Method Statement vs Risk Assessment: What’s the Difference?

Pro Site Docs · Guide

People use "risk assessment" and "method statement" almost interchangeably, and often bundle them together as "RAMS." But they're two different documents doing two different jobs — and understanding the difference is the key to producing paperwork that actually passes on site.

Here's a clear explanation of what each one is, how they differ, and why you usually need both.

The short version

• A risk assessment identifies the hazards of a job and how you'll control them. It answers: "What could go wrong, and what are we doing about it?"
• A method statement describes how the work will be carried out, step by step, safely. It answers: "How exactly are we doing this job?"

One is about the dangers. The other is about the method. Together they show you've thought a job through and have a safe plan.

The risk assessment in more detail

A risk assessment works through the hazards of a task:

• What are the hazards? (working at height, manual handling, dust, electricity, moving plant...)
• Who might be harmed, and how?
• How likely is harm, and how severe?
• What control measures reduce each risk?

It's essentially a structured way of proving you've spotted the dangers and put sensible measures in place before anyone starts.

The method statement in more detail

The method statement is the practical "how-to" for the job:

• The step-by-step sequence of the work
• The equipment, materials and access needed
• The safety controls and PPE at each stage
• Emergency procedures
• Who's responsible for what

A good method statement is specific enough that someone could read it and understand exactly how the work will be done — and see that it'll be done safely.

Why you usually need both

Here's the key point: they complement each other. The risk assessment identifies that a hazard exists and what will control it; the method statement shows how the work is done in a way that puts those controls into practice.

For example, a risk assessment might identify "falls from height" as a hazard with "use of a scaffold tower and harness" as the control. The method statement then describes the actual sequence — erecting the tower, inspecting it, the safe system of work at height, and so on. One without the other leaves a gap.

That's why they're almost always supplied together as a RAMS (Risk Assessment and Method Statement). Most main contractors and clients expect the pair.

The mistake to avoid

The most common error is treating them as the same thing — writing a decent risk assessment but a vague, box-ticking method statement (or vice versa). A reviewer will spot immediately if the "method statement" is really just a list of hazards, or if the risk assessment doesn't line up with the method described. They need to fit together and tell a consistent story about the job.

The bottom line

A risk assessment identifies and controls the hazards; a method statement lays out how the work is safely carried out. They're different documents doing different jobs, and on most sites you'll need both, working together as a RAMS. Get the pair right and consistent, and you'll clear the paperwork hurdle every time.

Our RAMS templates pair the risk assessment and method statement so they line up, and the method statement library covers standalone needs.