Risk Assessments · Mandatory · Pre-Construction
Method Statement (Generic)
A Method Statement describes the safe sequence of work for a construction activity, including resources, equipment, personnel, and step-by-step procedures. It accompanies the risk assessment and provides practical instructions that workers follow on site. Method statements must be reviewed and accepted by the principal contractor before work begins.
Last reviewed: 29 March 2026 — This guide reflects UK law as of this date. MHSWR 1999 remains current with no amendments enacted as of 29 March 2026. Next scheduled review: 29 March 2027.
| Legal basis | MHSWR 1999 Regulation 5 — employers must make appropriate arrangements for the effective planning, organisation, control, monitoring and review of preventive and protective measures |
| Regulatory status | Not mandated by name in legislation, but a method statement is the recognised means of discharging Reg 5 for construction activities. Required by industry practice and PC appointment terms. |
| Who produces it | The contractor or subcontractor responsible for the activity |
| Relationship to RA | Always produced alongside the task-specific risk assessment. Together they form the RAMS pack. The RA identifies what the risks are; the method statement describes how the work will be done safely. |
| When required | Before any significant construction activity begins — the PC reviews and accepts both documents before granting permission to proceed |
| Enforcing authority | Health and Safety Executive (HSE) |
1. What Is a Method Statement?
A Method Statement is a document that describes, step by step, how a construction activity will be carried out safely. Where the risk assessment answers ‘what could go wrong and what controls are needed?’, the method statement answers ‘how will the work actually be done?’
The method statement is not explicitly named as a required document in any single piece of UK legislation. Its legal basis comes from MHSWR 1999 Regulation 5, which requires employers to make appropriate arrangements for the effective planning, organisation, control, monitoring, and review of preventive and protective measures identified through the risk assessment. In construction, the method statement is the universally accepted mechanism for demonstrating that those arrangements have been made for a specific activity.
“5. Every employer shall make and give effect to such arrangements as are appropriate, having regard to the nature of his activities and the size of his undertaking, for the effective planning, organisation, control, monitoring and review of the preventive and protective measures.”— Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, Regulation 5(1)
Method statement and risk assessment — inseparable partners
The risk assessment and method statement are always produced together for significant construction activities. The risk assessment is the analytical document: it identifies hazards, assesses severity and likelihood, and selects controls. The method statement is the operational document: it translates those controls into a practical, sequenced description of how the work will actually be carried out. One without the other is incomplete. RAMS — Risk Assessment and Method Statement — is the standard term for the combined document.
2. What a Method Statement Must Contain
There is no statutory prescribed format. The following sections represent industry best practice and what Principal Contractors and HSE inspectors expect to find in a compliant method statement.
| Section | What it should contain | Applicability |
|---|---|---|
| Project and activity details | Site name and address, project reference, activity/task title, document reference and version, date prepared, author name and role. | Every method statement |
| Company and personnel | Company name and contact details, site supervisor name and emergency contact, competent person responsible for the activity, any specialist personnel required (IPAF operator, gas safe engineer, etc.). | Every method statement |
| Scope of works | Clear description of what the activity covers — what will be done, where on site, when, and how long the activity is expected to take. | Every method statement |
| Plant, equipment and materials | List of all plant and equipment to be used, with type and specification. List of significant materials. Inspection/certification status of plant (LOLER, PUWER, thorough examination dates). | Every method statement |
| Sequence of work — step by step | The core of the method statement. A numbered sequence of every significant step in the activity, from site preparation to completion and make-safe. Each step should reference relevant controls from the risk assessment. | Every method statement — this is the section most often inadequate |
| Supervision and competence | Who will supervise the activity, their qualifications, and the competence requirements for workers carrying out each step. Certifications required (CSCS card colour, IPAF, Gas Safe, NICEIC, etc.). | Every method statement |
| Welfare and welfare access | Location of welfare facilities relative to the work area, arrangements for welfare during the activity (particularly for remote locations, night works, or confined spaces). | Every method statement |
| Emergency procedures | What to do if something goes wrong. Site emergency number, first aider location, nearest hospital with A&E, evacuation procedure, activity-specific emergency response (e.g. rescue procedure for confined space). | Every method statement |
| Environmental controls | How the activity will avoid environmental harm — dust suppression, waste management, spill response, noise mitigation, protection of water courses. | Where environmental risks are present |
| Worker sign-off | Signatures of workers confirming they have read, understood, and will work in accordance with the method statement. Where workers cannot read the document, a verbal briefing record. | Every method statement |
| PC review and approval | Record that the Principal Contractor has reviewed and accepted the method statement before the activity begins. | Every method statement |
3. The Sequence of Work — The Heart of the Method Statement
The step-by-step work sequence is the section that most often separates a genuine method statement from a generic template. It should describe every significant step in the activity from pre-start checks to completion and make-safe — in enough detail that a worker who had never carried out this activity before could follow it and work safely.
Site preparation and access
Erect site hoarding / exclusion zone around work area. Confirm welfare facilities are accessible. Check and document condition of working area — identify any existing hazards. Confirm plant and equipment is serviceable (pre-use checks completed). Brief all workers on method and emergency procedures before starting.
Delivery and materials handling
Materials delivered to agreed offloading point. Banksman in attendance for any HGV reversing. Materials stored in designated area — not obstructing emergency routes. Manual handling aids in place before offloading. Hazardous materials stored per COSHH assessment and SDS requirements.
Core activity execution
[Activity-specific steps — describe the work sequence in detail. Each step should reference the controls from the risk assessment: e.g. ‘Erect scaffold to TG20 specification before any work above 2m begins. Scaffold inspected and tagged Green. No work from scaffold during high winds (>27 mph).’ Not: ‘Work safely at height.’ Be specific.]
Interim checks and monitoring
Supervisor checks activity progress at minimum [frequency]. Any change in site conditions (weather, ground, discovery of services, hazardous material) reported to PC immediately — work paused pending review. Workers reminded to report concerns without hesitation.
Completion and make-safe
Work area cleared of materials, equipment, and debris. Any temporary works (supports, propping) removed only per approved sequence. Barriers and signage removed or updated per site manager instruction. Plant and equipment returned to designated storage. Completed work inspected and signed off by supervisor.
What ‘specific enough’ looks like
Bad: ‘Work safely at height using appropriate equipment.’ Good: ‘Erect scaffold to TG20 specification before any work above 2m begins. Scaffold inspected by competent person and tagged Green before use. Scaffold inspected weekly and after adverse weather. No work from scaffold if wind speed exceeds 27 mph (gusts). All workers to wear harness and clip to anchor point when working within 2m of unprotected edge.’ The second version tells workers exactly what to do, under what conditions, with what equipment. The first tells them nothing.
4. Common Mistakes
A work sequence that describes outcomes rather than actions
Entries like ‘ensure safe system of work is in place’ or ‘work safely at all times’ are not method statements — they are aspirations. A method statement must describe what will actually be done: which plant, which method, which protective measures, in which sequence, under which conditions. If a worker reads your method statement and cannot tell exactly how to carry out the task safely, it is not adequate.
Missing or vague emergency procedures
Emergency procedures are one of the most frequently omitted or inadequate sections. ‘Call 999’ is not an emergency procedure. The method statement should specify: the site emergency contact number, first aider name and location, nearest A&E hospital (with address), activity-specific emergency response (e.g. for confined space entry, the rescue procedure and rescue equipment). Workers must know this before starting.
Not matching the sequence to the actual site layout
A method statement that describes access routes, material storage, and plant positions that do not match the actual site is useless operationally and is evidence to an HSE inspector that the document was not site-specific. Review the site layout, access constraints, and neighbouring operations before completing the method statement.
Omitting plant inspection and certification status
Plant and equipment used on construction sites must be inspected and certified under PUWER and LOLER. The method statement should list the plant to be used and confirm inspection status — not just list ‘excavator’ without confirming it has a current thorough examination certificate. For lifting equipment, the LOLER examination record is a legal requirement.
No worker sign-off
A method statement that workers have never read provides no operational protection. The worker sign-off section confirms that workers have been briefed on the method, understand what is expected of them, and have had the opportunity to raise concerns before starting. Absent signatures mean absent briefings — and absent briefings mean MHSWR Reg 5 has not been discharged.
6. Frequently Asked Questions
Is a method statement legally required?▾
A method statement is not explicitly named in any single regulation as a mandatory document. However, MHSWR 1999 Regulation 5 requires employers to make appropriate arrangements for planning, organising, controlling, monitoring, and reviewing their preventive measures. In construction, a method statement is the standard and expected means of demonstrating those arrangements exist for a specific activity. Principal Contractors’ appointment terms almost universally require RAMS before any subcontractor starts work, making method statements contractually mandatory even where the regulatory basis is indirect.
Can the method statement and risk assessment be combined in one document?▾
Yes — this is standard practice. Combined RAMS documents are the norm in UK construction. The combined document should clearly distinguish between the RA section (hazards, risk ratings, controls) and the MS section (sequence of work, plant, personnel, emergency procedures). Where the two are merged without clear structure, reviewers cannot efficiently check that both components are present and adequate.
How detailed does the work sequence need to be?▾
Detailed enough that a worker unfamiliar with the activity could follow it and work safely. The test is whether the sequence describes actual actions rather than aspirational outcomes. A five-step sequence for a complex multi-day activity is probably too brief. A 50-step sequence for a simple single-hour task is probably excessive. Proportionality to the complexity and risk of the activity is the guiding principle.
What if the method changes on site during the activity?▾
If the actual method deviates from the method statement — because of site conditions, plant availability, changed scope, or unforeseen hazards — the method statement must be updated before the revised method is used. Work should be paused while the update is made and reviewed by the PC. Continuing with a method that diverges from the approved method statement is non-compliant and places workers at unassessed risk.
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