Arborist Guides

Arborist Method Statement Example (UK)

A method statement explains how tree work will be carried out safely, step by step. For commercial jobs, it is often the most scrutinised part of your RAMS — and the part most likely to cause a rejection if it is too vague.

This guide covers what a method statement should include, how it should be structured for UK commercial tree work, and why generic examples fall short on real sites.

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What is it?

More than a task description

A method statement is a structured document that explains how work will be carried out in practice. For arborists, it sits alongside the risk assessment within a RAMS submission and describes the actual sequence of operations — from site arrival through to completion and sign-off.

Where a risk assessment identifies hazards and control measures, the method statement explains the practical steps. Together they demonstrate that the work has been properly planned and the risks genuinely managed — which is what commercial clients and principal contractors need to see before approving access.

A method statement should follow the actual sequence of work, not list generic points. Commercial clients want to see that this job, on this site, has been properly considered.

What to include

A professional arborist method statement should cover:

Description of the work to be carried out
Site setup, access and exclusion zones
Equipment to be used and pre-use checks
Sequence of tree work operations
Climbing or MEWP access method
Ground operations and public interface
Waste removal and site clearance
Emergency arrangements and first aid
Competence of operatives
Link to risk assessment and site-specific controls

Example structure

What an arborist method statement looks like

The following shows the structure and level of detail expected for UK commercial tree work. This is a simplified example — a full commercial method statement would include site-specific detail, equipment references, operator competence confirmation, and emergency planning throughout.

Step 1

Arrival and site sign-in

Operatives arrive on site, report to the client or site contact, sign in and review the RAMS document before work begins. Any site-specific inductions are completed at this stage.

Step 2

Site setup and exclusion zones

Establish the work area. Set up exclusion zones using barriers, cones and signage appropriate to the site. Position vehicles and equipment to allow safe access and egress. Confirm communication method between climber and ground crew.

Step 3

Equipment pre-use checks

All equipment is inspected before use in line with PUWER requirements. Chainsaw, PPE, climbing equipment, rigging hardware and any machinery (chipper, stump grinder) are checked and recorded on the pre-use check sheet.

Step 4

Access to tree

Climber ascends using approved climbing techniques (SRS or MRS) or MEWP where required. Equipment is set as per manufacturer guidance and the climbing system checked before weight is applied.

Step 5

Tree work operations

Carry out pruning, dismantling or felling using appropriate techniques for the species, structure and site conditions. Sections and branches are lowered under control using rigging where required. Ground crew manage the exclusion zone and process arisings.

Step 6

Ground operations and chipper use

Ground operatives process arisings through the chipper in line with PUWER pre-use check requirements. Logs are stacked or removed as agreed with the client. The exclusion zone is maintained throughout.

Step 7

Site clearance and completion

All arisings are processed or removed. Signage and barriers are taken down. The site is left safe, tidy and in the agreed condition. A final check is carried out and the client or site contact is notified of completion.

Example of an ArbDesk arborist RAMS document showing method statement structure for UK commercial tree work

Example of structured arborist RAMS documentation from the ArbDesk system, used on UK commercial tree work.

Built from real site work

Written by a practising arborist

The ArbDesk method statement system was built by Christian, a working arborist with direct experience submitting RAMS to principal contractors, local authorities, and commercial clients across the UK.

The method statement structure in ArbDesk reflects how commercial tree work is actually carried out and reviewed — not how a generic H&S template assumes it works. After spending years watching colleagues lose contracts or face resubmissions because their method statements were too vague or poorly sequenced, the ArbDesk system was built to solve the problem properly.

The step-by-step format is based on what principal contractors and site managers actually need to see to approve access — and is adapted from documents used on real UK commercial sites.

“Proper system built around how arborist work actually runs. Not just a generic template.”

Alexander AG Arborcare — Commercial Arborist, Surrey

UK Legal Requirements

Is a method statement a legal requirement?

A standalone method statement is not always a legal requirement in isolation — but the duty to plan and manage work safely, which a method statement helps satisfy, is. For commercial tree work in the UK, method statements are almost always required contractually by clients and principal contractors, and they form part of the broader legal framework that arborists must work within.

The relevant legislation and guidance that method statements help to satisfy includes:

Management of H&S Regulations 1999

Requires that work is planned and managed so risks are controlled. A method statement demonstrates that planning has taken place and the work sequence has been considered.

CDM Regulations 2015

On construction-type sites, principal contractors require RAMS from subcontractors before work starts. A method statement is a standard part of that submission.

PUWER 1998

Requires that work equipment is used safely by competent operators. A method statement should reference equipment use and link to pre-use checks.

AFAG Guidance

Arboriculture and Forestry Advisory Group guidance informs best practice for tree work operations. Method statements should reflect AFAG-aligned safe systems of work.

Working at Height Regulations 2005

Climbing operations must be planned, supervised and carried out by competent persons. The method statement should reflect how aerial access is managed safely.

HSE Guidance

HSE guidance on arboricultural operations and chainsaw use sets out expected safe systems of work that should be reflected throughout the method statement.

Why templates fail

Why generic method statement examples get rejected

Many free method statement examples look reasonable at first glance. They describe broadly what tree work involves, list a few steps, and cover the basics. On a domestic job or a straightforward site, they may be accepted. On commercial work — council contracts, principal contractor sites, schools, estates — they consistently fall short.

Too vague to be useful

Steps like “carry out tree work” or “ensure site is safe” don’t explain anything. Commercial reviewers want to understand the actual sequence of operations.

Not linked to risk controls

A method statement should refer back to the control measures in the risk assessment. Generic examples rarely do this, leaving a gap between the two documents.

No equipment references

Commercial sites expect to see how equipment will be used and how pre-use checks are carried out. Generic examples rarely mention specific equipment or PUWER obligations.

Missing emergency planning

How a rescue would be carried out, where the nearest A&E is, and what the communication method is between climber and ground crew — often completely absent from generic examples.

No competence references

Principal contractors want to know that the people carrying out the work are qualified. Method statements should reference operator competence, not assume it is implied.

Doesn’t match the actual job

A method statement cut and pasted from a previous job, without adapting it for the site and task, reads as exactly that. Reviewers notice immediately.

The wider system

How the method statement connects to the rest of your RAMS

A method statement does not stand alone. For commercial tree work, it forms one part of a wider RAMS submission that typically includes several interconnected documents. Understanding how they connect is what separates a professional submission from a collection of documents that happen to be in the same folder.

Risk assessment

Identifies the hazards, the people at risk, the controls and the residual risk. The method statement explains how those controls are applied in practice during the work sequence.

Site-specific assessment

Adapts the general risk controls to the actual site — its access, hazards, public interface and emergency arrangements. The method statement should reflect these site-specific details throughout.

COSHH assessment

Covers fuel, oil, chemicals and biological hazards. Where these are handled on site, the method statement should reference how they are managed as part of the work sequence.

Equipment pre-use checks

PUWER requires equipment to be checked before use. The method statement should reference this step explicitly rather than assuming it is understood.

A good RAMS submission tells a coherent story — the method statement, risk assessment and site-specific controls should all reference each other and form a unified document set.

Common questions

Arborist method statement — frequently asked questions

A risk assessment identifies the hazards associated with the work, the people at risk, and the control measures that will be used to reduce those risks. A method statement explains how the work will actually be carried out — the sequence of operations, the equipment used, and how the site will be managed throughout. RAMS (Risk Assessment and Method Statement) combines both into a single submission, which is what most commercial clients and principal contractors require.

For domestic or straightforward private work, a full written method statement is not always required. For any commercial work — council sites, principal contractor sites, schools, estates, or any site where the client has a formal H&S process — a written method statement will almost always be required before work begins. A well-built template system means you are not writing one from scratch each time, just adapting it for the specific job and site.

There is no fixed length requirement. The document should be detailed enough to clearly explain how the work will be carried out, but concise enough to be reviewed quickly. A method statement that runs to many pages of generic text is often less effective than a clearly structured, step-by-step document that covers each stage of the operation specifically. Clarity and structure matter more than length.

For UK commercial tree work, method statements should reference the relevant NPTC/City & Guilds units held by operatives — as a minimum, CS30 and CS31 for chainsaw use, with additional units for specific operations such as felling or aerial work. LOLER competence should be referenced where lifting equipment is used, and first aid qualifications should be confirmed. Many principal contractors will also ask to see copies of certificates alongside the RAMS submission.

The core structure and sequence of your method statement can remain consistent across jobs — how site setup, climbing access and ground operations work does not change significantly from site to site. What must be adapted is the site-specific detail: the location, the client, the specific tasks being carried out, exclusion zone arrangements, emergency access and any unusual conditions. A well-built template system makes this straightforward rather than requiring a full rewrite each time.

Emergency procedures are one of the most commonly checked elements in a RAMS submission. Your method statement should confirm the location of the nearest A&E, the first aid arrangements on site, the rescue plan for a climber in difficulty, and how emergency services would access the site. It should also confirm who the first aider is and what equipment is available. This information should be site-specific — a generic reference to “emergency services will be called” is not sufficient.

In practice, the terms are used interchangeably — both refer to the same document type. “Tree surgery” tends to be used in a commercial context when describing the work to non-arborists, while “arborist” is the professional term. The structure, content and commercial expectations are the same regardless of the label used.

ArbDesk

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ArbDesk gives you a fully structured method statement and RAMS system built for UK commercial tree work — editable Word documents, used on real sites, built by a practising arborist.

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