What is RAMS? — Risk Assessment Method Statement Explained
TL;DR
RAMS stands for Risk Assessment Method Statement. It is a combined document used in UK construction that identifies the risks of a specific work activity and explains how the work will be carried out safely. It is effectively a legal requirement on all UK construction sites under CDM 2015 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
Definition: What is RAMS?
A RAMS (Risk Assessment Method Statement) is a combined document used in the UK construction industry that brings together two related safety requirements:
Risk Assessment — A document that:
- Identifies the hazards associated with a specific work activity
- Assesses the likelihood and severity of harm
- Records the control measures in place to reduce risk to an acceptable level
- Is required under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
Method Statement — A document that:
- Describes the step-by-step safe working method for carrying out the task
- Specifies the equipment, materials, PPE, and personnel required
- Includes emergency procedures
- Ensures workers understand how to carry out the work safely before they begin
Combining both into a single RAMS document fulfils both requirements efficiently and ensures consistency between the risk assessment and the working method.
Who needs a RAMS?
In UK construction, a RAMS is required for:
- Any activity on a construction site that poses significant risks
- All high-risk activities as defined by CDM 2015 (working at height, demolition, excavation near services, confined space work, hot works, and others)
- Activities where subcontractors are working for a principal contractor
- Most activities that insurers require documented safety management for
In practice, principal contractors require RAMS from virtually all subcontractors as a condition of entry to site — regardless of the risk level of the specific activity.
Who it's for
- Any subcontractor or sole trader working on UK construction sites
- Principal contractors who must ensure RAMS are in place before high-risk work begins
- H&S managers and advisors responsible for reviewing RAMS submissions
- Workers who need to understand what they have been asked to sign
UK compliance notes
The specific term "RAMS" does not appear in UK legislation by name. However, the requirements it fulfils come from multiple regulations:
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 — Regulation 3 requires employers to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment
- CDM 2015 — Regulation 12 requires Principal Contractors to plan, manage, monitor, and coordinate the construction phase, including ensuring RAMS for high-risk activities
- Working at Height Regulations 2005 — Requires documentation of controls for work at height
- Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 — Section 2 general duty of care to employees
Failure to have appropriate RAMS in place can result in HSE enforcement action, prohibition of work, fines, and prosecution.
How Workforce Guardian helps
Workforce Guardian's AI RAMS generation produces a complete, site-specific RAMS from site photos in under 60 seconds:
- Upload photos of the work area
- Describe the task in a few sentences
- AI generates a complete RAMS draft with identified hazards, controls, and method statement
- Review, edit, and publish
- Workers sign digitally on their mobile app before work begins
- Sign-offs are timestamped and stored automatically
FAQs
Is RAMS the same as a risk assessment?
No. A risk assessment identifies hazards and controls — it answers "what could go wrong and how will we prevent it?" A method statement explains the step-by-step working method — it answers "how will we carry out the work safely?" RAMS combines both into a single document, which is why the term is used as shorthand for the combined requirement.
Is RAMS a legal requirement?
Yes, in practice. While the specific term "RAMS" is not in legislation, the requirements that RAMS fulfils — risk assessment (MHSWR 1999) and documented safe working methods (CDM 2015 for principal contractors) — are legal requirements. Most principal contractors will not permit subcontractors to begin work without a signed RAMS.
How long does a RAMS stay valid?
A RAMS is valid as long as the site conditions, task scope, and personnel it covers remain substantially the same. Any significant change — different access method, additional hazards identified, change of personnel — requires the RAMS to be reviewed and updated, with workers re-signing the updated version.
Who can write a RAMS?
Any competent person. "Competent" means having the knowledge, training, and experience to identify the relevant hazards and specify appropriate controls for that specific task. Most CSCS-qualified tradespeople are considered competent to write RAMS for their own trade. For complex or high-hazard activities, input from a qualified H&S advisor is recommended.
What is the difference between a RAMS and a Construction Phase Plan?
A Construction Phase Plan (CPP) is a project-level document produced by the Principal Contractor that describes the overall H&S management arrangements for a project. A RAMS is a task-specific document covering a specific work activity. The CPP references the types of RAMS that will be required; the individual RAMS provide the detail for each activity.