Construction RAMS example
Reviewed September 2026 · Written by Complys and checked against HSE and legislation.gov.uk guidance (sources below).
The best way to understand RAMS is to see one. Below is a worked example for a common construction task — a shallow groundworks excavation — showing what each section covers and the level of detail a reviewer expects. It's illustrative: there's no official HSE RAMS template, and yours must reflect your actual job.
Header and project information
Company details, site address, client and principal contractor, the specific task ("excavate trench for foundations, up to 1.2m deep"), the dates, and the people responsible. A reviewer should be able to tell at a glance which job this RAMS is for.
The risk assessment
Each hazard, who's at risk, and the controls — for a dig that means collapse of the excavation, underground services, people or plant falling in, water ingress and buried obstructions. Risk rated before and after controls, following the hierarchy of control.
Sequence of works
The step-by-step method: locate and confirm services with drawings and a CAT scan, set out and barrier the area, excavate in stages, batter or shore the sides as required, keep spoil and plant back from the edge, and provide safe access in and out.
Plant, materials and PPE
The excavator and attachments, trench boxes or shoring, edge protection and barriers; any substances (with COSHH controls); and the PPE — hi-vis, hard hat, boots, gloves, and the standard applied for the task.
Emergency and welfare arrangements
First aid provision, nearest hospital, rescue plan for someone in an excavation, service-strike procedure, and welfare facilities. Then the sign-off: who briefed the crew, who signed on, and the review date.
The point of the example
Notice how specific it is — real depths, real services, real plant. A generic "excavation RAMS" copied from the internet fails because it doesn't match the job. Good RAMS read like they were written for this task on this site.
Stop writing RAMS from scratch
Complys builds a complete, CDM-ready RAMS for your trade in minutes — hazards, controls, PPE, legislation, sequence of works and plant register — as a branded PDF you can share.
Sources
- HSE — Risk assessment template and examples
- HSE — Risk assessment: steps needed to manage risk
- CDM 2015, reg 15 (duties of contractors)
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Health and safety law and HSE guidance change over time — always check the current HSE and legislation.gov.uk guidance for your work.
Construction RAMS example — FAQs
Is there an official HSE RAMS template?
No. HSE doesn't publish or approve a RAMS template. It provides a free risk-assessment template and worked examples as a starting point, but the format of RAMS is up to you, as long as it's suitable and sufficient.
What does a construction RAMS include?
Project and task details, the risk assessment, a step-by-step sequence of works, plant and materials, PPE, COSHH and task-specific controls, emergency and welfare arrangements, and a briefing sign-off.
Can I reuse a RAMS from a previous job?
Use it as a starting point, but it must be adapted to the actual task, site and crew. Generic, unedited RAMS are the most common reason a submission is rejected.