RAMS Template for Construction: UK-Compliant Method Statements & Risk Assessments

What is a RAMS in construction?

A RAMS (Risk Assessment and Method Statement) is a combined document required by the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) that describes how a specific construction activity will be carried out safely. The risk assessment identifies the hazards, evaluates the risks, and sets out the control measures. The method statement describes the work sequence step by step, the equipment and materials to be used, and the competencies required. Principal contractors on notifiable construction projects require a compliant RAMS before allowing any contractor or subcontractor to start work on site.

A construction RAMS is not the same as a generic workplace risk assessment under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. It is task-specific, site-specific, and written in advance of the work commencing. It must demonstrate that the duty holder has planned the work properly, identified construction-specific hazards (working at height, excavations, asbestos, confined spaces, demolition), applied the hierarchy of controls, and has a competent workforce with appropriate supervision. The RAMS is a live document — if site conditions change or an unforeseen hazard emerges, the RAMS must be updated before work continues.

The legal requirement for RAMS under CDM 2015

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 place specific duties on all parties in a construction project: clients, principal designers, principal contractors, designers, and contractors. Under Regulation 8(2), no contractor may carry out construction work unless reasonable steps have been taken to prevent unauthorised access to the site. Under Regulation 13, every contractor must plan, manage and monitor construction work under their control to ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, it is carried out without risks to health and safety.

The requirement for a written construction phase plan comes from Regulation 12. On a notifiable project (one that lasts longer than 30 working days with more than 20 workers working simultaneously, or exceeds 500 person days), the principal contractor must prepare a written construction phase plan before the construction phase begins. This plan must identify the site rules, arrangements for managing health and safety risks, and the welfare facilities to be provided. Contractors working under a principal contractor are required to provide a RAMS that demonstrates how their specific work package integrates with the overall construction phase plan.

Even on non-notifiable projects, the duty to plan and manage work safely under Regulation 13 means that contractors must still produce a risk assessment and method statement. The HSE's guidance document HSG151 makes clear that written documentation proportionate to the risk and complexity of the work is expected regardless of project size.

What must be included in a construction RAMS?

A compliant construction RAMS must include the following elements to meet CDM 2015 and satisfy principal contractor approval processes:

• Project and task identification — project name, site address, principal contractor name, start date, expected duration, and a clear description of the work package (e.g. erection of scaffolding to north elevation, installation of steel frame to Grid A-D).
• Scope of work — what work is covered by this RAMS and what is excluded. If the RAMS covers scaffold erection but not dismantling, that exclusion must be explicit.
• Competence and supervision — names or roles of those carrying out the work, relevant qualifications (CSCS, CISRS, IPAF, PASMA, asbestos awareness, first aid), level of supervision required, and identification of the appointed person or supervisor responsible for implementing the RAMS.
• Hazard identification — all significant hazards specific to the task and the site. This section must go beyond generic statements. A RAMS for groundworks must identify underground services confirmed by CAT scan, proximity to existing structures, ground conditions evidenced by trial pits, vehicle movements and segregation, manual handling of materials, noise and vibration, and welfare facilities location.
• Risk assessment — for each hazard, identify who is at risk (operatives, other contractors, site visitors, members of the public), the potential harm, the likelihood, and the initial risk rating. Then document the control measures applied in order of the hierarchy of controls (elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, PPE). Finally, reassess the residual risk after controls are applied.
• Method statement (step-by-step sequence) — describe the work in numbered steps from site setup to completion. A method statement for concrete pour might include: (1) erect barriers and signage around pour area; (2) inspect formwork and confirm approval by engineer; (3) check pump truck access route and confirm ground bearing capacity; (4) brief all operatives on pour sequence and emergency stop procedures; (5) commence pour under supervision of appointed person; (6) vibrate concrete in layers as specified; (7) finish and cure as per specification; (8) cordon off area until concrete achieves design strength.
• Plant, equipment and materials — list all plant (excavators, telehandlers, scissor lifts, concrete pumps) with confirmation of inspection status, operator certification, and lifting plans where relevant. Identify all materials and confirm safe storage and handling arrangements (e.g. cement stored in weatherproof container, flammable materials in locked cage away from ignition sources).
• Emergency arrangements — location of first aid kit, name of trained first aider, emergency contact numbers, nearest A&E department, access route for emergency vehicles, spill kit location (if hazardous substances are used), and fire extinguisher type and location.
• Environmental controls — dust suppression measures, noise management (e.g. no noisy work before 08:00), waste segregation and disposal, protection of drains and watercourses, and any ecological constraints (nesting birds, protected species).
• PPE requirements — minimum PPE required for the task (hard hat, high-vis, safety footwear, gloves) and task-specific PPE (fall arrest harness for work at height, respiratory protection for dusty work, hearing protection if noise exceeds 85dB).
• Review and approval — name and signature of the person who prepared the RAMS, name and signature of the contractor's competent person who reviewed it, date of preparation, planned review date, and space for principal contractor approval signature.

Common construction activities requiring a RAMS

Scaffolding erection and dismantling

Scaffolding work is high-risk and heavily regulated. A scaffold RAMS must identify the scaffold design (independent, putlog, mobile tower), the load class, the inspection regime (every seven days and after adverse weather under the Work at Height Regulations 2005 Schedule 7), and the competence requirements (CISRS Part 1 for labourers, CISRS Part 2 for advanced scaffolders, CISRS Scaffold Inspection Training Scheme for inspectors). Hazards include falls from height, materials falling onto people below, manual handling of scaffold tubes and boards, vehicle movements during delivery, and structural loading on the building. Controls include edge protection during erection, exclusion zones beneath the scaffold, mechanical aids for lifting heavy components, and a handover certificate (TG20:13 compliant) before use.

Excavation and groundworks

Excavation is one of the highest-risk construction activities. According to HSE statistics, an average of five workers per year are killed in excavation collapses. A groundworks RAMS must address underground services (confirmed by utility searches and CAT/Genny scans), support of excavations (trench boxes, battered sides, or shoring as per BS 6031), vehicle movements and segregation, access and egress (ladder or steps every 6 metres of trench length), edge protection, water ingress and dewatering, inspection by a competent person before each shift under the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996 Regulation 12, and emergency rescue arrangements. Safe digging practices must follow HSG47 guidance.

Working at height

Any work where a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury is work at height under the Work at Height Regulations 2005. A RAMS for roof work, window installation, or façade maintenance must demonstrate that work at height has been avoided where possible (e.g. assembled at ground level then lifted), and where it cannot be avoided, that collective fall prevention measures are used in preference to personal fall protection. Collective measures include scaffolds, mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs), and temporary edge protection. Personal fall protection (harness and lanyard) is a last resort and requires a rescue plan. The RAMS must identify anchor points, confirm their load rating (minimum 12kN per person), and specify the type of fall arrest or fall restraint system. All operatives must hold valid IPAF or PASMA certification where relevant.

Hot works (welding, grinding, cutting)

Hot works present significant fire risk on construction sites. A hot works RAMS must implement a permit-to-work system, confirm that a fire watch will be maintained during the work and for a minimum of 60 minutes afterwards, ensure flammable materials are removed or protected within a 10-metre radius, provide appropriate fire extinguishers (CO2 or dry powder for electrical fires, water or foam for ordinary combustibles), and confirm that the area has been inspected and signed off after completion. Operatives must hold relevant welding or thermal cutting certifications. The RAMS must also address fume extraction (local exhaust ventilation or RPE), arc eye protection (auto-darkening welding helmets), and burns from hot metal or slag.

Asbestos removal or work near asbestos-containing materials

Any construction work on a building constructed before 2000 must consider the risk of asbestos. Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 Regulation 5, the duty to manage asbestos falls on the building owner or client, who must provide an asbestos survey to contractors. A RAMS for work that may disturb asbestos (demolition, drilling, cable installation, suspended ceiling removal) must reference the asbestos survey, confirm that operatives have completed asbestos awareness training (minimum requirement) or hold a licensed asbestos removal qualification if the work is notifiable, specify the control measures (encapsulation, shadow vacuuming, wet methods, RPE fitted with P3 filters), and describe the waste disposal route (double-bagged in UN-approved asbestos waste bags, collected by a licensed waste carrier, disposed of at a licensed facility). If licensed asbestos removal is required, the HSE must be notified at least 14 days in advance.

Demolition

Demolition is classified as construction work under CDM 2015 and must be carried out in accordance with a method statement under the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996 Regulation 29. A demolition RAMS must reference a pre-demolition survey confirming structural stability, presence of hazardous materials (asbestos, lead paint, PCBs), and services isolation. The method of demolition (top-down, deliberate controlled collapse, use of long-reach excavator) must be specified and justified. Hazards include uncontrolled collapse, falling materials, dust, noise, vibration affecting adjacent structures, and manual handling. Controls include exclusion zones, dust suppression (water sprays or misting), structural monitoring, and competent supervision by a demolition contractor holding CSCS Demolition Supervisor or above.

How to write a construction RAMS that gets approved first time

Principal contractors reject poorly written RAMS routinely. The most common reasons for rejection are: generic, template language that does not reference the specific site or task; missing competence records (no evidence of CSCS cards, IPAF licences, or toolbox talks); no evidence that site conditions have been assessed (no reference to the construction phase plan, no acknowledgement of other trades working nearby); inadequate emergency arrangements (no first aider identified, no emergency contact details); and failure to apply the hierarchy of controls (jumping straight to PPE without demonstrating why engineering controls are not practicable).

To write a RAMS that will be approved, start by obtaining the construction phase plan from the principal contractor and reading it thoroughly. Identify site access times, welfare facilities, emergency arrangements, site rules, and any specific hazards flagged (overhead cables, buried services, adjacent occupied premises). Walk the site or review photographs if a site visit is not possible. Identify the actual ground conditions, weather exposure, proximity to other trades, and any deviations from the construction phase plan.

Use specific, observable language. Instead of "appropriate PPE will be worn," write "all operatives will wear EN 397 hard hats, Class 2 high-visibility vests, S3 safety boots with steel toecaps and midsole protection, and EN 388 Level 2 rigger gloves." Instead of "safe working practices will be followed," write "the appointed person (name) will inspect the excavation each morning before work starts and after any event likely to have affected its strength or stability, in accordance with Regulation 12 of CDM 2015. Inspection records will be kept in the site diary." This level of specificity demonstrates competence and gives operatives clear, actionable instructions.

Apply the hierarchy of controls explicitly. For a task involving lifting heavy lintels, document the thought process: (1) Elimination — not practicable, lintels are required by design; (2) Substitution — considered lighter composite lintels but structural engineer specified steel; (3) Engineering controls — telehandler with certified lifting chain and shackles will be used, lift plan prepared, appointed person to supervise lift; (4) Administrative controls — only trained and certified telehandler operators, exclusion zone maintained during lift, communication by two-way radio; (5) PPE — hard hat, high-vis, safety footwear, rigger gloves. This structured approach satisfies the CDM 2015 planning requirement and demonstrates that PPE is a supplementary control, not the primary one.

The difference between a RAMS and a generic risk assessment

A RAMS is task-specific and time-limited. It describes how a defined piece of work will be completed safely on a particular site during a particular phase of the project. A generic risk assessment (e.g. a risk assessment for general office work) is activity-based and remains valid until the activity changes significantly. Construction work is inherently dynamic — site conditions change daily, multiple trades work in proximity, and work sequences depend on preceding tasks being completed. A RAMS reflects this by being written immediately before the work starts and updated whenever conditions change. The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and Build UK both emphasise that RAMS should not be copied from previous projects without thorough review and adaptation.

Who is responsible for preparing a construction RAMS?

Under CDM 2015 Regulation 13, the contractor carrying out the work is legally responsible for preparing the RAMS. The duty cannot be delegated to a consultant or subcontractor unless they are formally appointed as the contractor under the CDM regulations. In practice, many larger contractors have dedicated health and safety teams who prepare RAMS in consultation with site supervisors and operatives. Smaller contractors and sole traders often prepare their own RAMS or use an AI-powered service like Anyrisks to generate a compliant RAMS quickly, which they then review and adapt to the specific site.

The principal contractor has a duty under Regulation 12 to ensure that the construction phase plan is appropriately reviewed and updated, and to ensure that contractors under their control comply with the plan. This gives the principal contractor the authority to review and approve (or reject) RAMS submitted by contractors. The principal contractor cannot abdicate this responsibility — if they approve a substandard RAMS and an accident occurs, both the contractor and the principal contractor may face prosecution.

Real example: RAMS for installation of steel frame

Project: Two-storey extension to commercial premises. Task: Offload and erect structural steel frame to Grids A-D using mobile crane. Duration: 3 days. Operatives: 4 steel erectors (CSCS, CITB steel erector trained), 1 appointed person (CPCS A62 crane supervisor), 1 crane operator (CPCS A02 mobile crane). Hazards identified: (1) Overturning of crane due to inadequate ground bearing capacity or proximity to excavations; (2) Striking overhead power lines (11kV cables 15m to south-west confirmed by UK Power Networks); (3) Load falling during lift; (4) Crushing injuries during bolting-up; (5) Falls from height during connection of steel members; (6) Manual handling of bolts, tools and temporary bracing. Control measures: (1) Ground bearing capacity assessed by structural engineer, crane mats laid, exclusion zone 5m from edge of excavation; (2) Crane positioned to maintain 10m clearance from power lines, goal posts erected as visual warning, UK Power Networks notified; (3) Lifting plan prepared, all lifting equipment (slings, shackles) certified and inspected, trial lift conducted; (4) No operatives underneath suspended load, tag lines used to guide load, two-way radio communication; (5) Mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) with harness and lanyard used for connection of steel at height, IPAF-trained operators, MEWP inspected weekly; (6) Mechanical aids (impact wrench, cordless tools) used to reduce manual effort. PPE: Hard hat, high-vis, safety boots, rigger gloves, harness and lanyard when in MEWP. Emergency arrangements: First aider (name), first aid kit in site office, nearest A&E Royal London Hospital 4 miles, emergency contact 999, crane can lower load in controlled manner if emergency stop required. Signed by contractor and approved by principal contractor before work commenced. Reviewed daily during toolbox talks.

Common mistakes in construction RAMS

• Copying from previous projects without site-specific review — principal contractors spot this immediately when site names, dates, or hazards do not match the actual project.
• No evidence of competence — listing operatives' names without their qualifications, ticket numbers, or expiry dates. CSCS, CPCS, IPAF, CISRS and other certification must be evidenced.
• Method statement too vague — "erect scaffold safely" is not a method statement. The sequence must be step-by-step and specific enough that an operative unfamiliar with the task could follow it.
• Risk assessment does not reference site conditions — no mention of other trades working nearby, no acknowledgement of confined access, no consideration of weather conditions or seasonal factors (e.g. reduced daylight hours in winter).
• No emergency arrangements — failure to identify first aider, nearest hospital, or what to do if a serious injury occurs. CDM 2015 Regulation 22 requires suitable site welfare facilities including first aid.
• PPE as the only control measure — relying on hard hats and gloves without demonstrating what engineering or administrative controls have been applied first.
• Unsigned and undated — a RAMS with no signature, no approval, and no date is not a controlled document and will be rejected.

How AI-generated RAMS improve compliance and save time

AI-powered tools like Anyrisks allow contractors to generate a comprehensive, site-specific construction RAMS in under 2 minutes. Rather than starting from a blank template or copying an old RAMS, the contractor describes the specific task, site location, equipment to be used, and any known hazards. The AI system references the relevant regulations (CDM 2015, Work at Height Regulations 2005, LOLER 1998, etc.), identifies the hazards typical of that activity, applies the hierarchy of controls, and outputs a complete RAMS document in PDF and editable Word format.

This does not remove the contractor's duty to review the document and confirm it reflects actual site conditions. The legal responsibility remains with the contractor. But it dramatically reduces the time required to produce a well-written, regulation-compliant RAMS that a principal contractor will approve. For small contractors and sole traders who lack in-house health and safety expertise, AI-generated RAMS provide a structure and level of detail that would otherwise require expensive consultancy support.

Related guides

For general guidance on risk assessment, see our Ultimate Guide to Risk Assessment. For construction-specific risk assessments covering a wider range of activities, see Construction Risk Assessments. For method statement guidance independent of RAMS, see Method Statement UK Requirements. For fire risk assessment requirements on construction sites, see Fire Risk Assessments.