Risk assessments and method statements are two of the most commonly referenced documents in HSSE compliance — and two of the most frequently confused. On site, they are almost always referred to together as an MSRA (Method Statement and Risk Assessment), but they serve distinct purposes and are structured differently.
What Is a Risk Assessment?
A risk assessment is a systematic identification and evaluation of hazards associated with a specific task or work environment. It answers the question: what can go wrong, how likely is it, and how severe would the consequences be? For each identified hazard, a risk rating is assigned (using a likelihood × severity matrix), and control measures are documented to reduce the risk to an acceptable level. Under the OHS Act, risk assessments must be conducted before any hazardous work begins.
What Is a Method Statement?
A method statement is a step-by-step description of how a specific task will be carried out safely. Where the risk assessment identifies what could go wrong, the method statement describes what the team will actually do — in sequence — to prevent those hazards from materialising. It covers the tools, equipment, PPE, personnel qualifications, and sequence of operations required for a safe execution.
Why They Are Always Paired
A risk assessment without a method statement identifies hazards but doesn't tell workers how to manage them in practice. A method statement without a risk assessment describes a procedure but hasn't formally evaluated its dangers. Together, they form the MSRA — a document that both identifies risk and prescribes control. Most HSSE specifications require both documents for any work classified as hazardous.
Who Signs Them?
Risk assessments must be conducted by a competent person — typically a qualified SHE Officer or CHSO. The Principal Contractor's Section 16.2 designee must sign off on all risk assessments. Method statements are typically prepared and signed by the supervisor or foreman responsible for the task. All workers performing the task must sign attendance registers confirming they have received and understood both documents.
Site-Specific vs Generic Documents
One of the most common compliance failures is using generic, non-site-specific risk assessments. A risk assessment for "excavation work" copied from a template is not compliant — it must reference the specific site conditions, soil type, proximity to services, access constraints, and personnel on that particular project. HSEQ Consulting prepares all MSRAs specifically for the site and scope of work, reviewed each time conditions change.