Method Statement Example for Small Works: A Practical UK Guide

A method statement is the "how we do it safely" half of a RAMS document — it sits alongside the risk assessment and tells everyone on site the planned sequence of work, the controls in place, and who is responsible for what. For small works — a bathroom refit, a partition installation, a roof-light replacement, minor electrical alterations — a concise, site-specific method statement is just as legally relevant as on a major project. Clients and principal contractors are entitled to see one, and under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (reg 3) your risk assessment must translate into real working controls, which is exactly what a method statement records.

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What Makes a Method Statement "Good Enough"?

The HSE does not prescribe a fixed template, but it does expect method statements to be specific, proportionate, and understandable to the people doing the work. A generic document copied from the internet and not adapted to the actual task is not good enough — it gives nobody on site useful information.

For small works, "proportionate" matters. A one-page document done properly beats a 20-page template that nobody reads.

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The Core Sections Every Small-Works Method Statement Needs

1. Project and Task Details

• Company name and address
• Site address and client/principal contractor name
• Brief description of the works (be specific: "installation of one 13 A ring-final circuit in first-floor bedroom", not "electrical works")
• Planned start date and expected duration
• Author name and date of issue

2. Scope of Work — Step by Step

This is the heart of the document. Describe the task in the actual sequence you will carry out it. For example, a small partition installation might read:

1. Isolate existing services in the work area and confirm isolation with a test.
2. Mark out stud positions on floor and ceiling using chalk line.
3. Fix floor and ceiling tracks using cordless drill/driver.
4. Insert and fix vertical studs at 600 mm centres.
5. First-fix mechanical and electrical services through stud openings.
6. Fix plasterboard to both faces, stagger board joints.
7. Tape, joint and finish.
8. Clean work area; bag and remove waste to skip.

Keep steps short and in plain English. Workers must be able to follow them without asking you to explain.

3. People and Supervision

• Number of operatives and their roles
• Name and contact number of the person in charge on site
• Any specific competence or qualification required (e.g., Part P registered electrician, IPAF card holder)

4. Plant, Equipment and Materials

List everything significant:

Reference the relevant equipment inspection requirements. For any work at height, note that equipment must meet the Work at Height Regulations 2005.

5. Hazards and Controls (Linked to the Risk Assessment)

Don't repeat the full risk assessment here — reference it by document title and date. Then summarise the key controls in the order you'll apply them:

• Eliminate: Can any hazardous step be removed? (e.g., pre-cut boards off-site to reduce dust)
• Substitute: Lower-hazard material or method? (e.g., low-silica board)
• Engineering controls: LEV, on-tool dust extraction
• Administrative controls: task rotation, permit to work for service isolation, exclusion zones
• PPE (last resort): FFP3 respirator, safety glasses, cut-resistant gloves

For any work involving substances (adhesives, sealants, cutting of board materials), note that controls must satisfy the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH).

6. Welfare Arrangements

State where operatives can access toilets, wash facilities and somewhere to rest. The client or principal contractor should confirm what is available on site — if nothing is, you need to make your own provision under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.

7. Emergency Procedures

• Location of first-aid kit and name of first aider on site
• What to do if a service is struck (who to call, how to isolate)
• Nearest hospital with A&E (postcode and brief directions)
• Site emergency phone number

8. Communication and Handover

State how the method statement will be shared with the team (toolbox talk, signed read-and-understood sheet) and any handover requirements at the end of the job (e.g., test certificates, as-built drawings).

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Copying a template without adapting it. If your method statement mentions scaffolding and you are using a step-ladder, it belongs in the bin.
• Listing PPE first. PPE is the last resort in the hierarchy, not the headline control.
• Ignoring services. For small works in occupied buildings, struck services are a leading cause of serious incidents. Your isolation procedure must be explicit.
• Forgetting COSHH. Even common materials — cement, MDF dust, solvent-based adhesives — require a COSHH assessment that feeds into the method statement.

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Keep It Live

A method statement is not a filing exercise. If the scope of work changes on site, the document must be updated and re-briefed to the team before the changed work starts. Sign and date every revision.

Done well, a method statement for small works takes less than an hour to write — and it gives your team a clear, safe plan and your client confidence that you know what you are doing.