The HSE stipulates that as part of managing the health and safety of your business, you must control the risks in your workplace. To do this you need to think about what might cause harm to people and decide whether you are taking reasonable steps to prevent that harm. This is known as a risk assessment and it is something you are required by law to carry out. A safety method statement is not required by law but it does describe in a logical sequence exactly how a job is to be carried out in a safe manner and without risks to health.