The individuals serving in this sector are responsible for providing diagnostic, preventative, curative, rehabilitative, and therapeutic care to patients for a more stable health condition. The construction industry functions actively in different parts of the world. Its employees focus on building structures for residential or commercial dwellings. For each sector, there are safety measures that apply to their workers using a work method statement. What is a work method statement, and what benefits does it provide the industry and its workers? The article provides valuable information about the document, including its description, types, components, and structure. A section also answers frequently asked questions about work method statements.

34+ SAMPLE Safe Work Method Statement

What Is a Work Method Statement?

Work method statements are essential in any industry as it defines health and safety projects. This document is prevalent in the construction sector. Work method statements, along with risk assessments, ensure that certain high-risk activities and processes in a construction plan are safe to perform. The work method statement is a business document that describes how to execute work safely. It ensures the building or site’s health and safety. The purpose of creating a work method statement is to define the safety precautions that a business observes to control the identified risks from the risk assessment. It contains information on the needed equipment to use during construction projects, including control equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep all workers and site visitors safe when there is ongoing construction work. The work method statement assesses the identified hazards according to the outputs of each activity. The document also contains general information regarding the hours spent working, work sequences, contractor responsibilities, management, and emergency action plans.

According to statistical data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), there are a total of 11.4 million construction employees in the U.S. in 2019. In terms of work hazards, falls remain the leading cause of work-related deaths in construction at 36.4 percent. The number and proportion of fatalities due to caught-in or between incidents is at 5.4 percent, electrocution at 7.2 percent, and struck-by incidents at 15.4 percent.

Types of Work Method Statements

There are different types of work method statements that businesses use for their work projects and programs. It matters to know the difference between them to know which one to utilize for specific purposes. The list below shows the most common types of statements present in a working environment, along with additional information on their uses.

Tender method statement: The tender method statement serves as an opportunity for an organization to showcase and sell its skills and competencies to customers in terms of quality services. It helps clients, business developers, and planners to gain further information about the structure and operations of a company. Tender method statements contain details about construction operations, resources list, construction management, contract timeline, quality assurance, company policy, and procedures, including waste management, health, and safety. Construction method statement: Construction projects often require complex and hazardous procedures and techniques that require a thorough planning process. A construction method statement or CMS provides an outline for managing construction methods and approaches safely for workers and other individuals in a worksite. The primary purpose of a CMS is to give comprehensive documentation of safety and security protocols to the construction managers, foremen, supervisors, technical staff, subcontractors, and on-site construction workers. The statement must be clear and easily understandable to help them perform their duties effectively. The goals of a construction method statement are to check operational duration, incorporate the best team and members to perform tasks, establish the most effective communication strategies between individuals, construct a logical and methodological construction plan, and create a comprehensive progress report. A CMS contains information about the operational methods, possible entry and exit points of large machinery and equipment, emergency plans, lighting, instructions of handling resources and equipment, and supervisor and training programs.Safety method statement: A safe work method statement, or safety method statement, is a living or dynamic document. Any changes or modifications to the statement happen as the project, work, or program continues. The site condition and working procedures and conditions vary from the initially written document. The safe work method statement or SWMS supplies information to on-site employees. The document provides a standard health and safety plan to individuals present at a working site. It also delivers the most appropriate approach to prioritize health and safety for hazardous activities, provide details on the personal protective equipment on site, inform about first-aid and emergency approaches, and assist in addressing residual risks. A safe work method statement consists of information about supervision and monitoring procedures, work sequences, potential hazards, training controls, and PPE schedules.

Components of a Work Method Statement

Work method statements contain essential information that helps ensure the safety of workers in a working environment. Different institutions compose their work method statements to fit their organizational structure. Despite this, some components must be present in all work method statement documents, especially if the statement covers construction work. Below are the elements essential to a work method statement.

Title: The beginning of the work method statement is its title statement. It tells the reader what the document is about and gives them an idea of its contents.Scope of work: This section of the work method statement describes the limitations and boundaries of the work. It also includes work stipulations in the construction contract. General description: The general description defines a clear summary of the work method statement, similar to an introduction to the document.Equipment and tools: In this section of the document, all equipment, machinery, and tools for the construction project are present. Materials and references: The materials and references section includes all related and approved resources for the project and the references for the material submittal. Aside from the material list and reference list, it must also indicate the specification and drawing references for construction.Site planning and preparation: The section provides information about the process of receiving materials and resources on the worksite, checking and coordinating concerns of staff and employees about the transportation of materials. It details the procedures starting from store placements, transportation, installation, and repair.Work methodology: The work methodology section serves as the most vital and significant part of a work method statement. It describes, explains, and outlines the execution of a work process with the necessary safety precautions to comply with to accomplish the project and its adoption to the entire progress. Risk assessments for each work procedure are also available in the work methodology section. A construction consultant needs to familiarize themselves with the work method. Without the additional information of the work statement, more or less the consultant will reject the document. The work methodology must list all possible work procedures and action plans the workers utilize during the project before submitting the final product to a consultant.Safety: This section of the work method statement details the safety rules and procedures, personal protective equipment, and rules and regulations of the locality or municipality where construction work takes place.Safety rules and responsibilities: This section highlights the regulations and responsibilities of the assigned health, safety, and environment (HSE) officer. It details the job description coming from the officer or the HR representative of the company. It is also worth noting that all workers and employees receive HR approval before performing any work.Organization, responsibility, and supervision: This section lists down all the roles and responsibilities of staff members. It must include the project manager, project engineer, foreman, etc. The workforce of key personnel: This section of the work method statement indicates all employees and workers involved with the project. It states the worker quantity starting from high-level staff members to site workers.Health, safety, and environment: The section must supply a full copy of the risk assessment document, including the possible construction emergency action plan and procedures.Quality assurance: In the quality assurance section, there must be a clear representation of quality management measures. It can be through visual media like simple charts or graphs. It must include references like specifications, drawings, materials, inspection procedures, and test plans. Make sure that everything is accurate and specific before submission.Appendices and references: This section contains a list of all the reference documents the work method statement uses for its construction.Briefing sheet: The section contains information about the initial briefing or toolbox meeting. The people that were present during the meeting must have their names and signature, signing off the attendance sheet or briefing sheet. The section is essential, especially in terms of audit plans. Guarantee that everyone involved with the business project gets to sign the sheet.Review checklist: The review checklist allows the consultant to check the accomplishment of all necessary procedures and approaches relating to the construction project. It must also get approval for the work method statement.

How To Create a Work Method Statement

Similar to having various components of a work method statement available in the document, the structure varies between industries and organizations. Be ready to create a work method statement for your company or project by following the helpful steps below.

  • 1. Conduct a Risk Assessment

    Before writing the work method statement, it is essential to identify all potential risks and work hazards in the involved tasks of the project through utilizing a risk analysis and assessment. Guarantee that you record all items that can pose personal harm, adverse health effects, or dangers that employees can encounter at work. There must also be an evaluation of current protection safeguards to see if they perform to reduce the risks on an appropriate level. It must also indicate additional measures to increase a safer work environment and reduce hazards.

  • 2. Provide All Necessary Organization and Job Information

    In the introduction section of the work method statement, make sure to provide relevant information about the company and the job. Indicate the name of the project, site address, company logo, company address, project start and end date, project description, contact information, revision date, and document number.

  • 3. List All Identified Hazards and Outline Necessary Safety Responses

    In the content of the work method statement, describe all the procedures concerning personal protective equipment, environmental considerations, and quality management and control. There must also be a clear specification of the steps that team members take to mitigate risks that arise while guaranteeing a safe execution of protocols.

  • 4. Indicate Addition Information

    If there are additional actions that teams must perform during the project like waste management, hazard removal, required training for handling safety equipment, work permits, scaffolding materials, and proper material handling instructions.

  • 5. Register Clear Step-By-Step Instructions

    At the last portion of the work method statement, indicate the instructions that every able body needs to observe to accomplish work. Ensure that the step you list are in a logical sequence that includes additional information that allows team members to perform safely and efficiently to accomplish project objectives.

  • 6. Revise the Method Statement According to New Locations, Equipment, and Procedures

    The last step of creating the work method statement is to perform a thorough review to check if there are necessary changes to implement in the project. Construction projects often shift in between activities. Reviewing and adjusting the method statement allows you to account for all the possible changes that will surely affect project completion and timelines. Update the statement as necessary to accommodate these changes.

FAQs

What information must be in a method statement?

Method statements must contain information about the company, including its name, contact numbers, and address. There must also be sufficient information about the site, including its location and contact details. The method statement must also state the scope of work, PPE equipment, and work tools and equipment.

What is a JSA and what is it used for?

JSA stands for job safety analysis. Job safety analysis is one of the many risk identification and assessment tools in the mining industry.

What is the difference between a SWMS and JSA?

SWMS is prevalent in the construction industry and a requirement in high-risk work activities to conduct risk assessments. The SWMS also works well as a record of the daily tasks of workers, whereas the JSA is a short form that only analyzes the hazards associated with specific roles and tasks.

The work method statement is necessary to ensure the safety of all involved individuals in a construction work environment. For many employees that are in the construction industry, it is necessary to have a document that protects their health, safety, and well-being. Construction work is challenging and comes with hazardous activities. As such, contractors must lay out concrete plans, actions, and procedures,  provide safety equipment, and produce effective training programs to ensure a smooth work process. Get the work method statement samples by downloading the documents available above.