Method Statement

A method statement is a document that describes, in logical sequence, exactly how a specific work activity will be carried out - and the safety controls that will be applied throughout. It sits alongside a risk assessment, which identifies what could go wrong; the method statement specifies how the work will proceed safely given those risks. Together, the two documents are known as RAMS (Risk Assessment and Method Statement), and submitting a completed RAMS pack before work starts on site is standard practice across UK construction and trade contracting.

Method statements are especially common for higher-risk activities: demolition, structural alteration, formwork, lifting operations, confined space working, and work at height. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) endorses them as the appropriate way to plan, manage, and communicate safe systems of work - particularly for complex or unusual tasks where the consequences of error are severe.

What a Method Statement Should Include

A method statement must be specific to the site and task. Generic documents that carry the wrong site name or use vague controls - such as "wear correct PPE" rather than listing exact items - are commonly rejected by principal contractors and offer little protection if an incident occurs.

The core sections are:

• Project and task details: site address, scope description, dates, and names of competent personnel responsible
• Pre-commencement requirements: relevant drawings, permits to work, and plant or materials needed before the task begins
• Step-by-step safe working method: a logical sequence of actions from start to finish, including hold points or inspection checks
• PPE list: specific items required, not a generic reference to "appropriate PPE"
• Emergency arrangements: first aid procedures, fire plan, and actions in the event of a service strike or foreseeable incident
• Sign-off: confirmation that operatives have read and understood the document, with version control and a review date

The statement should be revised if scope changes, a near miss occurs, or site conditions change materially.

Method Statements, RAMS, and CDM 2015

In UK construction, "method statement" and "RAMS" are often used interchangeably, but they are distinct. A risk assessment identifies hazards and severity of harm; a method statement describes the safe working sequence. Combined - as is common practice - the result is a RAMS pack.

Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, a risk assessment is a legal requirement for all work activities. Method statements are not required by that name in law, except that written arrangements must be recorded before demolition, dismantling, or structural alteration begins. The HSE strongly endorses them for all higher-risk activities, and principal contractors routinely request RAMS before granting site access.

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) require a Construction Phase Plan (CPP) before construction begins. RAMS from sub-contractors feed directly into that CPP, providing the task-level detail on which the site safety plan depends.

A complete scope of works and a method statement work together before a works order is issued - the scope defines what will be done, the method statement records how it will be done safely.

Zigaflow's eForms feature lets contractors build digital method statement templates, deploy them to site teams on mobile, and collect signatures in the field - with each form linked directly to the relevant job record.