The relevance of method statements in construction

By Uwe Putlitz, Former Wits Lecturer

The international trend to streamline and improve administrative procedures in the construction industry has led to the formalization of health and safety regulations by identifying possible risks and ways to manage them by timeously notifying events between project participants, plan the execution of work using agreed methods and procedures in compliance with quality and safety criteria.

One such technique is the preparation of ‘risk assessment method statement’ (UK terminology). Such assessment should be done during the design phase to consider how a proposed building is to be constructed and again when the (principal) contractor is appointed as an effective and practical way to plan, manage and monitor construction work. In South Africa the Construction Regulations 2014 (as revised) (CR14) do not refer to ‘method statement’ (MS) but refer to ‘notifications’ in terms of the ‘health and safety plan’, fall protection plan’, ‘shoring’ etc

The CR14, under the duties of the designer, refer to § 6.1:

all relevant health & safety information about the design of the relevant structure that may effect the pricing of the construction work;
the geotechnical aspects, where appropriate;
the loading that the structure is designed to withstand;

(d) inform the client in writing of any known or anticipated dangers or hazards relating to the construction work, and make available all relevant information required for the safe execution of the work upon being designed or when the design is subsequently altered;

(e) refrain from including anything in the design of the structure necessitating the use of dangerous procedures or material hazardous to the health and safety of person which can be avoided by modifying the design or by substituting materials;

(f) take into account the hazards relating to any subsequent maintenance of the relevant structure and must make provision in the design for that work to be performed at to minimize the risk;

(g) when mandated by the client to do so, carry out the necessary inspections at appropriate stage to verify that the construction of the relevant structure is carried out in accordance with his design …

(h) when mandated as contemplated in (g), stop any contractor from executing any construction work which is not in accordance with the relevant design’s health and safety aspects …

(i) when mandated as contemplated in (g) in his or her final inspection of the completed structure in accordance with the National Building Regulations, include the health and safety aspects of the structure as far as reasonably practicable, declare the structure safe for use and issue a completion certificate to the client with a copy thereof to the contractor;

(h) during the design stage, take cognisance of ergonomic design principles in order to minimize ergonomic related hazards in all phases of the life cycle of a structure.”

The CR14, when appointing a subcontractor, requires the Principal Contractor § 7(c) ”to be reasonably satisfied that the subcontractor has the necessary competencies and resources to perform work safely”

A method statement (MS) is generally compiled by the principal contractor and by specialist (sub)contractors after a risk assessment. (CR14 -§ 9 “risk assessment” – 9.1 (c ) refers to “a documented plan and applicable safe work procedures to mitigate, reduce or control the risks and hazards that have been identified” and 9.2 “A contractor must ensure that as far as is reasonable practicable , ergonomic related hazards are analysed, evaluated and addressed in a risk assessment” and 9.3 “A contractor must ensure that all employees under his or her control are informed, instructed and trained by a competent person regarding any hazard and related work procedures and or control measures before any work commences”… (not necessarily a complete list nor in order of priority):

1. Works – permanent

Description of the task

2. Works – temporary

will temporary works have to be provided to build the permanent works?

3. Specification Documentation

Include measurable performance criteria to monitor performance, assess costs and duration(s)
Reference to company standard operating procedures and similar manuals
‘Lessons learned’, if available of if applicable from previous projects

4. Legislation and or Standards

Reference to applicable legislation and standards

5. Contract

Reference to Standard-form Contract, and other contract documents – the latter must highlight high risk activities identified in the ‘design risk assessment stage CR16: 6.1(d)

6. Manpower

The number of skilled personnel’ required
The number of support personnel’ required
(Special) tools required, if so - how sourced or if readily available
In addition to normal Personal Protection Equipment, specific equipment required such as harnesses, masks if the operations will generate dust or noxious fumes;
Awareness how each person must protect him or herself and their co-workers from injury or hazards for example, can one or more persons lift and/or safely handle identified materials or plant within the available space at the level where work is to be executed?

7. Environment

Weather conditions that may influence (delay/postpone) planned procedures
Working overhead / on scaffolding / off a ladder or of swing scaffold?
Site conditions – soil conditions | working over water?
Neighbouring owners – crane swing over their property, access, noise, dust?
Local community – source of labour, may sabotage the work?

8. Training

Specialised training – if required – at a date/ duration time / place / cost?

9. Construction Equipment

The use of construction equipment - if available/to be sourced and/or erected

10. Programme

The (logical) sequence and duration of operations
As anticipated at design /tender stage – or on site to meet completion dates

11. Costs

Is the ‘allowable amount’ derived from the tendered costs adequate for the task
Is the project / task feasible ie possible and practical to achieve the objective?
Is the project / task viable ie capable of working successfully, to live after birth, achieve specified financial results ?

Note that CR14 in § 11.2 “structures” requires the owner (client) to ensure that “(a) inspections of that structure are carried out periodically by a competent person in order to render the structure safe for continued use; and (b) that the inspections contemplated in paragraph (a) are carried out at least once every six months for the first two years and thereafter yearly, and (c) the structure is maintained in such a manner that it remains safe for continued use; and (d) the records of inspections and maintenance are kept and made available on request to an inspector.”

When preparing a MS reference must be made to the following sections in CR 14:

12 Temporary works – appointment of a temporary works designer … and a risk-based methodology
13 Excavations
14 Demolition – refers to a ‘method statement’ prepared by a structural engineer
15 Tunnelling – see Mining Act
16 Scaffolding
17 Suspended platforms
18 Rope access work
19 Material hoists
20 Bulk mixing plant
21 Explosive actuated fastening devices
22 Cranes
23 Construction vehicles and mobile plant
24 Electrical Installations and machinery on construction sites
25 Use and temporary storage of flammable liquids on construction sites
26 Water environments
27 Housekeeping and general safeguarding construction sites
28 Stacking and storage on construction sites
29 Fire precautions on construction sites
30 Construction employees’ facilities (additional ‘Covid 19’ precautions)

When preparing a MS reference may have to be made to insurance implications for specific tasks.

During the design phase - much the same criteria apply – to be assessed by the professional team and the Health & Safety Consultant. The focus of design risk assessments is to:

Determine the “safe” ‘buildabilty’ of a design;
Confirm the appropriate choice of materials and/or plant;
Confirm the availability of materials and/or plant;
Anticipate the most appropriate form of construction by evaluating alternatives ito feasibility + viability;
Imagine the final product – will this satisfy the requirements of the brief?

Method Statement ‘failures’:

Not undertaking a project specific risk assessment;
Non-compliance with current statutory regulations;
Reusing MS from previous projects that are not applicable to the current project.

MS writing style:

Use plain and concise language to reduce misunderstanding;
Avoid jargon and/or abbreviations not meaningful to the average user;
Use drawings or pictures to illustrate the text;
If applicable, use company branding / logo etc to give the document a formal status;
Review the document as work progresses, and on completion, to confirm assumptions or revise the MS to record ‘lessons learned’.

In short, a MS should be a comprehensive bespoke document addressing all identified potential risks – but beware that one or more important ‘risks’ may not have been identified during the inception stages of a project. Linking the drafting of MS to a quality and technical compliance checklist per project phase may stimulate the timely preparation thereof. (appendix A) Thus a MS must be a ‘live’ document to be reviewed and updated as soon as any additional information becomes available.

DOWNLOAD THE CHECKLIST FOR QUALITY COMPLIANCE

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