METHOD STATEMENT

Method statements are widely used in construction as a means of controlling specific health and safety risks
that have been identified (perhaps following the preparation of a risk assessment), such as lifting operations,
demolition, or dismantling, working at height, installing equipment, the use of plant, and so on.
A method statement helps manage the work and ensures that the necessary precautions have been
communicated to those involved.
The process of preparing a written method statement provides evidence that:
• Significant health and safety risks have been identified.
• The co-operation of workers has been ensured.
• Safe, coordinated systems of work have been put in place.
• Workers have been involved in the process.

Method statements are not a requirement of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations;
however, they are identified by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as being one way of satisfying the
requirements of the regulations and as an effective means of assessing risks, managing risks, collecting
workers’ views and briefing workers.
The fact that method statements are not a requirement of the CDM Regulations is evidence of the HSE's
intention that implementation of the requirements of the CDM Regulations should not be a paper exercise,
where the filling out of a standard template is sufficient, but that it should be an integral and fundamental part
of the construction process.
The format in which method statements are prepared, reviewed and used should be set out at the outset of a
project, perhaps within the Project Execution Plan (PEP), ensuring not only that the method statement is
produced by a competent person, but that it is peer-reviewed as part of the quality assurance (QA) system
prior to its use.
Where they are prepared, method statements need be no longer than is necessary for them to be effective.
They are for the benefit of those carrying out the work and so should be clear, not over-complicated, and
illustrated where necessary.
Method statements should be written by a competent person who is familiar with the process being described
and may need to be agreed between the client, principal contractor and contractor. The HSE suggests that
those preparing method statements should consider:
• Is there a safer way of doing this task?
• Will workers actually implement the controls as planned?
• Do controls make the job difficult or inconvenient?
• Are there small changes that will improve the intended method?
• How will controls work in adverse conditions?
• Will workers require additional briefing or instructions?

The contents of a method statement will vary with the work process being described; however, it may contain:
 • Details of the organization in control of the activity.
• Details of the individual responsible for the activity.
• A description of the activity.
• A description of how the work will be managed.
• The location of the activity, its boundaries, means of access and how it is segregated from other
activities.
• Plant and equipment required.
• The procedure for changing the proposed method of work if necessary.
• A step-by-step description of the activities to be undertaken.
• Precautions necessary to protect workers, and other people that could be affected, including personal
protective equipment and ventilation requirements.
• Training procedures.
• The need for specially trained operators for certain activities.
• Emergency procedures, including the location of emergency equipment.
• The handling and storage of materials and pollution prevention procedures.
• Temporary works designs.
• The method for safeguarding existing structures.

The preparation of method statements forms an essential part of the contractor’s planning process as these
underpin the program and explain how the work is to be undertaken. Methods statements may be categorized
into three distinct formats.
• Tender method statement
• Construction or work method statement
• Safety method statement

The main purposes of tender method statements are:

• To aid the estimator
• To enable the bid to be based on practical methods
• To assess alternative proposals at tender stage
• To assess plant and equipment for inclusion in the tender
• To provide a basis for the estimator building up rates

The main purposes of safety method statements are:

• To demonstrate safe systems of work for hazardous operations
• To be included in the construction H & S plan together with subcontractor’s safety method statements
• To manage any residual risks identified in the risk assessment
• To provide practical control measures
• To explain how the work is to be supervised and monitored
 • To show personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements
• To explain first aid and emergency arrangements should the worst happen
• To explain the work method in a toolbox, talk or task talk

Construction Method Statements

Construction method statement are prepared to explain the constructor’s proposed working methods and
demonstrate how the durations and sequence of work shown on the master program will be achieved.
At the pre-contract stage in the project, method statements will be prepared in detail in order to be sure that
durations are accurate and reliable.
Method statements may be presented as written statements or in tabular form.
The main uses for work method statements are:
• To explain the contractor’s proposed methods and sequence of working for checking by the client’s
representative
• To calculate activity duration for the program
• To decide on gang compositions and thus the resource requirements for individual activities
• To plan activities in detail so that a logical construction sequence is adopted
• To provide an easily understood document which can be communicated to those, wo will carry out the
work on site

Method Statement
Proposal of works
The proposals consist of the removal of an old dilapidated ‘Dutch’ barn which is used as a general storage
building.
On the same footprint will be a modern agricultural building to be used as a general-purpose agriculture
building, possibly to be used initially as a grain store. Details of the proposals can be found in the Appendices.
Areas of Potential Risk
The following operations have been identified as potentially affecting the groundwater areas:
1. Hazardous/excavated material being washed into the ground locally.
2. Run-off from construction operations carrying silt towards the adjacent public highway.
3. Tracking of concrete/cement-based materials entering groundwater areas.
4. Leakage of fuel, paints, liquid coatings entering groundwater areas.
5. Burning or inconsiderate disposal of material from demolition.
Measures of prevention
The main contractor is to consider the Environment Agency – Pollution Prevention Guidelines (PPG)
1. Operations will be closely supervised with any potential hazardous materials identified prior to works
commencing. Any area of work considered to contain ‘hazardous’ materials will be ceased until agreed in
writing with the Duchy of Cornwall Contract Administrator. NB. The new building will not contain any
hazardous materials (i.e. asbestos etc).

2. All aggregates are to be stored in large carry sacks (1-tonne) and stored in a secure covered area
3. If in the unlikely event that dewatering of the foundations is required, the water shall be pumped into a
settlement tank to prevent contamination of the groundwater areas

4. Regular checks shall be carried out by the site Forman and Duchy of Cornwall Contract Administrator to
ensure that the construction area shall be kept clean at all times

5. Excavated materials shall be removed shall be removed from site as soon as practically possible and
disposed of in considerate manner (i.e. registered waste disposal site).

6. Concrete shall not be poured in wet conditions to ensure that cement leaching does not affect the
groundwater areas.

7. Fuel storage for construction vehicle shall not be permitted on the site.

8. All plant and construction traffic shall be properly maintained, with machinery only being used by suitable
trained personnel.

9. All new construction materials will be factory finished (i.e. galvanized steel, plastic coated cladding
sheets) to remove the need for paints, preservatives etc.

10. No burning of construction materials will be permitted.

Construction Method Statement for Foundation Level to Lower Basement Level
Stage 1

Step 1- Excavation & Shorting in Raft Foundation area

Step 2- Foundation concrete
• 75mm thick Screen Concrete in Grade 15
• Reinforcement for Plinth Beams. Raft Slab. Retaining Wall & Columns
• Formwork for Raft Slab
• Concreting Raft Slab
• Formwork for Plinth beams
• Concreting Plinth beams
Step 3- Earth filling and compaction
Step 4- Lower Basement concrete
• Reinforcement for lower basement
• Concreting lower basement

Step 5- Column & Retaining wall Formwork & concrete from lower basement to upper basement

➢ Machinery for each concrete

• Truck mixture
• Pump car
• Poker Vibrator – 2Nos
➢ Labor strength for each concrete
• Mason – 2 Nos
• For pump car – 3 Nos
• For handing – 4 Nos
• For poker vibrator – 2 Nos
➢ Method of Compacting concrete
• By using poker vibrator
➢ Slump at site
• 110 ± 20 at site