What Is a Method Statement in Construction?
A method statement is a document that explains, step by step, how a specific construction task will be carried out safely — covering the sequence of work, equipment used, hazards identified, and control measures in place. Under CDM 2015, method statements are required by the HSE for higher-risk and notifiable construction work.
A method statement is not the same as a risk assessment — though the two are closely related and frequently produced together. Understanding the difference, knowing who needs one, and being able to produce one that meets HSE construction requirements is essential for any contractor working on commercial sites or managing multiple subcontractors.
Method Statement vs Risk Assessment — What's the Difference?
These two documents answer different questions, and that distinction matters for compliance:
- A risk assessment asks: What could go wrong, how likely is it, how serious could it be, and who is at risk? It is an analytical document that identifies hazards and evaluates risk.
- A method statement asks: How will this task be done safely? It is a procedural document that sets out the sequence of work and the control measures that will be applied.
In practice, they are almost always produced together as a combined RAMS (Risk Assessment and Method Statement). The risk assessment informs the control measures recorded in the method statement. But they are not the same thing, and a risk assessment alone does not satisfy the requirement for a method statement on notifiable construction work.
What a Construction Method Statement Covers
A compliant method statement for a construction task will typically include all of the following:
- Description of the task — what work is being carried out, on which part of the site
- Sequence of operations — the step-by-step order in which the work will proceed
- Plant and equipment — what tools, machinery and plant will be used
- Materials — any materials with specific handling requirements (COSHH substances, heavy or awkward items)
- Hazards and control measures — hazards specific to this task and how they will be controlled (PPE, exclusion zones, permits to work, etc.)
- Responsible persons — who is supervising the work and who operatives should report to
- Emergency procedures — what to do if something goes wrong
The level of detail should be proportionate to the risk. A method statement for painting and decorating will be shorter and simpler than one for structural steelwork or demolition. The HSE does not prescribe a fixed format, but the content must be meaningful and specific to the task — a generic template without site-specific detail does not constitute a compliant method statement.
CDM 2015 and the Legal Requirement
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) place legal duties on clients, designers, principal designers, principal contractors and contractors in relation to construction health and safety. Method statements sit within this framework.
Where a project is notifiable (lasting more than 30 working days with more than 20 workers simultaneously, or exceeding 500 person-days), a principal contractor must be appointed and a Construction Phase Plan must be in place before work begins. Method statements for each significant trade activity form part of that plan.
Even on smaller, non-notifiable projects, the duty to plan, manage and monitor construction work safely applies. Method statements are the practical tool for demonstrating that duty has been discharged.
Who Needs to Produce a Method Statement
On a managed commercial site, method statements are required from every significant subcontractor before they begin work. The principal contractor reviews and approves each one as part of the pre-start process. Trades that will typically be required to submit a method statement include:
- Groundworkers and excavation contractors
- Structural steelwork contractors
- Scaffolding contractors (also requiring a scaffold design)
- Roofing contractors (particularly flat roof and at-height work)
- Asbestos removal contractors (licensed, with full RAMS)
- Demolition contractors
- Electrical and mechanical contractors
On smaller domestic projects, method statements are less commonly required by clients — but any builder tendering for commercial or local authority work will be asked for them as a standard part of the pre-qualification process. Not having them ready is a straightforward way to lose the tender.
Method Statements in RenoCalc Quote Packs
RenoCalc generates 12 HSE-compliant method statements — one per trade — as part of every quote pack. These are produced automatically when you upload your floor plan, alongside the schedule of works, cover letter and contract documentation. The method statements cover the full range of domestic renovation trades: groundworks, structural, carpentry, roofing, electrics, plumbing, plastering, tiling, decorating and more.
For builders who tender for commercial work, having ready-to-submit method statements built into every quote pack removes a significant admin burden. Rather than writing RAMS documents from scratch for each job, you start with a trade-specific set that you can review and adapt to the specific site conditions.
See also: What Is a Schedule of Works? — the sequencing document that sits alongside method statements in the full quote pack.
12 Method Statements With Every Quote Pack
RenoCalc produces HSE-compliant method statements for all 12 trades, automatically, from your floor plan. Upload your drawings and have a complete quote pack — including RAMS documentation — in under 3 minutes.
Try RenoCalc FreeFrequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a method statement and a risk assessment?
A risk assessment identifies hazards, evaluates the likelihood and severity of harm, and determines who is at risk. A method statement describes how the task will be carried out safely, applying the control measures identified in the risk assessment. Both are required for higher-risk construction tasks. They are often combined into a single RAMS (Risk Assessment and Method Statement) document but serve different purposes.
Who needs to write a method statement on a construction project?
Method statements are required from main contractors and specialist subcontractors carrying out higher-risk or notifiable construction work. Under CDM 2015, the principal contractor is responsible for ensuring method statements are in place for each significant trade activity before work begins. Specialist trades — steelwork, roofing, scaffolding, demolition, asbestos removal — each produce their own method statement specific to their scope of work.
Does a method statement need to be trade-specific?
Yes. A single generic method statement covering an entire project is not sufficient for HSE compliance. Each trade or significant task type should have its own method statement covering the specific sequence of work, equipment and hazards relevant to that activity. On larger projects you may have separate method statements for groundworks, steel erection, roofing, scaffolding, electrical installation and so on — each reviewed and approved by the principal contractor before the trade commences.
What is a RAMS document in construction?
RAMS stands for Risk Assessment and Method Statement. It is a combined document that integrates the risk assessment (identifying hazards and evaluating risk) with the method statement (describing how the task will be carried out safely). RAMS documents are standard on commercial construction sites and are required as part of pre-qualification by most principal contractors. See: HSE construction guidance for further detail.
Is a method statement a legal requirement?
Under CDM 2015, a Construction Phase Plan must be in place before notifiable construction work begins, and method statements for significant trade activities form a core part of that plan. On non-notifiable projects, the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 still requires contractors to plan and manage work safely — method statements are the practical tool for demonstrating that duty has been met.
