RAMS Explained: Risk Assessments and Method Statements

Introduction

If you've ever been asked to submit RAMS before starting a job, you'll know the feeling — a mix of confusion and mild dread. What exactly do they want? How long does it need to be? Do you really need one for every job?

The good news is that RAMS aren't complicated once you understand what they're for. This guide breaks it all down in plain English so you can produce solid RAMS documents quickly, stay compliant, and win more work.

What Is a Risk Assessment?

A risk assessment is a written document that looks at what could go wrong during a job and what you're doing to prevent it.

As a tradesperson, you're already doing this in your head every time you start a task. Writing it down just makes it formal and shareable.

A good risk assessment covers three things:

1. Hazards — what could cause harm (working at height, electrical exposure, manual handling)
2. Who's at risk — your team, other workers on site, members of the public
3. Controls — what steps you're taking to reduce or eliminate the risk

Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, employers and the self-employed must carry out suitable risk assessments. If you have five or more employees, you must write them down.

What Is a Method Statement?

A method statement explains how you're going to carry out the work, step by step, in a safe and controlled way.

Think of it as your work plan — but written so that a site manager, principal contractor, or health and safety inspector can read it and understand exactly what's happening on site.

A method statement typically includes:

1. Scope of work — a brief description of the task
2. Sequence of works — the order in which tasks will be carried out
3. Plant and equipment — tools, machinery, and materials being used
4. PPE requirements — what personal protective equipment operatives must wear
5. Emergency procedures — what to do if something goes wrong
6. Personnel involved — who is responsible for what on site

The method statement and risk assessment work together. The risk assessment identifies the dangers. The method statement explains how the job gets done while managing those dangers.

When Do You Need RAMS?

Not every job legally requires a written RAMS document — but many clients and principal contractors will ask for one regardless. Here's when you definitely need them:

1. Commercial and public sector contracts — almost always required before you set foot on site
2. CDM-notifiable projects — any project under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 with more than one contractor or lasting more than 30 working days
3. High-risk activities — working at height, confined spaces, live electrical work, demolition, asbestos removal
4. Insurance and liability purposes — having documented RAMS protects you if an incident occurs

Even on smaller domestic jobs, having a RAMS template ready shows professionalism and helps you win jobs over less-prepared competitors.

How to Write a Risk Assessment: Step-by-Step

1. List all hazards relevant to the job. Walk the site if you can. Think about every task involved — cutting, lifting, working near services, working at height.
2. Identify who could be harmed and how. Your team, other trades, site visitors, the public.
3. Rate the risk. Use a simple low, medium, high scale based on likelihood and severity.
4. List your control measures. What are you doing to reduce each risk? PPE, barriers, permits to work, trained operatives.
5. Review and update. If the scope of work changes, update the document. A RAMS is a live document, not a one-off tick box.

How to Write a Method Statement: Step-by-Step

1. Start with the basics. Company name, job address, date, and a brief description of the works.
2. List the sequence of works. Break the job into stages. Be specific — not just "install cables" but "isolate supply, run first fix cables, test continuity, reinstate".
3. Detail equipment and materials. Include plant, hand tools, hired equipment, and any specialist kit.
4. State PPE requirements for each task. Hard hat, safety boots, gloves, hi-vis, eye protection — be specific to each activity.
5. Include emergency procedures. First aid arrangements, who to contact, evacuation routes.
6. Name responsible persons. Who is supervising? Who is the site contact?
7. Get it signed. Have operatives sign to confirm they've read and understood the document before starting work.

Common RAMS Mistakes to Avoid

1. Using generic templates without editing them. A RAMS for a plumbing job on a live hospital site is not the same as a domestic boiler swap. Tailor every document to the actual job.
2. Forgetting to update RAMS mid-project. If the scope changes, your RAMS must change with it.
3. Listing controls that aren't actually in place. Don't say you'll have a banksman on site if you won't. This could invalidate your insurance.
4. Making them too long. A 40-page RAMS for a straightforward job doesn't make you look safer — it makes it harder to find the relevant information.

How Technology Can Speed Up Your RAMS

Writing RAMS from scratch for every job eats time you don't have. That's where tools built for tradespeople make a real difference.

MyQS helps tradespeople generate professional RAMS documents quickly, so you spend less time at your desk and more time on the tools. Templates are built for common trade activities and can be tailored to specific job requirements in minutes — no legal jargon, no wasted time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do sole traders need to write RAMS?

Yes. If you're self-employed and work on sites where others are present, you should have risk assessments in place. If you're the only person at risk and there are no other workers or members of the public nearby, the legal requirement is lighter — but having RAMS still protects you professionally and commercially.

How long should a RAMS document be?

Long enough to cover the job — no longer. For most trade tasks, a risk assessment can be completed in one or two pages. A method statement for a straightforward job might be two to three pages. Complex or high-risk projects will need more detail, but avoid padding for the sake of it.

Can you reuse RAMS from a previous job?

You can use previous documents as a starting point, but never submit them unchanged. Every job is different — the hazards, the site layout, the people involved. Always review and update before you submit. Using an old RAMS without amending it is one of the most common mistakes tradespeople make.

Conclusion

RAMS aren't bureaucratic box-ticking. Done properly, they protect you, your team, and your business. They show clients you take safety seriously — and they keep you on the right side of the law.

Once you've got a clear process in place, writing RAMS becomes quick and straightforward. The key is having good templates and knowing exactly what information to include.

Ready to produce professional RAMS faster? Visit myqs.ai to see how we help UK tradespeople handle the paperwork so they can focus on the work.