What is the difference between a risk assessment and a method statement?

These two documents are often referred to together as RAMS — Risk Assessments and Method Statements — and while they are closely related and frequently required together, they serve different purposes and contain different types of information.

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A risk assessment, as described above, focuses on hazards and risks. It asks: what could go wrong, who could be harmed, how likely is it, how serious would the consequences be, and what do we need to do to prevent it? The output is a documented evaluation of risk and the control measures required to manage it.

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A method statement, by contrast, focuses on how a specific task or piece of work is going to be carried out safely. It could be a step-by-step description of the work process, describing in sequence how the job will be done safely, who will do it, what equipment and materials will be used, and what safety precautions will be in place at each stage. Where the risk assessment asks 'what could go wrong?', the method statement describes 'how are we going to do this safely?'

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In practice, the two documents are deeply interlinked, typically the risk assessment comes first. The control measures identified in the risk assessment should be reflected in the method statement. Together, they provide a complete picture of the risks involved in a task and the measures in place to manage them.

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The method statement does not need to be a lengthy novel going into every detail, as you teams should already be competent and trained for the task, the method statement is information about the approach plan of the safe methods of working for that particular situation. Keep it simple, 40 page RAMS should never exist, in most circumstances, 1 page is adequate for a method statement.

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Both documents are widely required in the construction and contractor industries, where principal contractors routinely ask subcontractors to provide RAMS before allowing them on site. A RAMS pack that is thorough, clearly written and specific to the actual task in hand will always be better received than a generic document that could apply to any job — and it demonstrates a genuine commitment to managing risk rather than simply ticking a box.

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LESH can produce both risk assessments and method statements, either as standalone documents or as part of a complete RAMS pack for a specific project. We also offer a downloadable RAMS resource from our website for businesses that want to develop their own documentation with expert guidance.