Method statements should be written for all work activities which have the potential to cause harm, including but not limited to: 

• Construction activities 
• Electrical work 

• Mechanical work 
• Chemical work 
• Working at height 
• Working in confined spaces 
• Manual handling 

The objective of a method statement: 

• Identify and assess all hazards associated with the work activity 
• Identify and implement control measures to manage/mitigate the risks 
• Provide step-by-step instructions on how to carry out the work activity safely 
• Communicate the risks and control measures to all relevant personnel 

Method statements should be developed by a competent person who is familiar with the work activity and the inherent hazards. They should be reviewed and updated regularly, as needed. 

Steps involved when writing a Method Statement 

• Identify the work activity. What task will be carried out? Where will it be carried out? Who will be carrying out the work? 
• Identify the hazards. What are the potential hazards associated with the work activity? These can include physical hazards, such as falls from height, electrical hazards, or chemical hazards. They could also include ergonomic hazards, such as manual handling injuries. 
• Assess the risks. How likely is it that each hazard will occur? What are the consequences if a hazard does occur? 

• Identify and implement control measures. What control measures can be put in place to mitigate the risks associated with each hazard? These may include engineering controls, such as guardrails or warning signs, or administrative controls, such as training or procedures. 
• Write step-by-step instructions. How will the work activity be carried out safely? Provide clear and concise instructions that detail all the necessary steps. 
• Review and update the method statement. The method statement should be reviewed and updated periodically, as necessary. This is particularly important if the work activity changes or if new hazards are identified. 

Advantages of using Method Statements 

• They help to identify and assess hazards, and to implement control measures to mitigate or control the risks. 

• They provide step-by-step instructions on how to carry out a work task safely. 
• They communicate the risks and control measures to all relevant personnel. 
• They can help to reduce the number of accidents and injuries in the workplace. 
• They can help to improve the efficiency and productivity of work activities. 

Method statements should be written for all work activities that have the potential to cause harm, and they should be reviewed and updated regularly. By using method statements, employers can help to reduce the number of accidents and injuries in the organisation, and they can improve the efficiency and productivity of their work activities. 

The iProtectU health and safety software provides: 

• An inspection and Audit App which allows for safety inspection of the workplace and associated report 
• eLearning on a wide range of subjects 
• Scheduling functionality for managers to send eLearning, risk assessments and documents out to all staff via the software with tracks completion and compliance 
• Risk assessment template covering a multitude of work activities, events and equipment use 

• Management system to document control the policy on method statements 
• Method Statement module for the creation of work activity working instructions 
• Legal register that provides legislation guidance on method statements 
• Incident investigation module that tracks incidents involving work activities both with an app and via desktop 
• Hazard observation app where staff can report and record any concerns regarding work activities and/or their outlined methods to the organisation 

• Asset management App ensuring assets are recorded in the software