Method Statements and Safe Systems of Work
Method statements and risk assessments form the foundation of safe working on construction and high-risk sites. Together, they help ensure work is planned, controlled and carried out safely from start to finish.
THSP supports you in producing clear, practical RAMS that reflect how work will actually be delivered on site.
What is a Method Statement?
A method statement sets out how a task will be completed safely. It describes the sequence of work, the controls in place and the responsibilities of those involved.
It is commonly required on construction projects where risks need to be carefully managed.
What are RAMS?
RAMS refers to Risk Assessments and Method Statements combined. These documents identify hazards, evaluate risk and outline safe working methods.
You may be asked to produce RAMS before starting work on a site, particularly where a customer, Principal Contractor or project team needs assurance that the task has been properly planned.
How THSP supports you
Your consultant will work with you to understand the task in detail, including:
- Scope of work and project details
- People involved and responsibilities
- Equipment and materials used
- Site conditions and risks
- Emergency arrangements
From this, we help develop clear documentation that supports safe delivery on site.
Practical documents, not paperwork for the sake of it
Good RAMS should be useful on site, not just filed away. Our focus is on producing documents that are clear, relevant and realistic for the people carrying out the work.
Get support with your RAMS documentation
Need clear, compliant method statements or risk assessments? Our consultants can help you produce practical documentation tailored to your project.
Frequently Asked Questions About RAMS
What is the difference between a method statement and a risk assessment?
A risk assessment identifies the hazards associated with a task and evaluates the level of risk, along with the controls needed to reduce it. A method statement sets out how the work will actually be carried out, including the sequence of operations, the people involved and the controls in place. The two documents are closely related and are typically produced together as RAMS, giving a complete picture of how a task has been planned and how risks will be managed during delivery.
Are method statements a legal requirement?
There is no single piece of legislation that requires a method statement in every situation, but they are strongly associated with CDM 2015 obligations and are routinely required by principal contractors before subcontractors begin work on site. In practice, producing a method statement for any high-risk task is considered standard practice and demonstrates that the work has been properly planned and the risks considered.
What should a method statement include?
A method statement should describe the scope of work, the sequence in which tasks will be carried out, the equipment and materials involved, the people responsible for each stage, the controls in place to manage risk and the emergency arrangements applicable to the task. THSP works with you to ensure the document reflects how the work will actually be delivered, rather than producing generic documentation that does not reflect site conditions.
What does RAMS stand for?
RAMS stands for Risk Assessments and Method Statements. The two documents are typically produced together because they complement each other: the risk assessment identifies hazards and controls and the method statement sets out the safe working method. Principal contractors and clients will often request RAMS before work begins as evidence that the task has been properly planned.
Who is responsible for producing RAMS on a construction project?
Responsibility typically sits with the employer or contractor carrying out the work. Where subcontractors are involved, the principal contractor will often require them to produce their own RAMS for review and approval before work starts on site. THSP can support businesses of any size in producing RAMS that are clear, practical and suitable for the task at hand.
Can THSP help if we have been asked to produce RAMS at short notice?
Yes. THSP consultants can work with you quickly to understand the scope of work and produce documentation that is ready for review by a principal contractor or client. The focus is always on producing something that accurately reflects the task and is genuinely useful on site, not generic documents produced simply to satisfy a request.
How detailed does a method statement need to be?
The level of detail should be proportionate to the complexity and risk of the task. A straightforward, low-risk activity may require only a brief document, while complex or high-risk work will need a more thorough method statement covering each stage in detail. THSP will help you pitch the document at the right level for the task and the audience it needs to satisfy.
What makes a good method statement?
A good method statement is one that the people carrying out the work can actually use. It should be written in plain language, reflect the real sequence of work and be specific to the site conditions and task involved. Generic or overly technical documents that bear little resemblance to what happens on the ground provide little value and can undermine confidence in your approach to safety. THSP’s focus is on producing documentation that is clear, relevant and practical.