Risk Assessment Method Statement (RAMS)

What is a Risk Assessment Method Statement (RAMS)?

A RAMS explains how the work will be done safely and should:

Be prepared before work starts,
Be based on the actual site conditions,
Identify hazards and risks,
Set out clear control measures,
Name the persons responsible for managing and supervising the work, and
Be agreed and signed off before work starts.

The RAMS is a live document. If the work changes, the RAMS must be reviewed and updated.

The purpose of the RAMS

Helps plan work before it starts,
Identifies hazards and risks,
Sets out clear control measures,
Supports good supervision on site, and most importantly
Helps prevent accidents and injuries on construction sites.

When is a RAMS required?

The RAMS should be used for:

Medium or high‑risk work,
New or unusual tasks,
Work where conditions may change, and
Jobs involving more than one contractor.

The RAMS must be agreed before work begins.

What the RAMS must include

The RAMS is broken into 8 sections and in general the content should:

Give an overview of the location and task activity,
Detail how the work will be done safely,
Identify hazards and how the risks will be controlled,
Identify plant, equipment and PPE needed,
Identify training and competency's that may be required.
Identify First Aid and Emergency arrangements,
Identify who is managing and supervising the work,
Record the briefing and stakeholder sign off.

Planning, managing and supervising construction work

The RAMS helps to ensure that work is:

Planned – the task is thought through in advance
Managed – the right people, equipment and controls are provided
Supervised – the work is checked and controlled on site

If the work significantly changes or new hazards appear, stop work and review the RAMS.

RAMS and the Safe Plan of Action (SPA)

RAMS sets out the overall safe system of work
SPA is used on site to brief workers each day

They work best when used together.