Health and Safety Appendix 2 - Method Statement
A method statement is hugely important when it comes to the health and safety of projects, particularly in the blacksmithing industry. Method statements are used alongside risk assessments to ensure that certain high-risk tasks and activities involved in a project are safe.
As the two most common health and safety documents, risk assessments and method statements are often confused with each other. While both documents aim to improve the safety of work, they are not the same thing.
- Risk assessments: Risk assessments make up the basis of a method statement, and therefore, should always be done first. The risk assessment will identify and assess
- Those facets of activities that are hazardous and their potential level of risk
- Control measures that can be put in place to mitigate the risk
- Method statements: These detail when, in what order and how any control measures will be implemented in order to ensure the task/s is carried out safely.
Here is a sample method statement that can be adapted for use either when running an event or when working on site.