RAMS in Construction: The Safety Step That Saves Lives

At Safety CDM, we believe that Risk Assessments and Method Statements (RAMS) are one of the most crucial tools for creating safer construction sites. When used properly, RAMS help teams plan work effectively, communicate clearly, and prevent accidents. In this blog, we’ll look at what RAMS in construction safety are, why site-specific documents matter, and how to make sure they’re actively used and not just written and filed away.

The Legal Basics: What the HSE Says

Employers are required by law to carry out general risk assessments for the health and safety risks employees and others may be exposed to on site. For certain higher-risk tasks like work at height, manual handling, exposure to hazardous substances, or demolition, specific risk assessments are mandatory.

Method statements, while not a legal requirement in every case, are a proven and practical way to plan, manage and monitor work safely. In demolition or structural alteration projects, they must be written before work begins.

But the law is only the starting point. Good RAMS go beyond compliance, serving as a tool for safe, efficient, and informed site management.

🔗 For more on your legal responsibilities, check out the HSE’s guidance on administrative requirements for construction health and safety – including RAMS, notifications, and inspection reports.

Why RAMS Matter

More than just documents, RAMS are practical safety tools that guide real work on site. When prepared and used properly, they can:

✅ Highlight specific hazards for a site or task
🛡️ Set out clear, logical control measures to manage those risks
📋 Provide step-by-step instructions for carrying out work safely
📣 Communicate expectations to workers and subcontractors
🧱 Support the principal contractor in developing the construction phase plan

They also play a key role in preventing everyday risks like slips, trips and falls which remain one of the most common causes of workplace injury. Read more in our blog on Workplace Fall Prevention.

Making RAMS Work for Your Site, Not Just Any Site

Generic documents that get reused from one site to the next may tick a compliance box, but they rarely reflect the real risks on the ground. Each construction site is different: terrain, materials, weather, and staffing can all vary. That’s why site-specific RAMS are essential.

While creating these takes more time and effort, the benefits are clear:

More relevant risk identification.
Stronger worker engagement.
Improved safety outcomes.
A clearer audit trail if things go wrong.

Using RAMS Effectively

Even the most well-written RAMS are useless if they’re ignored. Here’s how to make sure they’re more than paperwork:

Use them in toolbox talks to brief workers before tasks.
Include diagrams or photos for clarity.
Keep them accessible on site, not just buried in folders.
Monitor compliance: are workers actually following the method statement?
Update RAMS as the job changes – especially important for demolition or phased works.

At Safety CDM, we believe that RAMS are more than a compliance requirement. They are not only essential, but also serve as a vital tool for ensuring on-site safety. That’s why we work closely with contractors, designers, and site managers to develop and maintain clear, site-specific risk assessments and method statements that reflect real working conditions. From CDM Risk Assessments to RAMS reviews and updates, we’re here to help you embed safety into your everyday operations – keeping documents relevant, clear, and aligned with how work is actually carried out on-site.

RAMS should be live, interactive documents which are constantly reviewed, updated, and used to guide how work is done on-site. When approached this way, they don’t just meet HSE expectations – they help minimise risk and drive a culture of accountability and safety.