What is a RAMS document and do you need one?
A plain-English guide to Risk Assessments and Method Statements — what they are, when you need them, and how to write one quickly.
If you work in construction, scaffolding, roofing, electrical or any trade in the UK, you have almost certainly been asked for a RAMS document before starting a job. But what exactly is it, do you legally need one, and how do you write it without spending half a day on it?
What does RAMS stand for?
RAMS stands for Risk Assessment and Method Statement. It is a combined document that:
- Risk Assessment — identifies the hazards involved in a piece of work, who might be harmed, and what controls are in place to reduce the risk.
- Method Statement — describes how the work will be carried out step by step, what equipment will be used, and in what sequence.
Together they give a principal contractor or client confidence that you have thought through the job properly and know how to do it safely.
Do you legally need a RAMS?
The short answer is: not always by law, but almost always in practice.
Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, all employers and self-employed people must carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment. This does not specifically require a written RAMS document — but if you have five or more employees, you must record the significant findings in writing.
Where RAMS become practically mandatory is when working for a principal contractor or a larger client. CDM 2015 requires contractors on notifiable projects to have a construction phase plan, and RAMS form a core part of that. Most principal contractors will not allow you on site without one regardless of project size.
In practice, if you are a trade contractor doing work for any commercial client, you will need a RAMS. No RAMS = no start.
What should a RAMS include?
- Project details — site address, client name, description of works, dates
- Scope of works — exactly what you are doing
- Hazard register — list of hazards with likelihood and severity ratings
- Control measures — what you will do to control each hazard
- Sequence of works — step-by-step method statement
- Plant and equipment — what machinery, tools and access equipment will be used
- PPE requirements — personal protective equipment required for each task
- Relevant legislation — the regulations that apply to your work
- Emergency arrangements — first aid, fire, nearest hospital
- Signatures — signed by the person preparing it and the site supervisor
How long does it take to write a RAMS?
Done manually from scratch, a decent RAMS takes between two and four hours. Many sole traders rely on outdated templates that do not match the job. The AI RAMS builder in Complys generates a complete, trade-specific RAMS in under a minute — you then edit, brand and download as a PDF.
When do you need to update your RAMS?
- The scope of work changes significantly
- A new hazard is identified on site
- An incident or near miss occurs
- New plant or equipment is introduced
Key takeaways
- RAMS = Risk Assessment + Method Statement in one document
- Legally required in writing if you have 5 or more employees; practically required for all commercial work
- Must cover hazards, controls, sequence of works, PPE, plant and emergency arrangements
- Should be job-specific — not a generic template with the site name swapped out
- Can be generated quickly using an AI RAMS builder, saving hours per job
Our AI RAMS builder generates complete, trade-specific risk assessments and method statements from your answers. Edit, download and share — all in one place.