Rank: New forum user 
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During a discussion in a recent meeting the question was posed, which comes first, the Risk Assessment or Method Statement?
What are peoples thoughts?
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Rank: Forum user 
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MS first for me. The method of work (as documented in MS) informs the RA. However, if anything significant is 'thrown up' by the RA then the MS might need to be revised to change method to mitigate risks.
I don't suppose it really matters which comes first as long as both documents complement one another.
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Rank: Super forum user
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I would have thought it’s the risk assessment, you look at the hazards and decide on the controls needed which informs the method statement. If you devise a method statement first I think you are missing a chance to decide on the best controls and just use “the way its always been done”.
Brian
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Rank: Super forum user
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Risk assessment has to be task based.
For me the method statement sets out how the task is to be done. The risk assessment then uses this to identify what risks of accident or damage to health arise from the task as performed according to the method statement.
The method statement can then be modified to ensure that the risks so identified are adequately controlled.
Without a method for completing the task how do you identify the risks?
Chris
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Rank: New forum user
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Sure, I agree with Chris. I first pick the MS and then draw my RA from it. It's lot easier for me that way.
Babington
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Rank: Forum user
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Brian,is right the Risk Assessment comes first, you need to identify ALL the risks,5 step Risk Assessment,(Qualtitive or quantitive) and from the R/A you introduce a method Statement or safe working procedure. The risk Assessment and indeed the swp need to be reviewed when necessary or suitable period of time.
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Rank: Forum user
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RA,MS,SSW or Policies all have there place and it is the whole system (the use of all of them in the best order that suits the individual/ company and that the produce a safe workplace that is important)
Personally i would use a system in this order:
1. Policy (including how in is then inplementented)
2. RA
3: MS
4: SSW
Then monitor and review.
Remind you of any health and safety document!!
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Rank: Super forum user
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I still wonder how you do a risk assessment when you don't have the data on how the task is done. Certainly in my particular area, chemical exposure, the extent, duration, frequency, etc. - and thus the risk of damage to health - will be entirely dependent upon how the task is done. Until this is known how are you going to determine the risk to health that the exposure represents? So without the method statement, or at least a document (or on-site study) showing how the work is done, I certainly would not be in a position to conduct a risk assessment.
Chris
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Rank: Super forum user
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I have been thinking about this overnight (sad I Know) and I have decided we are all right! It’s a bit of a chicken and egg situation (minus the dinosaurs),
How do you know your method statement is the safest way of doing a job without a risk assessment?
How do you assess the hazards and risks without knowing how the job will be done?
I don’t think you can look at these two items as mutually exclusive, but think they will develop together. So as you devise your method statement you are looking at the hazards and risks involved with each step, deciding if there is a safer way/better control for that step and amending your method statement accordingly. I sometimes think we get hung up on the actual writing of a documented risk assessment and forget what the true principles of carrying out a risk assessment are.
Brian
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Rank: Super forum user
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undertake a JSA/TNA etc for every step of any activity - situation etc use this as the base to undertake the RA and thereafter create your WSSW [method statement]
It is a chicken and egg process where things develop together noting that the RA should always bring out questions that the JSA etc has probably missed and vversa! The end working documents [day to day method statement etc] and need areas e.g. training etc should only be agreed after the JSA/TNA etc & RA is deemed to be satisfactory. Where we have a current method statement then it should be used as part of the JSA etc to determine where we are
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Rank: Forum user 
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Quite simply, the method statement, follows the Risk assessment, which follows watching the work activity.
I agree that often it ends up being a bit of a chicken and egg scenario. However the purpose of the RA is to identify the preventive, protective and control measures to safeguard the workers and others affected by the activity; this may include a method statement where required.
The danger is of course relying on the method statement as a work of fact; I have found that these tend to be more fiction than fact, as they tend to be written by persons, without recourse to watching the work being carried out and therefore missing work practices, in the belief that the method statement is the way that the work is done.
Regards
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