ENGINEERING & LAW
INGENIEUR
METHOD STATEMENTS
By Ir. Harbans Singh K.S.
P.E., C. Eng., Advocate and Solicitor (Non-Practicing)
General Position
It is becoming common practice for contractors1
to be required to submit ‘Method Statements’2
before commencing either the overall works or
particular aspects of the works. This requirement
is contained usually in the conditions of contract
itself or if not, in the preliminaries or even the
specification proper. Whilst the purpose of
requiring the same from the contractor was initially
proper, over the years it has been abused even to
the extent that such a bureaucratic requirement
has to be fulfilled for even minor aspects of the
contract before the contract can proceed with its
works. The consequences being, added paperwork and general delay to the progress of the
works. Be that as it may, the requirement for the
submission and approval of ‘Method Statements’
has become a mandatory pre-condition for
the execution of works in most engineering/
construction contracts.
Definitions
As to what constitutes a ‘Method Statement’
depends on the particular meaning ascribed to it
by the authorities or the specific contract being
executed. For instance, the JKR Sarawak Form of
Contract 2006, vide Clause 14.1(b) requires the
method statement to ‘describe the arrangement,
sequence and method of construction of works
including Temporary Works’.
A more elaborate definition is provided by The SCL
Protocol (2004 Edn)3 in the following fashion:
A written description of the Contractor’s
proposed manner of carrying out the works
or parts thereof, setting out the assumptions
underlying the programme, the reasoning
1
2
3
6
74
Also Sub-Contractors.
Synonymous with the term ‘method of working’.
Appendix A p 60.
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behind the approach to the various phases
of construction and listing all the work
encapsulated in the programme activities.
It may also contain the activity duration
calculations and details of key resources and
gang strengths.
Chow Kok Fong in the Construction Contracts
Dictionary4 defines a ‘method statement’ as:
The term refers to the sequence and manner
by which construction activities are undertaken
on site. Under most construction contracts, the
contractor retains control of site operations
and the choice of methods of working …
A slightly different meaning is proffered by the
Dictionary of Construction Terms5 as follows:
A written account produced by the Contractor
describing the steps by which a particular
activity is to be carried out or work performed
…
It can be noted that although the above-mentioned
definitions do differ in the form of the terminology
employed, they are essentially similar in their core
requirements vis-à-vis what should constitute a
‘Method Statement’.
Express Contractual Provisions
The majority of the local standard forms of
conditions of contract incorporate express
provisions in regard to Method Statements; these
being:
●●
4
5
Clause 12.1(b) JKR Forms 203 & 203A (Rev
1/2010) and Clause 13.5(a)(ii) PWD Form DB
(Rev 1/2010) which reads:
At p 249.
By Fenwick Elliot LLP, p 175.