RAMS Template Free Download: Risk Assessment Method Statement Guide

A RAMS is the document that keeps people safe on UK construction sites. If you write a poor one, it gets rejected. If you write a good one but nobody reads it, it is worthless. This guide covers everything a site manager or subcontractor needs to know about producing RAMS that actually work -- from the sections you must include to the common mistakes that get submissions sent back.

What Is a RAMS?

A RAMS -- Risk Assessment and Method Statement -- is a combined document that identifies the hazards associated with a specific task and sets out the step-by-step safe working procedure to control those risks. On UK construction sites, RAMS are the backbone of health and safety planning. They sit beneath the overarching Construction Phase Plan required under CDM 2015 and translate broad project safety strategies into practical, task-level controls.

The risk assessment element identifies what could go wrong, who could be harmed, the likelihood and severity of harm, and the control measures needed. The method statement describes exactly how the work will be carried out, step by step, incorporating those controls. Together, they form a single document that every worker involved in the task should read, understand, and sign before starting work.

When Do You Need a RAMS?

There is no specific regulation that says "you must produce a RAMS." However, the requirement flows from multiple pieces of legislation:

• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 -- Regulation 3 requires suitable and sufficient risk assessments for all work activities
• CDM 2015 Regulations -- Regulation 13 requires the principal contractor to plan, manage, and monitor the construction phase, which practically means RAMS for high-risk activities
• Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 -- Section 2 imposes a general duty to provide safe systems of work

In practice, principal contractors require RAMS from every subcontractor before they start work on site. The site manager reviews and approves them as part of the site induction process. If you are a subcontractor turning up without a RAMS, expect to be turned away.

What Sections Should a RAMS Include?

A well-structured RAMS typically contains the following sections. Missing any of these is a common reason for rejection by the principal contractor.

1. Cover Page and Document Control

Project name and address, client name, principal contractor, the subcontractor producing the RAMS, author name, date of issue, revision number, and review date. Version control matters -- if you revise a RAMS mid-project, the old version must be withdrawn and the new one reissued to all relevant workers.

2. Scope of Works

A clear description of what the task involves, where on site it will take place, expected duration, and any interfaces with other trades. Be specific. "Installing mechanical services" is too vague. "Installing LPHW pipework to risers on levels 2-4, including hot work for copper soldering" tells the reviewer exactly what to expect.

3. Personnel and Competency

Names or roles of workers carrying out the task, required qualifications (CSCS cards, IPAF, PASMA, CPCS cards), and any specific training needed. This section should reference any relevant certificates by number where possible.

4. Risk Assessment Table

This is the core of the document. For each hazard identified, the table should include:

• The hazard description (e.g. "Falls from height during installation at level 3")
• Who is at risk (operatives, other trades nearby, public)
• The uncontrolled risk rating (likelihood x severity)
• Control measures to be applied
• The residual risk rating after controls

Use a 5x5 risk matrix as standard. Most principal contractors have a preferred format -- check before producing your own. Common hazards to address include working at height, manual handling, noise and vibration, dust and fumes, electrical contact, falling objects, fire, and interaction with plant.

5. Method Statement (Step-by-Step Procedure)

This should read as a logical sequence of numbered steps that a competent worker could follow. Each step should reference the relevant control measures from the risk assessment. Include setup, the work itself, and clean-up or de-rig. If the task involves multiple phases, break it into sections.

6. Emergency Procedures

What to do if something goes wrong. Fire evacuation routes, first aid arrangements, spill response, rescue plan for work at height. This section should cross-reference the site-wide emergency plan but also cover task-specific emergencies.

7. Plant and Equipment

List all plant, tools, and equipment required. Include inspection and certification requirements. For example, if you are using a MEWP, state the model, the required LOLER thorough examination date, and the daily pre-use inspection requirement.

8. PPE Requirements

Standard site PPE (hard hat, hi-vis, safety boots, gloves, eye protection) plus any task-specific PPE such as RPE for dust, harnesses for work at height, or hearing protection for noisy operations.

9. COSHH Assessments

If the task involves hazardous substances (adhesives, solvents, concrete, silica dust), include the COSHH assessment as an appendix or reference it directly. Safety data sheets should be available on site.

10. Sign-Off Sheet

A page for all workers to sign confirming they have read and understood the RAMS. This is your evidence of briefing. HSE inspectors will ask for this. Make sure signatures are dated.

Common Mistakes That Get RAMS Rejected

After reviewing hundreds of RAMS submissions, these are the issues that come up repeatedly:

• Generic templates not tailored to the project -- copying a RAMS from a previous job without updating the project name, site address, or specific hazards is the most common failure. Reviewers spot this immediately
• Risk ratings that don't change after controls -- if every hazard stays at the same risk level before and after controls, the controls are either wrong or the assessment was not done properly
• Vague control measures -- "appropriate PPE will be worn" is meaningless. Specify the exact PPE: "3M 6200 half-face respirator with P3 filters for silica dust exposure"
• Missing method statement steps -- jumping from "set up scaffolding" to "carry out work" skips critical steps like scaffold inspection, handover, and tag system
• No emergency procedures -- what happens if someone falls? What is the rescue plan? Omitting this section is a serious gap
• Outdated legislation references -- citing CDM 2007 instead of CDM 2015, or referencing superseded guidance documents
• Not signed by a competent person -- the person producing the RAMS should be demonstrably competent, usually holding NEBOSH, IOSH, or equivalent qualifications

How to Write a RAMS: Step-by-Step Process

Writing a proper RAMS takes time. Rushing it creates risk. Here is a practical workflow that experienced site managers follow:

1. Visit the work area -- you cannot write an accurate RAMS from an office. Walk the area where the work will happen and note the actual conditions, access routes, overhead services, adjacent activities, and environmental factors
2. Consult the design information -- review drawings, specifications, and the pre-construction information pack for any designed-in hazards or constraints
3. Talk to the workers -- the people doing the job know the real hazards. Involve them in the risk assessment process. This also builds ownership and makes it more likely they will follow the RAMS on site
4. Draft the risk assessment first -- identify all hazards, assess the risk, and determine controls before writing the method statement. The method statement should flow from the risk assessment, not the other way around
5. Write the method statement as a narrative -- imagine you are explaining the task to a competent operative who has never been on this particular site. Be logical and sequential
6. Get it reviewed -- a second pair of eyes catches errors. Your safety advisor or line manager should review and approve before submission to the principal contractor
7. Brief the workforce -- the RAMS is worthless if it sits in a filing cabinet. Hold a toolbox talk to brief all operatives, get signatures, and confirm understanding

Going Digital with RAMS

Paper RAMS create several problems: they get lost, damaged by weather, filed and forgotten, and are difficult to update when conditions change. Increasingly, site managers are moving to digital RAMS management. The benefits are substantial:

• Real-time access to RAMS on any device, anywhere on site
• Automatic version control -- no risk of outdated copies circulating
• Digital signatures with timestamps for audit trails
• Easy search and retrieval for HSE inspections
• Notifications when RAMS are due for review
• Photo and video attachments showing specific site conditions

Tools like FORGE Command allow site managers to manage RAMS alongside other project documentation, track review dates, and ensure every operative has acknowledged the relevant RAMS before starting work. This transforms RAMS from a bureaucratic exercise into an active safety management tool.

When to Review and Update a RAMS

A RAMS is not a one-and-done document. It should be reviewed and updated when:

• Site conditions change (unexpected ground conditions, adjacent work affecting the task)
• The scope of work changes
• A near miss or incident occurs related to the task
• New information becomes available (e.g. discovery of asbestos)
• At regular intervals during long-duration tasks (typically monthly)
• When HSE or the principal contractor requests a review

Dynamic risk assessment supplements the written RAMS on site. If conditions on the day differ from what was assessed, work should stop, the situation assessed, and the RAMS updated before restarting. Maintaining thorough near miss reporting helps identify when RAMS need updating based on actual site events.

A RAMS is only as good as its implementation. The best-written document in the world is useless if the operatives on the ground have never read it, do not understand it, or choose to ignore it. Briefing, supervision, and monitoring are what make RAMS effective.