electrical work and clearly explain how the job will be carried out safely.
They should consider the electrical system, isolation requirements, testing, tools and equipment, the working environment and anyone who could be affected by the work.
Most importantly, the RAMS should reflect the actual electrical job being undertaken.
Changing the client name and date on an old document isn't the same as assessing the new job.
What Are Electrical RAMS?
RAMS stands for Risk Assessment and Method Statement.
For electrical work, the Risk Assessment identifies the significant hazards, who could be harmed and the measures required to control those risks.
The Method Statement explains how the work will be carried out safely and in what sequence.
Together, they provide electricians, supervisors, clients and other contractors with a clear plan for carrying out the work.
Do Electricians Need RAMS?
There isn't a blanket legal requirement for every electrician to possess a document specifically called "RAMS".
However, electrical work must be properly assessed and managed.
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require precautions to be taken against the risk of death or personal injury from electricity during work activities.
Clients and principal contractors may also require suitable RAMS before electrical work begins.
What Should Electrical RAMS Include?
The exact content will depend on the job, but electrical RAMS may need to consider:
• Electrical shock and burns
• Isolation and safe isolation procedures
• Accidental re-energisation
• Existing electrical services
• Testing and test equipment
• Electrical tools and equipment
• Work at height
• Access and egress
• Manual handling
• Drilling and cutting
• Dust and other substances
• Other contractors and occupants
• Suitable PPE
• Emergency arrangements
Not every electrical RAMS document needs every hazard.
The hazards and controls should be selected because they are relevant to the actual work.
Safe Isolation
Safe isolation can be one of the most important parts of electrical work.
Where safety depends on making an electrical system dead, suitable procedures are needed to ensure the system has been isolated, proved dead and secured against re-energisation.
The RAMS should reflect the actual isolation arrangements for the job rather than simply stating "isolate before work".
This may involve consideration of:
• The correct point of isolation
• Securing the isolation
• Preventing accidental re-energisation
• Proving the conductors dead
• Suitable testing equipment
• Multiple or alternative sources of supply
The exact procedure should be appropriate to the electrical system and work being undertaken.
Existing Electrical Services
Electrical work is often carried out in buildings where existing services remain in use.
Cables may be concealed in walls, floors, ceilings and voids, and available records may not always provide a complete picture.
The RAMS should consider what electrical systems are present and how the work could interact with them.
This is particularly important where drilling, cutting, chasing or other intrusive work will be carried out.
Testing and Electrical Equipment
The tools and test equipment required should reflect the actual job.
Depending on the work, this could include:
• Suitable voltage indicators
• Proving devices
• Lock-off equipment
• Electrical test equipment
• Insulated tools where appropriate
• Power tools
• Access equipment
Equipment shouldn't simply be added to a RAMS because an electrician might use it.
It should be relevant to the planned work and the associated hazards.
Working Near Live Electrical Systems
Where possible, electrical work should be carried out with the relevant conductors made dead.
Working on or near live electrical systems introduces additional risk and requires careful consideration.
A RAMS document should not treat live working as the normal or convenient option.
Where the work genuinely requires electrical equipment to remain energised, the circumstances and necessary precautions need to be properly assessed.
Need RAMS for Your Next Electrical Job?
Create job-specific, fully editable RAMS in around 2 minutes with Safe Trade Solutions.
Enter the electrical work, equipment and specific requirements, then review and edit the generated Risk Assessment and Method Statement before downloading.
Add your own company branding and make changes whenever the job changes.
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Work at Height
Electrical work isn't always carried out at floor level.
Electricians may need access to:
• Ceiling voids
• Cable trays
• Lighting
• Distribution equipment
• High-level containment
• External electrical equipment
Where work at height is involved, the RAMS should identify the access method and the controls required for the actual task.
Simply writing "use a ladder" doesn't demonstrate that the access method is suitable for the work.
Other People in the Work Area
Electrical work can create risks for people who aren't carrying out the task.
This could include:
• Other contractors
• Employees
• Clients
• Building occupants
• Visitors
• Members of the public
The RAMS should consider whether the work area needs to be segregated, whether access needs to be restricted and how others will be prevented from interfering with isolated equipment.
What Should an Electrical Method Statement Explain?
The Method Statement should clearly explain how the planned electrical work will be carried out.
Depending on the job, this could include:
• Arrival and site preparation
• Establishing the work area
• Identifying the relevant electrical system
• Isolation and securing against re-energisation
• Proving dead where required
• Removal of existing equipment
• Installation of cables or equipment
• Drilling, cutting or containment work
• Connections and terminations
• Inspection and testing
• Reinstatement of the electrical supply
• Final checks
• Leaving the work area safe
The sequence should reflect the actual job rather than being copied from an unrelated electrical project.
Should Electrical RAMS Be Job-Specific?
Yes.
Consider two electricians both installing additional sockets.
One might be installing sockets in an empty domestic property.
The other could be working inside an operational manufacturing site with employees, machinery, existing services and other contractors nearby.
The basic task may sound similar, but the working environment, people at risk and necessary controls could be completely different.
That's why electrical RAMS should be built around the actual job.
Can You Use the Same Electrical RAMS for Every Job?
Previous RAMS can contain useful information, but they shouldn't simply be reused without checking whether they're suitable.
Before starting a new electrical job, consider:
• What electrical work is being carried out?
• What system or circuit is involved?
• How will it be safely isolated?
• Are there other sources of electrical supply?
• What testing will be required?
• What tools and equipment will be used?
• Are there concealed or existing services?
• Who could be affected by the work?
• What other significant hazards are present?
• What controls will actually be used?
If the work or conditions change, the RAMS may need to change too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do electricians need a Risk Assessment?
Electrical work can expose workers and others to significant hazards. Those risks need to be suitably assessed and controlled.
Should safe isolation be included in electrical RAMS?
Where isolation forms part of the safe system of work, the RAMS should reflect the appropriate isolation arrangements for that job.
Should testing equipment be included?
Where testing equipment is required to carry out the work safely, relevant equipment should be identified. The RAMS shouldn't automatically list testing equipment that isn't required for the task.
Can electricians use generic RAMS?
Existing documents may provide useful information, but the assessment and method of work need to remain suitable for the actual job, location, equipment and hazards.
Do RAMS make electrical work safe?
No. A RAMS document helps plan and communicate the work, but the controls still need to be implemented by competent people carrying out the job.
Create Job-Specific Electrical RAMS in Around 2 Minutes
Safe Trade Solutions helps electrical contractors create bespoke, fully editable RAMS in around 2 minutes.
Simply:
1. Enter the details of the electrical work, equipment, hazards and specific requirements.
2. Generate a job-specific Risk Assessment and Method Statement.
3. Review and edit the documents where needed.
4. Add your company branding.
5. Download your completed RAMS document.
If the job changes, update your RAMS to reflect the work actually being carried out.
No generic templates. Just documentation built around the job you're actually doing.
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