Guides / How to write a method statement (and what RAMS means)

How to write a method statement (and what RAMS means)

Updated 9 November 2026

A method statement says how a job will be done safely, step by step. Paired with a risk assessment it's usually called RAMS: risk assessment and method statement.

Most main contractors ask for RAMS before a subcontractor starts. A good one is short, specific to the job and read by the people doing the work. A bad one is forty generic pages nobody opens. This guide covers how to write the good kind.

What the law requires

The risk assessment is the legal duty. Employers must assess the health and safety risks to their workers and anyone else affected by the work, and if five or more people are employed, the significant findings must be written down.

A method statement is not required by law for most work. The exception is demolition, dismantling and structural alteration: HSE says the arrangements for that work must be recorded in writing before it begins, and that's usually done with a method statement.

For everything else, HSE describes method statements as an effective and practical way to plan, manage and monitor the work, which is why most sites ask for one anyway. On a project with more than one contractor, they also help the principal contractor put together the construction phase plan.

Risk assessment first, method statement second

Do the risk assessment first: what could hurt someone during this job, and what you'll do about it. The method statement then turns those controls into the order of work, so the people doing the job know exactly what happens when.

What to put in a method statement

There's no set format. A clear one usually covers:

The job, the site and where on the site, with the date and who wrote it
Who's in charge of the work and who's doing it, with the cards and training the work needs
The steps in order, from setting up to clearing away, written so someone new could follow them
The control measures from the risk assessment, placed at the step they apply to
Plant, tools, access equipment and materials, with any checks they need before use
Protective equipment for each step
Permits needed, for example for hot work or working in a confined space
Emergency arrangements: first aid, rescue from height if it applies, and what to do if something goes wrong
How waste and the environment are dealt with

Keep it short and specific

Write it for this job on this site. A generic method statement copied from the last job misses what's different here, and that's usually where the risk is.

Use plain words and short steps. HSE notes that the most effective method statements often include diagrams, so add a sketch or a marked-up drawing where it helps.

Brief it, sign it, keep it current

A method statement only works if the people doing the job know what's in it. Go through it with the team before they start, have each person sign to say they've understood it, and keep the record.

When the job changes, the method statement changes: new steps, new plant or new people mean a new version and a new briefing.

If you're the main contractor, review each subcontractor's RAMS before their work starts and record whether you accept it, or what needs changing first.

RAMS in Sitro

Keep every RAMS for the job in Files, where the whole team can open it on site. Attach your method statement and risk assessment to a Site Induction invite and each new starter confirms they've read them before they submit. Forms has ready-made templates to record a RAMS review and acceptance for each subcontractor, and a point of work risk assessment where the team confirms they've read the RAMS before they start.

Files: A cloud drive for every project, with drawing and photo markup and folder ZIP export.
Site Induction: Digital inductions new starters complete on their own phone before day one.
Forms: Checklists, inspections, permits, registers and QA records, filled on a phone, from a library of about 180 UK templates.
Sitro vs spreadsheets, group chats and paper: Move the job out of spreadsheets, group chats and notebooks into one app.

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Questions

Is a method statement a legal requirement?

Not for most work. A risk assessment is required by law. HSE says arrangements for demolition, dismantling and structural alteration must be written down before work begins, usually as a method statement.

What does RAMS stand for?

Risk assessment and method statement: the risk assessment says what could go wrong and how it's controlled, and the method statement says how the job is done safely, step by step.

Do I have to write down my risk assessment?

If you employ five or more people, the significant findings must be recorded. Writing it down is good practice either way.

Who should sign a method statement?

The person who wrote it, the person in charge of the work, and everyone doing the work, to show it has been explained to them.

Sources

This guide is general information, not legal advice.