A risk assessment is simply a careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm to people, so that you can weigh up whether you have enough precautions or whether you should do more.

As an employer or self-employed person, you must do a risk assessment but you only need to RECORD it if you employee five or more people.

A safety method statement is not required by law. It describes in a logical sequence exactly how a job is to be carried out in a safe manner and without risks to health. It includes all the risks identified in the risk assessment and the measures needed to control those risks. This allows the job to be properly PLANNED and resourced.

Safety method statements are most OFTEN found in the construction sector. They are particularly helpful for:

• higher-risk, complex or unusual work (eg steel and formwork erection, demolition or the use of hazardous substances)
• providing information to employees about how the work should be done and the precautions to be TAKEN
• providing the principal contractor with information to develop the health and safety PLAN for the construction phase of a project

Whether safety method statements are used or not, it is essential to make sure that risks are controlled.

A risk assessment is simply a careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm to people, so that you can weigh up whether you have enough precautions or whether you should do more.

As an employer or self-employed person, you must do a risk assessment but you only need to record it if you employee five or more people.

A safety method statement is not required by law. It describes in a logical sequence exactly how a job is to be carried out in a safe manner and without risks to health. It includes all the risks identified in the risk assessment and the measures needed to control those risks. This allows the job to be properly planned and resourced.

Safety method statements are most often found in the construction sector. They are particularly helpful for:

Whether safety method statements are used or not, it is essential to make sure that risks are controlled.