What Is the Purpose of a Risk Assessment and Method Statement

As the two most common health and safety documents, risk assessments and methodological statements are often confused. While both documents are intended to improve job security, they are not the same thing. Risk assessments identify and assess the hazards and risks of projects and propose control measures. The method descriptions expand the control measures described in the risk assessment and describe how, when and why you should implement measures. You will use the method instructions to clarify your emergency procedures and first aid arrangements that you will have on site. It should explain what your employees should do if something goes wrong. The risk assessment identifies and assesses the hazards and risks associated with this task and suggests a control measure, while the methodology statement contains tools and equipment, PPE, scope of work, the flow of the execution work process and describes in detail when and why you need to implement measures. RAMS are a key component of e-licensing to ensure that the right people with the right skills are working at the right time and in the right place using the right method. In this way, we prevent preventable incidents and ensure that people go home safely in the evening. One main thing to keep in mind when preparing a method statement is that each specific job should have a separate method statement. Since each activity has its own tools and PPE and the main thing not to ignore is its own risk. In a risk assessment, you identify hazards in your workplace.

You then need to analyze these hazards to determine if they pose a risk that could harm someone. If there is a risk, you should investigate and implement ways to eliminate or mitigate the risk. RAMS are sometimes referred to as security method instructions or secure working documents. They are not as well known as risk assessments, mainly because there is no legal obligation to carry them out. According to the Health and Safety Executive website, RAMS are „not required by law.” When preparing the methodology statement, your risk assessment and work method give a certain level of commitment to what is written. The document then forms a basis for the management of the activity, which can be developed and modified in the future. We now know that a risk assessment is a risk assessment. What about method instructions? Is this a methodological statement? Well, actually, it`s not far away! Do you need help with your risk assessments and methodological statements for your business? We have an extensive library of risk assessment models and methodologies that you can modify and use. The ultimate goal of writing explanations of methods and risk assessments is to get you to plan the health and safety management of your work, to minimize and adequately control risks and to protect your employees and those likely to be exposed. A risk assessment is the process by which you identify and assess potential hazards in the workplace. If you employ five or more people, the results of this risk assessment must be documented and clearly communicated to your employees.

When these controls write an action plan in your document, you can prioritize what needs to be done first and decide when future improvements can be made. The method instructions provide more details if additional details are needed. For example, when work activities must be carried out in a certain order to ensure safety. Before proceeding with the preparation of the method statement, each task should be divided into small steps so that the process flow of this task is easy to understand, i.e. what tools are needed and the first point that should be fixed in our mind, which is to assess the risks at each step and also how to control the identified hazards and mitigate the risk. The declaration should also include hazards associated with the tasks and activities. For example, if waste is generated, the document must be prepared and indicates when to dispose of it, how and where it must be disposed of safely. Methodological statements are not required by law in the same way as risk assessments. But they can help you comply with the law and do your job safely. They are used to provide information and instruction to your team, which is required by law. As you can see, it makes sense for methodological instructions to follow risk assessments. Because if there is still a risk to employees or others after taking all possible mitigation measures, the obvious next step is to decide and communicate the work processes that will help keep people safe.

Each task is divided into stages, and the method instruction evaluates the hazards associated with each step before describing exactly how the hazards can be controlled and the risks mitigated. You can see what these documents look like and create one for yourself. Use the free blank risk assessment template and the free blank method statement template. SOPs play a very important role in any construction industry, as the task performed on each construction site carries a high level of risk. In addition, workers use hazardous equipment, work at heights, work in confined spaces, and are often exposed to hazardous materials and waste. Injuries in the construction industry are common and the death rate in the construction industry is also higher than in other industries. But with the proper implementation of SOPs, these risks can be mitigated and workers and site visitors can work in a safe environment. So, to summarize the differences between a risk assessment and RAMS, if there is a risk, you should tell employees and others how to do the job without hurting yourself or others. The main reason is that RAMS significantly improves the health and safety aspects of your operation, especially if you work in high-risk industries such as oil, gas, chemicals, and construction. They protect employees and contractors by making your workplace safer, improve efficiency by establishing clear policies that everyone must follow, and protect your business from the pitfalls of poor risk management.

Why do companies create methodological statements and risk assessments? It may seem like you`re just browsing through the apps to meet legal requirements and customer requirements, but are there any other benefits? If you`re wondering if these documents are just another box, read on. A method explanation is a complement to the risk assessment to facilitate your planning and ensure that there are sufficient resources to perform the task safely.