What Are RAMS? A Guide for UK Contractors

Quick answer — what are RAMS?

RAMS is the common construction acronym for Risk Assessment and Method Statement. It’s not one document, but two that are combined:

• A Risk Assessment identifies what could cause harm to people on a job (the hazards) and how you will control the risks.
• A Method Statement explains step-by-step how the work will be carried out safely.

Under UK law, a suitable and sufficient risk assessment is a legal requirement for all work activities, as stated in the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. While method statements are not explicitly required by that name in law, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) states they are expected as a way to plan, manage, and communicate a safe system of work, especially for higher-risk activities.

Why RAMS matter for small civil engineering contractors

As a director, your focus is on delivering work safely, on time, and on budget. Well-prepared RAMS are not just a paperwork exercise; they are a core part of project management.

Clear, specific Risk Assessment and Method Statements help you:

• Win more work: Clients and Principal Contractors (PCs) frequently ask for RAMS during the tender stage to verify your competence.
• Reduce downtime: Planning the job properly upfront prevents stoppages and delays caused by unforeseen hazards.
• Brief your team effectively: A good RAMS document is the foundation for clear site inductions and toolbox talks.
• Demonstrate compliance: They provide documented proof that you have planned a safe system of work, which is critical for satisfying clients and the HSE.

The HSE specifically endorses method statements for planning higher-risk or unusual work, making RAMS in construction an industry standard for managing significant hazards.

The legal context (UK)

Understanding where RAMS fit legally is simple. There are three key parts:

• Risk Assessments: These are a legal requirement. Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 mandates that every employer must make a suitable and sufficient assessment of risks to health and safety.
• Method Statements: While not a specific legal requirement by name, they are considered best practice and are endorsed by the HSE for recording safe systems of work. For certain high-risk tasks like demolition, the law requires written arrangements before work starts, which a method statement effectively provides.
• CDM 2015: The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 require every project to have a Construction Phase Plan (CPP) before work begins on site. Your RAMS are a critical input into the PC’s CPP, detailing how specific high-risk tasks will be managed.

RAMS vs Risk Assessment vs Method Statement — the simple distinction

It’s easy to get these terms mixed up. Here’s the difference:

• Risk Assessment: Identifies hazards and controls. It answers: “What could harm people and what are we going to do about it?”
• Method Statement: Describes the safe sequence of work. It answers: “How are we going to do this job safely from start to finish?”
• RAMS: Combines both documents. It provides a complete picture of the risks and the step-by-step safe working procedure for a specific task.

What a good RAMS includes (and what to leave out)

A comprehensive RAMS document should be clear, concise, and relevant to the task. Avoid generic padding and focus on the practical details your site team needs.

Here’s what should a RAMS include:

• Project Details: Job scope, exact site location, dates, and names of competent personnel.
• Pre-commencement: References to relevant drawings, Pre-Construction Information (PCI), plant, materials, and any permits to work.
• Risk Assessment: A full list of identified hazards, who is at risk, and the control measures to be used (following the hierarchy of control).
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): A specific list of the required PPE for the task.
• Step-by-Step Method: A logical sequence of how the work will be completed safely, including any hold points or quality checks.
• Emergency Arrangements: Procedures for first aid, fire, and other foreseeable emergencies.
• Site-Specific Details: Management of interfaces with the public, traffic, utilities, and other contractors.
• Sign-off: A section for operatives to sign, confirming they have read and understood the RAMS. It should also include version control and review triggers.

The key is to create site-specific RAMS. A generic document that doesn't reflect the actual site conditions is useless and can even introduce new risks.

Keep it site-specific (civil engineering examples)

Generic controls aren't enough. Your RAMS must address the unique challenges of civil engineering sites.

For example:

• Drainage excavation near utilities: Must reference specific utility plans and follow HSE guidance HSG47 Avoiding danger from underground services. Controls will include CAT scanning, hand-digging, and clear marking.
• Kerbing on a live carriageway: Needs detailed traffic management plans (e.g., Chapter 8 compliance), designated exclusion zones, and management of vehicle/pedestrian interfaces.
• Formwork and falsework: The method statement must detail the erection and striking sequence, design checks, and inspection points.
• Lifting operations: Must specify the crane, lifting tackle, competent Appointed Person, and the exact sequence of the lift.
• Confined space entry: Requires specific permit-to-work systems, gas monitoring, and detailed emergency rescue plans.

Who prepares RAMS, and when?

RAMS documents should be prepared by a competent person from the company carrying out the work. This is often a contracts manager, site manager, or H&S advisor who understands the practical realities of the task.

Crucially, the people doing the work should have input. Supervisors and experienced operatives know the job better than anyone and can provide invaluable feedback to make sure the RAMS are realistic and effective.

The Principal Contractor on the project is responsible for reviewing the RAMS to ensure it aligns with the overall Construction Phase Plan and doesn't conflict with other site activities. RAMS must be completed and approved before any work starts on site.

How RAMS fit with the Construction Phase Plan (CPP) and other site controls

The CPP is the master document for managing health and safety during the construction phase of a project, and it's required by law for all projects. Your RAMS are a vital component that feeds into it.

Here’s how they work together:

• The CPP sets out the overall arrangements for the site (site rules, traffic management, welfare, emergency plans).
• The RAMS provide the detailed, task-specific safe systems of work for activities like excavation, lifting, or concreting.

RAMS are also used to develop other site management tools like daily task briefings, toolbox talks, and permits to work. They must be kept aligned with the CPP; if the scope of work changes, both the RAMS and the CPP may need updating.

Common pitfalls that get RAMS rejected

Principal Contractors often reject RAMS for simple, avoidable reasons. This wastes time and delays your start on site. Watch out for these issues:

• It’s obviously a generic copy-paste job: The document lists the wrong site name, incorrect details, or irrelevant hazards.
• Controls are too vague: Statements like “use correct PPE” or “be careful” are meaningless. Specify what PPE (e.g., "EN 397 safety helmet, P3 dust mask").
• Interfaces are ignored: The RAMS fail to consider how the work impacts other trades, the public, or passing traffic.
• No emergency plan: What happens if someone is injured or there’s a service strike? A clear plan must be included.
• Poor document control: There is no version number, no review date, and no record of who has been briefed on it.

Avoiding these Common Mistakes in RAMS Documents is the first step towards getting them approved first time. For more on this, see our guide on Generic vs. Site-Specific RAMS.

FAQs (fast, director-friendly answers)

Is a RAMS a legal requirement? A risk assessment is a legal requirement under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. A method statement is not required by name in law but is considered standard industry practice for planning and managing construction work safely.

When do I need RAMS? You need them before starting any higher-risk work on site, or whenever a client or Principal Contractor requires them as part of their safety management system. They should always be completed before work begins.

Who should write RAMS? A competent person from the contracting company doing the work should write the RAMS, with input from supervisors and operatives. The Principal Contractor then reviews them for coordination with other site activities.

How often should RAMS be reviewed? RAMS should be reviewed if the scope of work changes, if there is a near miss or incident, or if you have any reason to believe they are no longer valid. There should also be a periodic review schedule.

How do RAMS link to the CPP? RAMS provide the detailed, task-level risk controls that inform the overall site-wide safety plan (the CPP). The CPP is a legal requirement for every construction project under CDM 2015.

Tools and templates to save time

Writing high-quality, site-specific RAMS from scratch is time-consuming. While a good Free Civil Engineering RAMS Template can help, software is often a faster, more reliable solution.

RAMSGen is designed specifically for busy civil engineering contractors. It helps you generate comprehensive, professional RAMS in minutes, not hours. The system guides you through the process, ensuring all key details are included, so you can produce a document that is ready for client review and site briefings, helping you save time and reduce project risk.

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About the author

Dylan is a former Site Manager who served with the British Army’s Royal Engineers. His hands-on experience delivering a wide range of civil engineering projects gives him a practical, real-world perspective on construction health and safety management. He is passionate about creating tools that help contractors work more safely and efficiently.