Quick answer: a method statement should explain, in a logical sequence, how the job will be carried out safely. Start with the scope and responsibilities, identify the equipment and controls required, describe setup and the work sequence, explain what happens if conditions change, and include emergency and completion arrangements. Keep it clear enough for the people doing the work to actually use.
What is a method statement?
A method statement is a practical description of how a task will be completed safely. HSE guidance describes method statements as an effective way to plan, manage and monitor construction work and communicate the safe system of work.
It is often created using information from the risk assessment. The risk assessment identifies hazards and controls; the method statement shows how those controls are applied in the actual sequence of work.
When do you need one?
Written arrangements are specifically required for certain construction activities such as demolition, dismantling and structural alteration. Method statements are also widely used for higher-risk or complex activities even where there is no standalone legal requirement for a document with that exact title.
Clients, principal contractors and facilities managers frequently request them as part of RAMS.
Step 1: Define the scope
State what is being done, where and to what extent. Avoid a scope so broad that the method cannot be meaningful.
Example: “Steam clean the north and east rendered elevations from MEWP access, including pre-treatment of organic growth and protection of adjacent entrances.”
Step 2: Identify responsibilities
Name or define the supervisor, operatives and any specialist roles. State relevant competence requirements.
Step 3: List plant, tools and materials
Include equipment that affects the method and controls. If the task uses a MEWP, rope system, pressure washer, abrasive tool or chemical treatment, it belongs in the plan.
Step 4: Confirm prerequisites
Describe what must be in place before work starts: permits, isolations, access, weather limits, exclusion zones, utility supplies, rescue arrangements and client approvals.
Step 5: Write the sequence of work
Use numbered steps. The statement should allow a competent worker or supervisor to understand the intended order.
A typical sequence could include mobilisation, sign-in, dynamic review, barriers, equipment inspection, setup, work method, quality check, cleanup and handover.
Step 6: Link controls to the method
Do not put all controls in a separate risk table and then write a method that ignores them. If public protection is critical, explain when barriers are installed and how access is managed. If chemical dwell time matters, explain application and rinsing controls.
Step 7: Explain what happens if conditions change
Workers should know when to stop. Examples include wind speed exceeding equipment limits, discovery of fragile surfaces, unexpected live services, damage to the substrate or loss of safe access.
Step 8: Include emergency arrangements
State what the team should do in foreseeable emergencies. High-risk activities may need a separate rescue plan.
Step 9: Include completion and handover
Explain how the area is inspected, waste removed, barriers cleared and work handed back to the client.
What makes a method statement good?
HSE advises that method statements should be no longer than necessary, clear and free from ambiguity or generalisations. The audience is the people doing and supervising the work.
A document can be technically comprehensive and still fail if nobody on site can understand it.
Common method statement mistakes
Copying an old job without reviewing it
Reusing proven company methods is sensible, but site-specific differences need review.
Writing for the client instead of the workforce
The document should satisfy assurance requirements, but its primary operational value is communicating the safe method.
Using vague instructions
“Work safely at height” is not a method. Explain the access system, edge protection, competence and sequence.
Ignoring change
Real sites change. State who has authority to stop and revise the method.
Can photos and diagrams help?
Yes. HSE notes that simple sketches can help make method statements clear. For modern digital RAMS, annotated survey photos can be even more useful because they show access routes, work areas and exclusions.
How long should a method statement be?
Long enough to communicate the safe method, no longer. A simple low-risk task may need a concise statement; complex roof or demolition work may require substantially more detail.
How AI can assist
AI can turn existing survey data and approved company methodology into a first draft. It can also help check whether common sections are missing.
The important control is review. The competent person must confirm that the sequence, equipment, hazards and emergency arrangements match reality.
How SurvAIPro is designed to help
Because SurvAIPro begins with the site survey, much of the information required for a method statement already exists: site, scope, access, equipment, constraints and photographs.
The platform can use that data to help populate a draft instead of forcing the user to start again after the job is won.
Frequently asked questions
Is a method statement the same as a risk assessment?
No. The risk assessment identifies hazards and controls. The method statement explains how the work will be carried out using those controls.
Do all construction jobs need a method statement?
Not every task has a standalone legal requirement for one, but they are widely used for higher-risk, complex and client-controlled work. Certain activities have specific requirements for written arrangements.
Can I use a template?
Yes, as a structure. Adapt it to the actual task and site rather than copying generic wording.
Final thought
The best method statement is one the workforce can actually follow. Clear, specific and site-aware beats long and generic.
SurvAIPro aims to make the first draft faster by reusing information already captured during the survey, while keeping competent review essential.
Source: UK Health and Safety Executive construction guidance on method statements.