RAMS: What It Is, When You Need One, and What to Include

Most contractors have heard the term RAMS thrown around on site. Some have a folder full of them. But if you pulled one out right now and asked whether it was written for that specific site, that specific task, and that specific day — many would struggle to answer.

That gap between paperwork and reality is exactly where things go wrong.

What Does RAMS Stand For?

RAMS stands for Risk Assessment and Method Statement. It's two documents combined into one. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) describes method statements as documents that draw together information about hazards and the ways they should be controlled for specific jobs, based on conclusions from risk assessments.

In plain terms: the risk assessment tells you what could go wrong. The method statement tells you how you're going to stop it going wrong. Combined, they form a single document covering both the risk and the working method for a specific task.

When Is a RAMS Required in the UK?

RAMS are most commonly expected in the construction sector, but the principle applies to any higher-risk work activity.

Under CDM 2015 (Construction Design and Management Regulations):

The CDM Regulations place specific duties on contractors working on construction projects. If a Principal Contractor is managing a site, they will typically require a RAMS from every subcontractor before they start work. This is standard practice — not optional, and not just a formality.

Beyond construction, RAMS are also expected for:

• Work at height (scaffolding, roof access, mobile elevated work platforms)
• Working with hazardous substances
• Hot works — cutting, welding, grinding
• Electrical isolation and live working
• Confined space entry
• Any task where the risk profile goes beyond routine day-to-day activity

If you're tendering for a contract or being appointed as a subcontractor, expect to be asked for RAMS before you start.

The Difference Between a Risk Assessment and a Method Statement

These are two distinct documents that serve different purposes.

A risk assessment:

• Identifies hazards — anything with the potential to cause harm
• Assesses the likelihood and severity of harm
• Determines what control measures are needed
• Is a legal requirement under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 for employers with five or more employees

A method statement:

• Sets out the planned sequence of work, step by step
• Describes who does what, when, and how
• Specifies the tools, equipment, and PPE required
• Is not a standalone legal requirement, but is standard practice and expected by most principal contractors and clients

They're combined because one informs the other. You cannot write a credible method statement without completing a risk assessment first. The RAMS format puts them together so nothing falls between the gaps.

What Must a RAMS Include?

A well-written RAMS typically covers:

1. Project and job details — site address, description of the work, dates, contractor name and contact
2. Scope of work — a clear description of the specific task being carried out
3. Hazard identification — all foreseeable hazards relevant to this task on this site
4. Risk rating — likelihood and severity assessed before controls are applied
5. Control measures — specific actions to reduce the risk (not generic phrases like "wear PPE")
6. Method statement — the step-by-step sequence of how the work will be carried out safely
7. PPE requirements — specific to the task and site conditions
8. Emergency arrangements — first aid provision, evacuation procedure, emergency contacts
9. Responsible persons — who is in charge and who has reviewed and signed off the document
10. Worker sign-off — evidence that the people doing the job have read and understood the RAMS before starting

Who Is Responsible for Producing a RAMS?

The contractor carrying out the work is responsible for writing the RAMS. If you're a sole trader roofer, a small electrical contractor, or a subcontract painting team, the responsibility falls on you — not the client, not the principal contractor.

For notifiable projects under CDM 2015, the Principal Contractor must review and accept the RAMS before work begins. But producing it is the duty of the contractor doing the task.

If you're a principal contractor appointing subcontractors, you should request RAMS from them before they start and keep them on file. That's not bureaucracy — it's your evidence that you managed your legal duty.

Why Generic Downloaded RAMS Are a Liability

A quick search for a free RAMS template will return dozens of results. They look official. They have all the right headings. Some are well-formatted. They are a starting point — nothing more.

The problem is that a generic template downloaded from the internet does not know:

• What your site looks like
• What equipment your team is using
• What the specific environmental conditions are
• What emergency arrangements are in place at that location

When an HSE inspector visits, or when something goes wrong and the paperwork comes under scrutiny, the first thing they examine is whether your RAMS actually reflects the job. A document that lists "slippery floors" when the work is on a flat roof tells them exactly what happened: someone copied and pasted. A method statement that doesn't match the actual sequence of work demonstrates that no one planned it properly.

A RAMS that doesn't reflect reality isn't just useless — it can actively damage your position. It shows that safety documentation is something your business does to tick a box, not to keep people safe.

How to Get RAMS That Actually Work

The fastest route to compliant, site-specific RAMS is to start with a trade-specific framework that already covers the common hazards for your type of work — and then adapt it to the specific job.

SafeCompli's trade safety packs include pre-populated risk assessments, method statement frameworks, and supporting documentation written specifically for your trade. Whether you're a roofer, electrical contractor, plumber, scaffolder, heating engineer, kitchen fitter, or tiler — there's a pack tailored to what you actually do.

Each pack includes between 16 and 23 documents, provided in editable DOCX and PDF format, available for instant download at £34.80. They give you the structure, the right hazard language, and the correct control measures for your trade — so you spend 20 minutes adapting rather than three hours starting from scratch.

Browse the full range and download your trade pack at www.safecompli.co.uk or visit etsy.com/uk/shop/SafeCompli.