The gatekeeper document
Principal contractors, mines, factories and body corporates won't let you start work without a method statement for the task — it's how they satisfy their own OHS duties before allowing your crew on site. For many small contractors it's the paperwork wall between them and bigger contracts: the work is winnable, the safety documentation is the barrier.
A method statement describes, step by step, how you'll do the task safely: the sequence of work, plant and equipment, materials, the crew and their competencies, PPE, and the hazards and controls at each step (drawn from your risk assessment — the two travel together). The BuildCape template structures all of it so you fill in your task rather than staring at a blank page.
Making it pass first review
- Match it to the risk assessment — reviewers check that every hazard identified has a control in the method.
- Name the actual site, dates, supervisor and crew; generic statements get bounced.
- Include emergency arrangements: first aider, hospital route, site contact.
- Version it — when the client requests changes, issue Rev 1 rather than editing silently.
Fill in the Method Statement now — free
Open the BuildCape Forms Library, find "Method Statement" and start typing. Works on your phone, on site.
Open the forms library →Common questions
When do I need a method statement?
Whenever a client or principal contractor requires one (increasingly standard), and as good practice for any high-risk task — heights, excavations, hot work, lifting, demolition. It's the practical companion to the legally required risk assessment.
Method statement vs safe work procedure?
A safe work procedure is a standing instruction for a routine task; a method statement is task-and-site-specific for a particular job. The library includes both — use the SWP for your recurring operations and a method statement per project/task.
Can one method statement cover the whole project?
For a simple single-trade job, sometimes. For anything with distinct high-risk activities, do one per activity — reviewers prefer three focused statements over one vague catch-all, and rejections cost you start dates.
Related free forms
Forms in the BuildCape library are professional templates for South African construction businesses. They are not a substitute for legal advice — for high-stakes contracts, have your attorney review the final document. Running a growing team? The BuildCape Platform automates the registers, claims and payroll these forms feed into.