How to Write a Construction Method Statement That Passes Accreditation

Method statements — or RAMS (Risk Assessment Method Statements) — are one of the most common documents requested during accreditation assessments and by principal contractors before you start work on site. Yet assessors consistently flag method statements as one of the weakest areas of accreditation applications. The gap is rarely that contractors lack documents — it is that the documents do not demonstrate what assessors need to see.

This guide covers what assessors from CHAS, Constructionline, SafeContractor, and other SSIP schemes actually check when reviewing your method statements, and how to write ones that pass first time.

Disclaimer: This guidance is based on publicly available information and established industry practice. TenderReady is not affiliated with any accreditation body or scheme. Requirements may vary — always verify directly with the relevant body.

What Is a Method Statement?

A method statement is a step-by-step description of how a specific construction task will be carried out safely. It translates the controls identified in your risk assessments into a practical work sequence that site operatives can follow.

In practice, most method statements are combined with their associated risk assessments as RAMS. Principal contractors and accreditation assessors typically expect to see both together — the risk assessment identifying hazards and controls, the method statement describing the safe sequence of work.

The legal basis sits within the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (Regulation 3 — risk assessment) and the CDM Regulations 2015, which require safe systems of work for construction activities. For a broader view of how method statements fit into your accreditation documentation, see our guide to construction accreditation requirements.

What Accreditation Assessors Check

Assessors are not looking for impressive formatting or lengthy documents. They are checking whether your method statements demonstrate genuine engagement with how you manage risk on site. The key criteria across SSIP member schemes include:

Activity Specificity

The method statement must describe the specific task being carried out — not construction work in general. A method statement for "brickwork" that could equally apply to groundworks or electrical installation has not been properly considered.

What this looks like in practice:

• A scaffolding erection method statement references the specific scaffold type, tie pattern, loading requirements, and sequence of build
• A roofing method statement addresses the particular roof pitch, edge protection method, material handling at height, and weather conditions that would halt work
• An M&E installation method statement covers cable routing, isolation procedures, and coordination with other trades on site

Logical Sequence of Work

Assessors read the method statement as a chronological description of the task. Each step should follow logically from the previous one. The sequence should include site setup and preparation, the work activity itself (broken into clear steps), and completion or handover.

A common rejection trigger is a method statement that lists controls and requirements without describing the order in which things happen. "PPE must be worn" is a rule, not a step in a sequence.

Reference to Risk Assessment Controls

Every control measure identified in the associated risk assessment should appear in the method statement as a practical action. If your risk assessment says "edge protection required for working above 2 metres," the method statement should specify what type of edge protection, when it gets installed in the sequence, and who inspects it.

Disconnected RAMS — where the risk assessment identifies hazards and the method statement ignores them — are one of the most frequent assessment failures.

Competence Requirements

The method statement should state who is authorised to carry out the work and what qualifications or training they need. For high-risk activities, this is particularly important:

• Working at height: PASMA, IPAF, or scaffolding competence cards as appropriate
• Temporary works: Temporary Works Coordinator (TWC) appointment
• Excavation: relevant plant competence (CPCS), service detection training
• Electrical work: appropriate JIB or ECS card
• Confined space entry: specific confined space training and rescue capability

Emergency Arrangements

What happens if something goes wrong? Assessors expect the method statement to address the specific emergencies relevant to that activity. A working-at-height method statement should include rescue procedures. An excavation method statement should cover collapse response. Generic statements about "calling 999" are insufficient.

Common Failures and How to Avoid Them

Generic or Template-Only RAMS

Downloaded templates are a starting point, not a finished product. Assessors recognise unmodified templates immediately — they contain stock text about hazards that do not apply to your activities and omit hazards that are central to your work.

Fix: Use a template as a framework, then rewrite every section to describe your actual operations on specific projects. Your method statement should read like it was written by someone who knows your work.

Duplicate Risk Assessment Content

A method statement that simply repeats the risk assessment in a different format adds no value. The risk assessment identifies what could go wrong and what controls are needed. The method statement describes how the work is done incorporating those controls.

Fix: Write the method statement as instructions to a competent operative. If someone read only the method statement, they should be able to carry out the task safely and in the right order.

No Evidence of Communication

Assessors look for evidence that RAMS are communicated to the workforce — not filed in a cabinet. Briefing records, toolbox talk sign-off sheets, or method statement briefing signatures demonstrate that your documents are operational tools, not paperwork exercises.

Fix: Include a briefing sign-off section in every method statement. Record the date, attendees, and any site-specific variations discussed during the briefing.

Missing Review or Adaptation

RAMS should be reviewed for each project or site. A method statement written for a ground-floor extension should not be used unchanged for a third-floor apartment refurbishment. Assessors check dates and look for evidence of site-specific adaptation.

Fix: Include project reference, site address, and review date on every method statement. If your core RAMS are templated (which is practical for SMEs), document the site-specific amendments clearly.

Structure of a Strong Method Statement

A well-structured method statement typically includes these sections:

1. Header — project name, site address, task description, date, author, review date
2. Scope — what work is covered and any exclusions
3. Sequence of work — step-by-step, in chronological order
4. Resources — personnel, plant, materials, and PPE required for each step
5. Competence requirements — qualifications and training needed
6. Control measures — mapped from the risk assessment, described as practical actions
7. Emergency procedures — specific to the task and site
8. Communication and briefing — how the method statement is communicated to operatives, with sign-off
9. References — linked risk assessments, drawings, permits to work

This structure works for any trade. A groundworks contractor's method statement will fill these sections very differently from an electrical contractor's, but the framework ensures nothing is missed.

Building Your RAMS Library

For SMEs, maintaining a library of trade-specific RAMS that are adapted for each project is the most practical approach. Start with your core activities — the 5-10 tasks your business carries out most frequently — and build detailed, high-quality RAMS for each.

When adapting for a new project:

• Update site-specific details (address, client, principal contractor requirements)
• Check that the risk assessment reflects the actual site conditions
• Amend the method statement sequence for any variations
• Re-sign and re-date the documents
• Brief the site team and record the briefing

Our RAMS Template Generator can help you build trade-specific templates as a starting point. Use it alongside the assessor guidance above to produce RAMS that serve both your accreditation application and your site-level compliance.

How Method Statements Fit Into Your Accreditation Application

When you submit your accreditation application to CHAS, Constructionline, SafeContractor, or any SSIP member scheme, your method statements form part of a wider evidence set. The assessor reads them alongside your health and safety policy, risk assessments, training records, and insurance documentation.

Strong method statements reinforce everything else in your application — they demonstrate that your policy is implemented in practice, your risk assessments translate into operational controls, and your workforce is briefed on how to work safely.

Weak method statements undermine even the strongest policy. If your policy promises rigorous safe systems of work but your method statements are generic templates, the assessor sees a gap between commitment and delivery.

For a complete checklist of documentation required across the major schemes, use our Health & Safety Documentation Checklist.

Summary

Method statements and RAMS are not just paperwork — they are the operational bridge between your health and safety management system and what happens on site. Accreditation assessors check them closely because they reveal whether your approach to safety is genuine or performative.

Write for your actual work, not for a generic audience. Reference the specific hazards, controls, and competences relevant to each task. Structure them as practical instructions, not restatements of your risk assessments. And brief your teams on them before every job — the sign-off evidence matters as much as the document itself.

---

The guidance in this article is based on publicly available information and common industry practice. TenderReady is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any named accreditation body or scheme. Requirements are subject to change — always verify current details with the relevant scheme directly.