Method Statement and Risk Assessment

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWR) place responsibilities on employers to take a systematic approach for ensuring the protecting of the health and safety of employees and/or others by assessing the risks involved in the workplace or by the work being done.

The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 refers to the operation of a 'safe system of work'. A method statement is one way in which an employer can demonstrate that they are in fact complying with this legislation. MHSWR also enshrines this requirement (that to risk assess) and it will be highly unlikely that any visiting enforcement officer to except ignorance as a valid reason for failing to implement a risk assessment programme.

In layman’s terms a 'Method Statement' is a written set of instructions detailing how a particular task is to be performed, by whom and what equipment is to be used. It must be specific document relating to the particular job that considers all those implications for the person carrying out the task and those that may be affected by the operation during or after its completion.