How to Write a Method Statement UK — RAMS for Trade Contractors (2026)

If you work on commercial or industrial sites, you will have been asked for RAMS before you can start. Risk assessments and method statements are now a standard gate on most sites in the UK, and the quality of your documents is often taken as a signal of how professionally your business operates. Yet many trade contractors still cobble together generic copies rather than writing documents that actually reflect how they work.

This guide explains what a method statement is, when you need one, exactly what it must contain, and how to write one that will be accepted by a principal contractor first time. It also covers the difference between RAMS and risk assessments, generic versus site-specific documents, and where to find free templates from industry bodies.

What is a method statement?

A method statement is a document that describes how a specific work activity will be carried out safely. It sets out the sequence of operations step by step, identifies the significant hazards at each stage, and records the control measures that will be applied to eliminate or reduce risk. Unlike a procedure manual, which describes what should happen in general, a method statement is task-specific and site-specific.

Method statements are almost always paired with a risk assessment, and together these two documents are referred to as RAMS — Risk Assessment and Method Statement. The risk assessment identifies the hazards associated with the activity and assesses their likelihood and severity. The method statement then describes the practical process of doing the work, incorporating the controls that the risk assessment has specified. One document identifies the problem; the other describes the solution in practice.

It is important to understand that a method statement is not a substitute for a risk assessment and cannot replace one. They serve different purposes and reference each other. In a combined RAMS document — which is acceptable for lower-risk activities — the two elements are presented together. For higher-risk or notifiable work under CDM regulations, they should be separate documents.

When do you need a method statement?

Any commercial or industrial site will expect RAMS before you begin work. Principal contractors request them as part of the site induction process, and without an accepted method statement you are unlikely to be permitted on site. CDM 2015 (Construction Design and Management Regulations) requires method statements for complex or high-risk activities, and they are retained in the project health and safety file.

Domestic clients rarely ask for method statements, but producing one demonstrates professionalism and protects you if something goes wrong. It also provides a clear record that you assessed the risks and applied appropriate controls — which is valuable evidence if an incident leads to a claim or investigation.

Specific activities that almost always require a method statement include:

• Working at height — scaffolding erection and use, mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs), and ladder work
• Confined space entry
• Hot works — welding, cutting, grinding, and use of naked flame
• Lifting operations involving cranes, telehandlers, or any mechanical lifting equipment
• Demolition or structural alteration
• Any work involving hazardous substances that requires a COSHH assessment
• Live electrical work, including isolation procedures
• Groundwork and excavation near existing services or structures

RAMS vs risk assessment: understanding the difference

The distinction matters because many contractors conflate the two, and principal contractors can tell immediately when a method statement is actually just a reworded risk assessment.

A risk assessment identifies hazards, evaluates the likelihood and severity of harm, specifies the controls that will reduce risk to an acceptable level, and records who is responsible for applying those controls. It answers the question: what could go wrong, and how bad could it be?

A method statement describes the actual work process in logical sequence. At each step it notes which significant hazards are present and what controls are applied. It also records the people involved, the equipment used, the PPE required, and the emergency procedures. It answers the question: how will we do the work safely, from start to finish?

For a lower-risk activity — say, painting internal walls in an occupied commercial building — a combined RAMS document covering both elements in a single form is perfectly acceptable. For a higher-risk activity, such as working at height on an unguarded roof or carrying out a confined space entry, the documents should be separate and more detailed. On notifiable CDM projects, the principal contractor will usually specify the format they require.

What a method statement must contain

There is no single prescribed format in UK law, but the HSE and principal contractors expect method statements to cover the following:

• Description of the work activity and location — what is being done, where, and when
• Plant, equipment and tools — everything that will be used on the task
• Materials — including any COSHH substances, with reference to the relevant COSHH assessment
• Sequence of work — a step-by-step description of how the task will be carried out in the correct order
• Controls for each significant hazard — drawn from the risk assessment, specifying what will be done at each stage to manage the risk
• PPE requirements — what personal protective equipment is required at each stage and why
• Emergency procedures — who to contact in an emergency, evacuation routes, location of first aid equipment, and the nearest hospital with A&E
• Personnel involved — names, roles, and relevant qualifications or competencies (CSCS cards, IPAF, PASMA, Gas Safe registration, etc.)
• Supervisor or responsible person — clearly named, with contact details
• Date and review date — the document must be current; it should be reviewed if the scope changes

How to write a method statement: step by step

Follow these eight steps to produce a method statement that is fit for purpose and likely to be accepted by any principal contractor.

Common activities and what to cover

Different trade activities have predictable hazard profiles. Here is what a method statement for each common activity should give particular attention to:

Generic vs site-specific method statements

A generic RAMS covers the standard version of an activity — for example, erecting a system scaffold on a typical residential or commercial building. It describes the usual process, standard hazards, and typical controls. Generic RAMS are useful as a starting point and a library resource.

A site-specific RAMS adapts that generic document to the actual conditions on the ground: the access constraints, the proximity of live services or adjacent operations, specific hazards identified during the site survey, the emergency procedures for that particular site. Most commercial principal contractors expect site-specific RAMS, not generic templates with the company name changed at the top.

The most efficient approach is to maintain a library of well-written generic RAMS for each activity your business carries out, then adapt them to each site before submission. Adapt, don't copy. A method statement that refers to a hazard or control that clearly does not apply to the actual site signals that it has not been thought through.

Who signs the method statement?

The responsible person — usually the employer or the working supervisor — signs the method statement. On CDM projects, it is submitted to the principal contractor and retained in the health and safety file for the project. The principal contractor may sign it as accepted, or return it with queries.

Operatives should sign to confirm they have been briefed on the method statement before starting work. This is usually done during the toolbox talk. Keep these signed records: they demonstrate due diligence if an incident is investigated.

If the scope of work changes once the job is underway — if additional hazards are discovered, access changes, or the task expands beyond what was originally described — the RAMS must be updated before the changed activity starts. Do not continue under a method statement that no longer reflects what is actually being done. Resubmit the revised document to the principal contractor and get it accepted before proceeding.

Digital RAMS tools and where to get free templates

Paper RAMS are still accepted on most sites, but digital tools make template management, distribution, and storage significantly easier. Platforms such as iAuditor (SafetyCulture) allow you to build RAMS templates, complete them on a mobile device, embed site photographs, and distribute signed copies instantly by email or QR code.

For digital distribution: keep a signed copy for at least three years. If the project falls under CDM and is notifiable, keep records for the duration of the project and beyond.

Free templates and guidance are available from:

• HSE — the Health and Safety Executive provides example risk assessments and blank templates at hse.gov.uk
• CITB — the Construction Industry Training Board offers RAMS guidance and sample documents
• NICEIC and NAPIT — trade body templates for electrical contractors
• Gas Safe Register — guidance for gas engineers on RAMS for gas-related activities
• APHC — the Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors provides member resources including RAMS templates
• PASMA and IPAF — scaffolding and MEWP-specific method statement guidance

Whatever format you use, the test is the same: does the method statement accurately describe how this specific task will be carried out safely on this specific site? If it does, it will be accepted. If it reads like a copy-and-paste exercise, it will be rejected and you will be asked to rewrite it before starting work.