Create a bespoke document in minutes, or upload and review your own.
Get your first 2 documents free
Your data doesn't train Genie's AI
You keep IP ownership of your information
Method Statement
"I need a method statement for a construction project detailing safe work procedures, risk assessments, and resource allocation, with a budget of £50,000. It should include timelines, responsible personnel, and compliance with UK health and safety regulations."
What is a Method Statement?
A Method Statement explains exactly how a specific task or work activity will be carried out safely. Construction firms, manufacturers, and other businesses use these detailed documents to map out each step of potentially hazardous work, from the equipment needed to the safety measures required.
Under UK health and safety laws, Method Statements work alongside risk assessments to protect workers and comply with regulations like the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. While not always legally required, they're considered best practice for high-risk activities and help demonstrate that a company has planned its work carefully and taken reasonable steps to ensure safety.
When should you use a Method Statement?
You need a Method Statement when planning any complex or high-risk work activity, especially in construction, demolition, or working at height. These documents become essential for tasks involving hazardous materials, confined spaces, or specialized equipment where clear step-by-step instructions can prevent accidents.
Create one before starting projects that require careful coordination between different teams or contractors. Many clients and principal contractors in England now require Method Statements as part of their tender process, particularly for work governed by CDM regulations. They're especially important when your work might affect public safety or when using new techniques that your team hasn't performed before.
What are the different types of Method Statement?
- Carpentry Risk Assessment And Method Statement: Combines risk evaluation with detailed work procedures for woodworking tasks, often used in construction and renovation projects. Includes specific controls for power tools, dust management, and manual handling.
- Aluminium Formwork Method Statement: Specialized for concrete construction using lightweight metal forms, focusing on assembly sequences, lifting operations, and structural integrity checks. Details crane operations and form alignment procedures.
Who should typically use a Method Statement?
- Site Managers and Supervisors: Create and oversee Method Statements for their specific work areas, ensuring all safety procedures are properly documented and followed.
- Health and Safety Officers: Review and approve statements, ensuring compliance with UK regulations and company safety policies.
- Construction Workers and Contractors: Follow the detailed procedures outlined in the statements during their daily work activities.
- Principal Contractors: Request and collect Method Statements from subcontractors before work begins on site.
- Project Managers: Use these documents to coordinate different work activities and demonstrate due diligence to clients.
How do you write a Method Statement?
- Task Assessment: Identify all steps of the work activity, required equipment, and potential hazards before starting your draft.
- Team Input: Gather feedback from workers who'll perform the task - they often spot practical issues others miss.
- Site Details: Document specific location information, access routes, and emergency procedures relevant to the work area.
- Control Measures: List all safety equipment, training requirements, and protective measures needed.
- Verification Process: Our platform helps ensure your Method Statement includes all legally required elements while keeping language clear and actionable.
What should be included in a Method Statement?
- Project Details: Full description of work activity, location, and timeline, including project reference numbers.
- Risk Assessment Reference: Clear link to associated risk assessments and control measures.
- Personnel Section: Names and roles of all workers involved, including supervisors and emergency contacts.
- Equipment List: Detailed inventory of tools, machinery, and safety equipment required.
- Step-by-Step Procedure: Numbered sequence of work stages with specific safety measures for each.
- Emergency Procedures: Clear instructions for incidents, including first aid and evacuation routes.
- Sign-off Section: Space for supervisor approval and worker acknowledgments.
What's the difference between a Method Statement and a Certification Statement?
A Method Statement differs significantly from a Statement of Work (SOW), though they're often confused. While both detail specific tasks, their focus and legal implications vary considerably.
- Purpose: Method Statements specifically outline safety procedures and risk controls, while a Statement of Work defines project deliverables, timelines, and commercial terms.
- Legal Requirements: Method Statements are primarily safety documents required under UK health and safety regulations, particularly in construction. SOWs are contractual documents defining business obligations.
- Content Focus: Method Statements detail step-by-step safety procedures and risk controls. SOWs concentrate on scope, deliverables, and payment terms.
- Primary Users: Method Statements guide workers and site supervisors in safe task execution. SOWs serve project managers and clients in managing project expectations and deliverables.
Download our whitepaper on the future of AI in Legal
³Ò±ð²Ô¾±±ð’s Security Promise
Genie is the safest place to draft. Here’s how we prioritise your privacy and security.
Your documents are private:
We do not train on your data; ³Ò±ð²Ô¾±±ð’s AI improves independently
All data stored on Genie is private to your organisation
Your documents are protected:
Your documents are protected by ultra-secure 256-bit encryption
Our bank-grade security infrastructure undergoes regular external audits
We are ISO27001 certified, so your data is secure
Organizational security
You retain IP ownership of your documents
You have full control over your data and who gets to see it
Innovation in privacy:
Genie partnered with the Computational Privacy Department at Imperial College London
Together, we ran a £1 million research project on privacy and anonymity in legal contracts
Want to know more?
Visit our for more details and real-time security updates.
Read our Privacy Policy.