Risk assessment vs method statement
Reviewed September 2026 · Written by Complys and checked against HSE and legislation.gov.uk guidance (sources below).
The two documents that make up RAMS are often confused. They do genuinely different jobs — one is the analysis, the other is the plan — and a good RAMS needs both to line up. Here's the difference.
The risk assessment: what could go wrong
The risk assessment identifies the hazards in a task, judges who could be harmed and how seriously, and sets out the control measures needed. It's a legal requirement in its own right under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
The method statement: how the job is done safely
The method statement describes the safe system of work — the sequence of operations, the plant and materials, the controls, PPE, and emergency arrangements — written so the crew knows exactly how to carry out the task. It's not generally a legal requirement, but it's expected best practice and usually required on site.
How they connect
Every control the risk assessment calls for should appear in the method statement as a concrete step. If the risk assessment says "edge protection required", the method statement should say who installs it, when, and how it's checked. When they don't line up, reviewers reject the RAMS.
A quick way to remember it
Risk assessment = what could harm people and what we'll do about it. Method statement = the exact steps we'll follow to do the job with those controls in place. One is the thinking, the other is the doing.
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Sources
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, reg 3 (risk assessment)
- HSE — Construction: managing safety (method statements)
- HSE — Risk assessment: steps needed to manage risk
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Health and safety law and HSE guidance change over time — always check the current HSE and legislation.gov.uk guidance for your work.
Risk assessment vs method statement — FAQs
What is a method statement?
A written description of how a task will be carried out safely — the step-by-step sequence of work with the control measures and safe system of work built in.
Is a method statement legally required?
Generally no. HSE says method statements are not required by law for most work, though they're best practice and written arrangements are required for specific high-risk activities such as demolition.
Do the risk assessment and method statement need to match?
Yes. Every control identified in the risk assessment should appear as a concrete step in the method statement. Reviewers check they line up.