A method statement (often called a safe work procedure, or paired as a "RAMS" — risk assessment and method statement) explains, step by step, how a task will be carried out safely. It turns the controls you identified in your risk assessment into a practical, on-the-ground plan.
Clients and principal contractors routinely ask for method statements before high-risk work begins. Here is how to write one that is actually useful — not just a box to tick.
Method statement vs risk assessment — what is the difference?
They are two halves of the same coin. The risk assessment (HIRA) identifies the hazards and decides on controls. The method statement takes those controls and describes how the work will actually be done safely, in sequence. You write the risk assessment first, then build the method statement from it.
What to include in a method statement
- Scope of work — exactly what task this covers, where, and when.
- The team and responsibilities — who does what, and the supervisor in charge.
- Required competencies, training and appointments.
- Plant, equipment and materials to be used (and their inspection status).
- A clear, numbered sequence of the work from start to finish.
- The hazards at each step and the controls from your risk assessment.
- PPE required for the task.
- Emergency arrangements — what to do if something goes wrong.
- Sign-off: prepared by, approved by, and acknowledgement by the workers who will do the job.
How to write one, step by step
- Start from the risk assessment for the task — do not write the method statement in isolation.
- Break the task into a logical sequence of steps.
- For each step, state the hazards and the specific controls (referencing the hierarchy of controls).
- Specify the people, competencies, plant and PPE needed.
- Add the emergency and rescue arrangements (critical for work at height and confined spaces).
- Get it reviewed and approved by a competent person, then brief and sign off every worker before work starts.
Common mistakes
- Generic statements copied between sites that do not describe the real task.
- No link back to the risk assessment, so the controls do not match the hazards.
- No emergency or rescue plan for high-risk work.
- Never briefed to the workers actually doing the job.
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Get the free templateFrequently asked questions
Is a method statement legally required?
There is no single section that says "method statement", but for construction and high-risk work clients and principal contractors require them, and they are the practical way to show your risk-assessment controls are being implemented safely as required by the OHS Act and Construction Regulations.
What is a RAMS?
RAMS stands for Risk Assessment and Method Statement — the two documents are usually produced and submitted together for a task.
Who signs off a method statement?
It is prepared and approved by a competent person, then acknowledged (signed) by every worker who will carry out the task, after they have been briefed.
Sources and legal references
Primary sources used for this guide. Check the linked official publication for the current legal text and any amendments.
- Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 — South African Government
- Occupational Health and Safety Act: Construction Regulations, 2014 — South African Government
Written by Danielle Uys, SHEQ & Health and Safety Specialist.
This guide is general information for South African workplaces, not legal advice. Always check the latest version of the relevant Act and regulations, and confirm requirements for your specific site and industry.