Method Statement Template (Ireland) — Structured for PSCS Review
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A safe-system-of-work method statement template for Irish construction. Written around Schedule 1 'particular risks' in the Construction Regulations 2013 (S.I. 291/2013) so the document a PSCS actually expects — sequence of work, plant and access, isolation steps, permits, and operative competence — is there from line one. Not a UK method statement with the labels swapped.
Designed for: Irish contractors, subcontractors and self-employed trades submitting method statements to a PSCS under S.I. 291/2013
Ireland (RAMS) example document — Single-Storey Side Extension — 18 Glasnevin Avenue, Dublin. Client: Mr & Mrs Kavanagh (Private Client). Site: 18 Glasnevin Avenue, Dublin 11, D11 X2K7. Scope: Construction of a 5.0 m × 3.6 m single-storey side extension: strip foundations to 900 mm, cavity blockwork superstructure, flat warm roof with single-ply membrane, rooflight and new structural opening into the existing kitchen. Works programmed over 9 weeks with a peak site team of 4 operatives.
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Complete Guide to Method Statement (Ireland)
What is a Method Statement?
A method statement is a written, step-by-step description of how a specific construction activity will be carried out safely. In Ireland it sits beside the risk assessment as half of a RAMS, but for many submissions — especially short-duration or single-task work — the method statement is the standalone document a PSCS asks for under the Construction Regulations (S.I. 291/2013).
When is it legally required?
Section 8 of the Construction Regulations 2013 requires the PSCS to ensure work involving any of the Schedule 1 'particular risks' is carried out under a documented method statement. That includes work at height above 2 metres, excavations deeper than 1.25m, work with asbestos, lifting operations, work near live services, demolition, and work in or near water. In practice every Irish PSCS requires a written method statement for the activity before mobilisation, regardless of whether it is strictly Schedule 1.
Who is responsible?
The contractor carrying out the activity is responsible for producing the method statement. It must be written by — or under the supervision of — a competent person with practical knowledge of the task, then submitted to the PSCS for coordination into the project Safety and Health Plan. Operatives must hold a valid Safe Pass and, where the activity is listed (e.g. scaffolding, plant, asbestos awareness), the relevant CSCS card.
Where is it commonly used?
Irish construction sites of every scale — Dublin commercial fit-outs, ESB Networks substation work, Uisce Éireann (Irish Water) connections, TII road works, SEAI-grant retrofits, and rural one-off builds. Local authorities and main contractors routinely require the method statement as part of the contractor pre-qualification pack alongside the Safety Statement.
What a Complete Method Statement Includes
- Project, PSCS and site contact details
- Scope and sequence of the specific activity
- Plant, equipment and access arrangements (e.g. MEWP, mobile tower, edge protection)
- Permits required — hot works, confined space, isolation, excavation
- Coordination with other trades and the site Safety and Health Plan
- Schedule 1 particular-risk mapping where applicable
- Step-by-step safe system of work
- PPE schedule (EN-standard references)
- Safe Pass and CSCS card register for the operatives doing the work
- Emergency arrangements — nearest A&E, on-site first-aider, 112/999
- Competent person sign-off and toolbox-talk briefing record
What's included in this template
Project & PSCS Information
Site address, client, PSCS contact, programme dates.
Activity Description
Single clear statement of the task this method statement covers.
Sequence of Work
Numbered steps from set-up through completion and demobilisation.
Plant, Equipment & Access
MEWP / scaffold / mobile tower / excavator specification and certification.
Permits Required
Hot works, confined space, isolation, excavation — issued by the PSCS.
Schedule 1 Particular Risks
Work at height >2m, excavation >1.25m, asbestos, live services, lifting, demolition.
Control Measures
Applied through the General Principles of Prevention — Schedule 3, 2005 Act.
Coordination
Interfaces with other trades and the site Safety and Health Plan.
PPE Schedule
EN-standard PPE for each phase of the work.
Safe Pass & CSCS Register
Card numbers and expiry for every operative on the activity.
Emergency Arrangements
Nearest A&E, on-site first-aider, 112/999, utility 24-hour lines.
Briefing & Sign-Off
Competent person sign-off and signed toolbox-talk record.
Ireland Requirements and Best Practice
Legal expectations
- ● Method statements for Schedule 1 particular-risk activities — Construction Regulations S.I. 291/2013, Section 8
- ● Safe system of work derived from the General Principles of Prevention — Schedule 3, Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005
- ● Coordination by the PSCS into the project Safety and Health Plan
- ● Operative briefing before the activity starts (toolbox talk + signed record)
- ● Valid Safe Pass for every operative; CSCS card where the activity is listed
What inspectors typically look for
- ● Is the method statement site-specific or a generic download?
- ● Does it match the actual sequence of work and the plant on site?
- ● Are Schedule 1 particular risks identified and controlled with specific steps (not just 'wear PPE')?
- ● Is there a signed briefing record for every operative on the activity?
- ● Are Safe Pass and CSCS card numbers verifiable against operatives present?
Common compliance mistakes
- Submitting a UK CDM 2015 method statement with HSE and Principal Contractor references intact
- A generic BeSMART.ie risk assessment passed off as a method statement (it isn't — different document)
- Method statement that doesn't match the actual plant or access in use on site
- No permits referenced where the activity requires them (hot works, confined space, excavation)
- Missing the PSCS coordination chain — no reference to the project Safety and Health Plan
- No briefing record signed by operatives
Example Use Cases
Mobile tower scaffold erection for fascia repair, Limerick
A roofing subcontractor erects a mobile aluminium tower to 6m to replace fascia and soffit on a two-storey commercial unit. The method statement details the PASMA-trained erector, tie-in points, ground checks, simultaneous-use exclusion zone, and Schedule 1 work-at-height controls. Safe Pass and CSCS scaffolding-card numbers are listed; the document is submitted to the PSCS before mobilisation.
Hot works permit for welding on an ESB Networks substation upgrade
An electrical contractor needs to weld inside a 38kV substation compound. The method statement covers isolation (LOTO) coordinated with ESB Networks, the hot works permit issue/return cycle, fire watch arrangements, extinguisher placement, and the emergency contact path — ESB Networks 24-hour line plus the nearest A&E. The PSCS coordinates the permit into the site Safety and Health Plan.
Confined-space entry for a Uisce Éireann (Irish Water) chamber inspection
A civils crew enters a precast chamber >1.5m deep to inspect a new mains connection. The method statement covers atmospheric testing, top-man arrangements, tripod and harness rescue plan, escape sets, and the Confined Spaces module of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Confined Spaces) Regulations 2001. Safe Pass plus the confined-space CSCS card are required for every entrant.
How to use this template
- 1
Open the template
Editable PDF — pick the one that matches your PSCS submission format.
- 2
Name the PSCS and project
Tie the document into the site Safety and Health Plan from the first page.
- 3
Write the sequence
Step-by-step — set-up, the work itself, demobilisation. No 'install per manufacturer'.
- 4
Map Schedule 1 risks
Flag any work at height >2m, excavations >1.25m, asbestos, live services, lifting or demolition.
- 5
Attach permits
Reference the hot works / confined space / excavation permits the PSCS will issue.
- 6
List Safe Pass + CSCS
Every operative on the activity — card number + expiry.
- 7
Brief and sign
Toolbox talk on the day, signed record kept on site.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Submitting a generic 'roofing method statement' that doesn't describe the actual roof, access or fall arrest in use
- Confusing method statement with risk assessment — Irish PSCS expect both, or a combined RAMS
- Missing the Schedule 1 mapping — particularly excavations >1.25m and work at height >2m
- No reference to permits the PSCS issues on the project
- Forgetting the operative briefing record on the day
Share or Use This Template
This Method Statement template is free to use and share. Feel free to reference it with your team, include it in training materials, or link to it from your own resources.
Why templates have limitations
Templates provide a solid starting point, but they require manual editing to match your specific site conditions, hazards, and work activities. This can be time-consuming and important site-specific risks may be missed if sections are left generic.
For projects where accuracy and speed matter, many contractors prefer tools that generate structured documents automatically based on real project inputs.
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