RAMS template (Risk Assessment and Method Statement)

RAMS combines a risk assessment with a method statement: what could cause harm, and the exact sequence of work that keeps it controlled. The term does not appear in legislation, but the risk assessment half is required under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and clients and principal contractors routinely require full RAMS before granting site access.

Who it's for: UK contractors, subcontractors and the self-employed who need RAMS a principal contractor or client will accept.

Free to use and adapt · Last updated 2026-07-27 · No email required

Project and document details

Company name

Client / principal contractor

Site address

Description of the works

Start date and duration

RAMS reference and revision

Prepared by

Approved by Someone with authority to commit resources to the controls

Risk assessment

Score likelihood and severity from 1 to 5 and multiply. Anything scoring 15 or above needs further controls before work starts; re-score after controls to show the residual risk.

Hazard	Who might be harmed and how	Likelihood (1-5)	Severity (1-5)	Score	Controls

Method statement - sequence of work

Number each stage in the order it will happen on site, from arrival and set-up through to demobilisation. A competent person who has never seen this job should be able to follow it.

Stage	Description of work	Plant and equipment	Key controls at this stage

Plant, people and supporting documents

Plant and equipment listed, with statutory inspection records (e.g. LOLER, PUWER) current
Operatives hold the required competency cards or tickets (e.g. CSCS, CPCS, IPAF, PASMA) as applicable
Minimum PPE stated for each stage of the work
COSHH assessments attached for any hazardous substances used
Manual handling assessment attached where loads cannot be designed out
Working at height: a rescue plan is in place, not just fall arrest equipment
Temporary works design checked and approved where required
Site rules and permits from the principal contractor obtained before starting
Waste, housekeeping and public protection arrangements defined

Emergency arrangements

First aider and location of the first aid kit

Nearest A&E department

Site access point for emergency services The exact address and entrance to give 000

Fire assembly point

Accident and incident reporting Report to the site manager the same day; RIDDOR-reportable incidents must be reported to the HSE

Briefing and sign-on

Everyone carrying out the work must be briefed on this RAMS before starting and sign below. Re-brief anyone who joins later, and everyone after any revision.

Name	Company	Signature	Date

How to use it

Getting the most out of this template

Write the method statement as the sequence the crew will actually follow, stage by stage.
Score every risk and make sure anything at 15 or above gets extra controls before work starts.
Attach the supporting assessments: COSHH, manual handling, and a rescue plan for work at height.
Send the RAMS to the client or principal contractor for review before mobilising.
Brief the crew, collect signatures, and re-brief after any revision.

This template is general information, not legal advice. Requirements differ by jurisdiction and industry; check the guidance published by Safe Work Australia and your state WHS regulator and seek advice for your specific circumstances.

Questions

Frequently asked

Are RAMS legally required?

The term RAMS does not appear in any regulation. The risk assessment half is required under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and must be written down if you have 5 or more employees. The method statement half is not a legal requirement in itself, but principal contractors and clients routinely demand full RAMS before granting site access, particularly on projects covered by CDM 2015.

What is the difference between RAMS and a risk assessment?

The risk assessment identifies hazards, who could be harmed and the controls. The method statement puts those controls into a step-by-step sequence for the crew doing the job. RAMS is simply both in one document, which is why clients ask for it by that name.

Who should sign RAMS?

The person who prepared it, someone with authority to approve it, and every operative briefed on it before starting work. Collect signatures again after every revision; an unsigned RAMS proves nothing.

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