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Method Statement & Risk Assessment
What is a Risk Assessment?
Risk Assessments are designed to simplify how risks are captured, managed and tracked.
Risk Assessment Registers focus more on risks, communicating those risks to workers on site and the controls needed to manage the risks.
How does a Method Statement fit in?
Method Statements are a systematic process to how to conduct work in a safe manner.
Whereas a Risk Assessment is about identifying risks, prioritising and then trying to prevent the risks, Method Statements provide detailed information on how work should be done, what safety equipment is needed and techniques to prevent risks and avoid potential hazards.
What is the purpose of a Risk Assessment?
Risk Assessments are for:
- Identifying risks
- Assigning responsibility to manage the risk
- Manage controls and equipment to minimise chances and damage risks and hazard could pose
- Assist in creating Method Statements
Why bother with a Method Statement if you've already done a Risk Assessment?
Method Statements were traditionally for higher-risk, more complex or unusual work, but are now becoming more commonplace as a better way of communicating safe work practices and methods to do specific work.
Method Statements are usually highly targeted and specific to the work to be done, and outline how different types of work should be carried out, what controls should be used to manage risk and potential hazards, and what equipment should be used and at what time.
Combining Risk Assessments and Method Statements
It's now common to request Risk Assessments and Method Statements together, sometimes referred to as RAMS (Risk Assessment Method Statement) or SWMS (Safe Work Method Statements).
These aren't compiled as two separate documents, but as one document.
RAMS typically consist of:
- Identifying Risks: Identifying risks and potential hazards related to the type of work being done. E.g. there are electrical RAMS, scaffolding RAMS, etc.
- Risk Score: A risk matrix helps understand scoring risk and it's status.
- Type of work: RAMS will have specific controls, risks and ways to do things broken down by each step of the job.
- Controls: How to do the specific step of the job that factors in the risk and how to minimise the dangers.
- Responsibility: Who is responsible for managing the risk and controls of this specific step.
- Signoff: Signoff is vital to ensure the RAMS has been assessed and for a bulletproof audit trail.
RAMS are a living document that gets iterated on as new risks and hazards are identified, and new controls and equipment are needed to manage the risk.
See a concrete Risk Assessment Method Statement below to understand the detail that goes into creating a RAMS.

Create your own RAMS document from our free Risk Assessment Method Statement template
See how other companies are managing their Risk Assessments and Method Statements
Risk Assessments and Method Statements have traditionally been a very paper based system, which has big problems if the workers don't have access, then it increases the chances of them doing work not in the safe, planned, controlled manner.
A digital RAMS template helps streamline work by:
- Standardised template with a customisable drag and drop form builder.
- Easy to fill out tables with pre-filled drop-down tables.
- Contactless signoff for easy compliance.
- Professionally formatted export in CSV or PDF with brand colours and company logo.
Integrating RAMS into your workflow
Looking at safety and compliance as more than a document, a RAMS app integrates documents and safety into your workflows and processes.
Automatically keep your team up-to-date on safe work practices - as soon as you update your RAMS, your team in the field will be working on the latest version via the mobile or tablet app.
Automated workflows push newly-created RAMS to managers to give signoff approval, for a full audit trail.
Attach RAMS to your other safety documents for easy referenceability.
More and more companies are taking a streamlined safety management processes to help increase safety and compliance to reduce incidents and reduce costs.

Risk Assessment Method Statement (RAMS) template
Customise the Risk Assessment Method Statement (RAMS) template to your project or team needs.

Construction RAMS template
Ensure incidents and hazards are properly prepared for and mitigated with detailed Construction RAMS.