RAMS stands for Risk Assessment and Method Statement. It is the most important safety document you will produce for any construction task. A RAMS combines two documents: a risk assessment that identifies hazards and how likely they are to cause harm, and a method statement that describes the safe step-by-step process for completing the work.
The risk assessment section should list every foreseeable hazard associated with the task, assess the likelihood and severity of each, and describe the control measures that will reduce the risk to an acceptable level. Use a simple risk matrix (likelihood x severity) to rate each hazard before and after controls are applied. Be specific. 'Workers may fall' is not a hazard assessment. 'Operatives working at 6m height on scaffold without edge protection' is.
The method statement section should describe the work in sequential steps, from setup through to completion and demobilisation. Each step should reference the relevant hazards and controls from the risk assessment. Include details about the equipment needed, the competencies required, the supervision arrangements, and the emergency procedures.
Common mistakes when writing RAMS include being too generic (copy-pasting a template without tailoring it to the actual site), failing to involve the workers who will carry out the task, not reviewing and updating the RAMS when conditions change, and writing in language that the workforce cannot easily understand. A RAMS that workers cannot read is a RAMS that will not protect them.
Principal contractors typically review every RAMS before allowing work to start, so quality matters. FORGE Command can generate tailored RAMS documents in minutes using AI, saving hours of manual writing while ensuring nothing important is missed. Every document is customised to your specific task, site, and conditions.