What Is a RAMS Document? CDM 2015 Guide + Worked Example

A plain-English reference for UK site managers, principal contractors, and small construction businesses who need to produce, review, or submit a RAMS document and want to understand exactly what legal weight it carries.

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What Is a RAMS Document?

RAMS stands for Risk Assessment and Method Statement. It is a single document — or a pair of linked documents presented together — that explains what hazards exist in a specific work task, how those hazards will be controlled, and the precise sequence of work that operatives will follow to carry it out safely.

RAMS is an industry-standard term, not a phrase defined in statute. The legal foundation sits in the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015), the primary UK statutory instrument governing health and safety management on construction projects. CDM 2015 places duties on clients, principal designers, principal contractors, and contractors to plan, manage, and monitor construction work so it is carried out without risks to health and safety — and a RAMS document is the widely accepted method by which contractors discharge significant elements of that duty. (CDM 2015)

In practice: if a principal contractor hands you a task and says "send me your RAMS before you start," they are asking you to demonstrate, in writing, that you have thought through every significant hazard and have a controlled, step-by-step plan to manage it.

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RAMS: The Two Components Unpacked

Component	What it addresses	Core question it answers
Risk Assessment	Hazards present in the task and the controls applied to reduce them to an acceptable level	What could go wrong, and what stops it?
Method Statement	The planned sequence of work, plant, materials, and personnel arrangements	How will the work actually be done, safely and in order?

Risk Assessment identifies hazards (e.g. naked flame near bitumen felt), evaluates the likelihood and severity without controls, specifies the control measures applied, and records the residual level of risk after controls. The risk rating approach — likelihood × consequence grids — is industry convention, not a statutory format.

Method Statement describes the task in sequential steps: site access, plant positioning, operative roles, PPE requirements, communication arrangements, and the criteria that would trigger a work stoppage. It turns the abstract controls in the risk assessment into concrete actions that any operative on site can follow.

Together they become a RAMS: each control measure in the risk assessment should be traceable to a corresponding step in the method statement.

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When Is a RAMS Document Required Under UK Law?

CDM 2015 is the statutory framework, and it applies to all construction work — not only notifiable projects. The regulations impose duties to plan, manage, and monitor work safely regardless of project size or duration. (CDM 2015)

In practical terms, expect a RAMS to be required when:

• You are a contractor carrying out work on a project where a principal contractor has been appointed — the PC's construction phase plan will almost always require task-specific RAMS before high-risk activities commence.
• The work involves activities listed in CDM 2015 Schedule 3 (work involving particular risks), which includes work exposing workers to the risk of burial, chemical or biological exposure, work near high-voltage power lines, work exposing workers to drowning risk, tunnels, caissons, explosives, and the assembly or dismantling of heavy prefabricated components. Hot-works on a live roof sits outside the Schedule 3 list itself but involves fire, structural loading, and simultaneous occupation — all factors that make a written RAMS essential.
• A client, principal contractor, or facilities manager contractually requires it as a pre-condition of entry.
• Wider UK health and safety law requires you to have assessed and recorded the risks in your work activities.

Key point: "CDM 2015 requires a RAMS" is an over-simplification. CDM 2015 requires risk to be planned and managed. A RAMS is how competent contractors demonstrate they have done so. The document is also a record of your thinking if an incident leads to enforcement or litigation.

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Who Writes a RAMS Document? Duty-Holder Responsibilities Under CDM 2015

CDM 2015 establishes four duty-holder roles. Each has a defined relationship with the RAMS process:

CDM 2015 Duty-Holder	Role in the RAMS Process
Client	Sets the project programme and provides pre-construction information. Poor or late pre-construction information is a leading cause of inadequate hazard identification in RAMS documents.
Principal Designer	Coordinates health and safety during the pre-construction phase; identifies and eliminates design-stage hazards so they do not have to be controlled in a RAMS at all. Passes residual risk information to the principal contractor.
Principal Contractor	Sets RAMS requirements in the construction phase plan; reviews and accepts (or rejects) RAMS submitted by contractors; ensures work does not begin until an acceptable RAMS is in place for high-risk tasks.
Contractor	Writes the RAMS for their specific scope of work; consults with their own workers during preparation; ensures operatives have read and signed the RAMS before work commences.

Where a project has only one contractor and no principal contractor is appointed, that contractor carries the combined duties. The client retains duties regardless.

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What Must a RAMS Document Contain? Section-by-Section Breakdown

There is no statutory template, but a document that supports CDM 2015 compliance will address all of the following:

1. Project and task identification — site address, project name, task description, RAMS reference number, version, and date.
2. Scope of work — precise boundaries of the task: what is and is not included.
3. Legislation and standards referenced — the regulatory context the work sits within.
4. Personnel and competence — named supervisor, operative roles, required training, certifications, and experience.
5. Plant, equipment, and materials — itemised list with inspection/test status noted.
6. Hazard identification and risk evaluation — all foreseeable hazards with likelihood and severity assessed before and after controls.
7. Control measures — hierarchy of controls applied: eliminate, substitute, engineer out, administrative, PPE.
8. Method statement (sequential work steps) — numbered steps covering the full task from mobilisation to demobilisation.
9. Emergency arrangements — fire, injury, environmental spill, and evacuation procedures specific to the task and site.
10. Communication and coordination — briefing arrangements, permit-to-work linkages, hot-works permit, working at height permit if applicable.
11. Environmental considerations — waste disposal, noise, dust, contamination controls.
12. Sign-off and review triggers — authorisation signatures, operative briefing record, and defined conditions that require the RAMS to be revised before work continues.

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Worked Example: RAMS for Hot-Works on a Live Commercial Roof (Annotated)

Scenario: A specialist roofing contractor is tasked with torch-applied felt membrane repair on a flat commercial roof at 8 m above ground level. The building is occupied during working hours (09:00–17:00). A principal contractor is appointed. The repair area is 12 m².

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Section 1 — Project and Task Identification

Field	Entry
Site address	Unit 7, Redfield Business Park, Bristol BS5 9XX
Task	Torch-applied felt membrane repair — 12 m² flat roof section
RAMS reference	RC-2025-047 v1.0
Date	14 July 2025
Prepared by	J. Hargreaves, Hargreaves Roofing Ltd

Annotation: Version control is critical. If the RAMS is revised after a site change (e.g. occupancy hours change), a new version must be issued, re-briefed, and re-signed.

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Section 2 — Hazards, Controls, and Residual Risk

#	Hazard	Without controls	Control measures applied	Residual risk
H1	Fire spread from torch to substrate or adjacent felt	High	Hot-works permit; fire watch 60 min post-works; 10-litre pressurised water extinguisher within 2 m of works; non-combustible barrier board between live felt and work area	Low
H2	Falls from roof edge (8 m)	High	1.1 m-high edge protection scaffold (pre-erected); operative briefed on exclusion zone; no leading-edge working permitted	Low
H3	Burns to operative from torch flame (1,300 °C)	Medium	Nomex gloves; leather apron; face shield; trained torch operative only; gas cylinder upright and secured	Low
H4	LPG cylinder fire/explosion	High	Cylinder stored in ventilated, locked cage at ground level; max one working cylinder on roof at any time; no cylinder within 3 m of flame when not in use; supplier safety data sheet on file	Low
H5	Smoke inhalation — operative and building occupants	Medium	Task restricted to 07:00–08:30 (pre-occupancy window); HVAC intake at roof level isolated by FM before works start; operative wears FFP3 half-mask	Low
H6	Structural overloading — LPG cylinder and equipment on ageing flat roof	Medium	Structural survey note confirms load capacity ≥ 250 kg/m²; total equipment load distributed across boards; no single point load > 50 kg	Low

Annotation: Restricting hot-works to pre-occupancy hours is the single highest-impact control here. It addresses H5, reduces H4 consequence, and reduces the PC's liability if an incident occurs. Document the agreed window in writing with the FM.

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Section 3 — Method Statement (Sequential Steps)

1. Mobilise (06:30): Deliver materials to ground-floor loading bay. Check hot-works permit is signed and valid for today's date and location.
2. Set up (06:45): Erect signage at roof-access hatch and ground perimeter. Confirm edge protection is intact and tied at all four corners.
3. Isolate HVAC (07:00): FM representative confirms HVAC intake isolated. Record name and time in site diary.
4. Bring equipment to roof (07:10): One LPG cylinder per operative, carried vertically in cage carrier. No dragging. Secure upright against parapet.
5. Prepare substrate (07:15): Wire-brush repair area. Remove loose material. Fit non-combustible barrier boards around perimeter of repair.
6. Hot-works (07:30–08:20): Torch-apply felt in 0.5 m strips, moving away from cylinder. Supervisor maintains continuous visual watch. At no point leave lit torch unattended.
7. Hot-works stop (08:20): Extinguish torch. Close cylinder valve. Supervisor conducts first fire-check of substrate and surrounding area.
8. Fire watch (08:20–09:20): One operative remains on roof for 60-minute fire watch. FFP3 worn. No other works during this period.
9. HVAC reinstated (09:15): FM reinstates HVAC. Confirm in writing.
10. Demobilise (09:20): Cylinder removed to ground cage. Waste to skip. Remove barrier boards. Confirm edge protection remains intact for next phase.
11. Hot-works permit close-out (09:25): Supervisor signs permit closed. Copy retained on site file.

Annotation: The 60-minute fire watch in step 8 reflects established industry guidance for torch-applied roofing. Note the HVAC reinstatement in step 9 must happen before the building is occupied at 09:00 — confirm the sequence works with the FM in advance, not on the day.

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Duty-Holder Responsibility Matrix: Who Owns Each RAMS Section

RAMS Section	Client	Principal Designer	Principal Contractor	Contractor
Pre-construction information (structural surveys, HVAC layouts, existing services)	Provides	Coordinates and passes on	Uses to set requirements	Uses to write RAMS
Hazard identification	Indirect (information duty)	Eliminates design-stage hazards	Reviews adequacy	Writes
Control measures	—	Design controls passed to PC	Reviews and challenges	Selects and writes
Emergency arrangements	—	—	Sets site-wide requirements	Adapts to task; must align with site plan
Method statement (work sequence)	—	—	Reviews for buildability and interface risks	Writes
Operative sign-off (briefing record)	—	—	Audits on inspection	Obtains signatures
Review triggers	—	—	May mandate triggers	Defines task-specific triggers
RAMS approval before work starts	—	—	Formally approves	Submits for approval

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Pre-Submission Checklist: 12 Questions Before You Hand Over Your RAMS

Run through this before submitting to your principal contractor. Every "No" is a rework risk.

#	Question	Yes / No
1	Does the RAMS identify the specific site address, task, and date?
2	Is every hazard relevant to this task — not a generic office risk list — identified?
3	Does each control measure follow the hierarchy (eliminate → substitute → engineer → admin → PPE)?
4	Is the method statement written in numbered steps a new operative could follow without verbal briefing?
5	Are all plant and equipment items listed with current inspection/test status confirmed?
6	Does the RAMS reference the specific hot-works permit (or other permit) required?
7	Are emergency arrangements specific to this site — named muster point, named first aider, site emergency number?
8	Have your operatives been consulted during RAMS preparation (CDM 2015 duty)?
9	Is there a version number and date on the document?
10	Does the RAMS address environmental controls (waste, noise, dust, spill) relevant to this task?
11	Is there a briefing record page for operative signatures?
12	Have you identified the conditions that would require a RAMS review (e.g. change of method, near-miss, change of site conditions)?

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Common RAMS Rejection Reasons and How to Avoid Them

Rejection reason	Why it happens	How to fix it
Generic hazard lists not matched to the task	Contractor copies a previous RAMS without adapting it. PC reviewer spots hazards that cannot apply to this site or sees obvious site-specific hazards missing.	Start from the task and site, not from a previous document. Use the pre-construction information supplied by the PC.
Controls listed but not sequenced into the method statement	Risk assessment and method statement written by different people with no cross-check.	Trace each control to a specific step number in the method statement before submitting.
Emergency arrangements are site-generic, not task-specific	Contractor copies the site induction emergency plan verbatim.	Add the task-specific escalation: e.g. "if fire is detected during hot-works, operative activates site alarm at Panel A (Level 1, stairwell east), evacuates to muster point C, and contacts supervisor on 07XXX XXXXXX."
No operative competence evidence referenced	RAMS states "operatives will be trained" without specifying what training, experience, or current records support competence.	Name the relevant training or evidence (e.g. hot-works training record, MEWP operator training category where a MEWP is used) and state where records are held.
No version control or review trigger	A one-version RAMS with no mechanism for update means the PC cannot be confident the document reflects current conditions.	Add a version table and define at least three triggers: scope change, near-miss/incident, and PC instruction.

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How Long Should a RAMS Document Be Kept?

CDM 2015's primary source text does not specify a retention period for RAMS documents. In industry practice, documents are commonly retained for the duration of the project plus a further period aligned with the limitation period for personal injury claims under wider UK law — typically held to be a minimum of several years. Keep RAMS in your project file alongside the construction phase plan and any permit records. If you are unsure, take advice from your insurer or legal adviser on retention appropriate to your business.

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How ramsdocs Helps You Produce Review-Ready RAMS Faster

ramsdocs provides structured RAMS templates built around the CDM 2015 duty-holder framework, with section-by-section guidance notes that map directly to the hazard identification, control, and method statement structure described above. Each template is designed to be PC review-ready and to reduce RAMS rework — but every output must be reviewed and adapted to your specific site, task, and contractor requirements by a competent person before use.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does RAMS stand for? Risk Assessment and Method Statement. It is one combined document (or two documents submitted together) covering both the hazard analysis and the planned work sequence.

What is the difference between a risk assessment and a method statement? A risk assessment identifies hazards and the controls applied to them. A method statement describes the sequential steps operatives will follow to carry out the work. In a RAMS, each control in the risk assessment should be traceable to a step in the method statement.

When is a RAMS document legally required? CDM 2015 requires all construction work to be planned, managed, and monitored to protect health and safety. A RAMS is the standard method by which contractors demonstrate they have discharged that duty — particularly for high-risk tasks. It is also a near-universal contractual requirement on sites where a principal contractor is appointed.

Who is responsible for writing a RAMS? The contractor carrying out the work writes it. The principal contractor reviews and approves it before work starts. CDM 2015 requires contractors to consult their workers during preparation.

What happens if you work without a RAMS on a notifiable project? Working without suitable risk assessment and safe-method evidence when a PC or client requires RAMS may lead to refused site access, suspension of the works, and significant liability in the event of an incident. The enforcement risk under CDM 2015 arises from inadequate planning, management, monitoring or control of the work, not from the acronym "RAMS" itself.

How does a RAMS relate to CDM 2015? CDM 2015 is the statutory framework that creates the duty to plan and manage risk. A RAMS is the document that captures that planning. The principal contractor's construction phase plan sets out the requirement for task-specific RAMS; the contractor produces them; the PC approves them.

How long should a RAMS be kept? CDM 2015 does not specify a retention period. Industry practice is to retain RAMS for at least the project duration plus a further period in line with your organisation's document retention policy and insurance requirements.

Do principal contractors expect a COSHH assessment as part of a RAMS submission? Yes, in practice most principal contractors treat the RAMS package as incomplete without COSHH assessments where hazardous substances are involved. A COSHH assessment is a distinct document written around each individual substance — not the task as a whole — so a single scope of work may require several: one for bitumen fumes, one for a solvent-based adhesive, one for a cleaning agent, and so on. Each should reference the relevant Safety Data Sheet and specify the exposure controls in place.

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Disclaimer: This page is for general guidance only. All RAMS documents produced using this guidance, or any ramsdocs template, must be reviewed and adapted to the specific site, task, operative competence, and contractor requirements by a competent person before use. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice or a guarantee of regulatory compliance.