If you run a small building firm or work as a sole trader, you've probably been asked for "your RAMS" before you're allowed on site.
RAMS stands for Risk Assessment and Method Statement. It's two documents working together: the risk assessment sets out what could go wrong and how you'll control it, and the method statement explains, step by step, how the job will actually be done.
The good news is that a RAMS for a small job doesn't need to be a 40-page binder. In fact, short and specific beats long and generic every time. Here's what to put in it.
1. The job details
Start with the basics so anyone picking up the document knows exactly what it covers:
- Your business name and contact details
- The client and site address
- A short description of the work (for example, "Removal of internal wall between kitchen and dining room and installation of steel beam")
- Planned start date and expected duration
- Who wrote the RAMS, the date, and a version number if you update it
A RAMS without a site address or date is a common reason for it being sent back.
2. The scope of work
Describe what you're doing and what you're not doing. If the electrician is isolating circuits first, or someone else is arranging scaffolding, say so.
3. The risk assessment
This is the heart of the document. For each main task, list:
- The hazard – what could cause harm (working at height, manual handling, dust, falling materials, power tools, live services)
- Who could be harmed – your team, other trades, the client, members of the public, children or pets in an occupied home
- The controls – what you'll do to reduce the risk (props and acrows, dust extraction, barriers, a second person for heavy lifts)
- Risk rating – many contractors use a simple likelihood × severity score, before and after controls, so it's clear the controls make a real difference
Keep it tied to the actual job. A risk assessment for knocking through a wall in a 1930s semi should mention things like possible asbestos in old textured coatings, hidden services in the wall, and the family living in the house while the work goes on. Generic hazards copied from another job don't help anyone.
HSE has a straightforward overview of the risk assessment process that's worth a read if you're new to it: Managing risks and risk assessment at work.
4. The method statement
The method statement is the "how". Write it as a sequence of steps in the order the work will happen. For a small building job, that might look like:
- Arrive, sign in with the client, and agree working area and access route
- Lay floor protection and set up dust sheets and screening
- Confirm services are isolated
- Install temporary supports
- Remove plaster and brickwork from the top down
- Install padstones and steel beam
- Make good, clean down and remove waste
For each step, note who is responsible and any specific equipment or PPE needed. Plain English is fine. The test: could a new labourer read it and understand what's happening and how to stay safe?
5. PPE
List the personal protective equipment required for the job, and link it to the tasks where it's needed. For example:
- Safety boots and hard hats throughout
- Gloves when handling blocks, steel and mortar
- FFP3 or suitable dust masks when cutting or chasing
- Eye protection when using breakers or grinders
- Hearing protection for prolonged use of noisy tools
PPE is the last line of defence, so it should sit alongside other controls (like on-tool dust extraction) rather than replacing them.
6. Hazardous substances
If the job involves cement, mortar, adhesives, solvents, sealants or silica dust from cutting, mention them and refer to your COSHH assessments. Cement, for example, can cause skin burns and dermatitis. HSE's page on cement as a construction hazardous substance sets out the main controls.
7. Plant, tools and equipment
List the main equipment you'll be using: mixers, breakers, disc cutters, stepladders, podium steps, mobile towers. Note any inspection or checks (for example, pre-use checks on towers and ladders, PAT-tested or 110V tools).
8. Training and competence
Name the people on the job and the relevant training or cards they hold, such as CSCS cards, PASMA for mobile towers, or abrasive wheels training. Clients and main contractors often check this, and it's far easier if the information is already in the RAMS. HSE's guidance for contractors under CDM 2015 explains why checking skills, knowledge, training and experience matters.
9. Welfare and site arrangements
Say where your team will find toilets, hand-washing and somewhere to take breaks. On domestic jobs this is often agreed with the homeowner. Also note parking, deliveries, working hours and how waste will be stored and removed.
10. Emergency arrangements
Include:
- Who is the first aider on site and where the first aid kit is kept
- The nearest A&E address
- What to do in the event of a fire or a structural problem
- Key contact numbers
11. Sign-off
Finish with a section for the team to sign to confirm they've read and understood the RAMS. A quick briefing at the start of the job, ideally as a toolbox talk, is the best way to make sure it's actually read.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Copy-and-paste RAMS. Site managers spot these instantly. If the address, hazards or steps don't match the job, expect it to come back.
- Too long. Pages of generic text bury the important bits. Keep it focused.
- Never updated. If the job changes, say a new hazard appears or the method changes, update the RAMS and re-brief the team.
- Not on site. A RAMS sitting in the office doesn't help anyone. It should be available to the people doing the work.
Making RAMS less of a chore
Most small contractors don't hate safety. They hate the paperwork, and the late nights formatting Word documents.
That's the job DutyDocs is built for. You can build risk assessments with 5×5 matrix scoring and residual risk tracking, write step-by-step method statements with responsibilities and PPE, and export a professional PDF to email to the client or site manager. It works in your phone's browser, can be installed as an app, and keeps working offline when the signal drops on site. You can also keep training records and COSHH assessments in the same place, so the supporting details are easy to find.
Ready to make your next RAMS easier?
If you're tired of fighting with Word documents, try DutyDocs on your next job. Pro is £19.99 a month and comes with a 7-day free trial, so you can put together a site-ready RAMS and see how it fits the way you work. Start your free Pro trial at DutyDocs.