What to Include in a RAMS Template: 14 Sections + Worked Example (CDM 2015)

RAMS — Risk Assessments and Method Statements — is an industry convention, not a term that appears in the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015). Understanding that distinction is the starting point for building a template that actually satisfies the underlying legal duties rather than ticking a box on a pre-start checklist.

This page maps each template section to the specific CDM 2015 obligation it satisfies, then shows — field by field, using scaffold erection as the worked scenario — exactly what an adequate entry looks like versus what gets a RAMS rejected before work starts.

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What a RAMS Template Actually Is — and Why the Two Halves Must Stay Linked

A RAMS document combines two distinct outputs into one coherent record:

• The risk assessment half identifies hazards, the people at risk, and scores the likelihood and severity of harm — before and after controls are applied.
• The method statement half describes the actual sequence of work, plant, materials, and the physical controls that reduce the rated risks to an acceptable residual level.

The link between the two halves is non-negotiable. A method statement that describes controls not referenced in the risk assessment, or a risk assessment listing hazards for which the method statement provides no controls, is internally inconsistent and will rightly be challenged by any competent principal contractor reviewer. Every hazard row in the risk assessment must trace directly to a control measure described in the method statement.

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The Legal Framework: What CDM 2015 Requires (and What It Does Not Prescribe)

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 are the primary UK legislative instrument governing health, safety, and welfare in construction projects, placing duties on clients, principal designers, principal contractors, contractors, and workers. (CDM 2015)

CDM 2015 imposes a duty on contractors to plan, manage and monitor construction work under their control so that it is carried out without risks to health or safety so far as is reasonably practicable. (CDM 2015) A written RAMS document is the primary practical mechanism through which contractors evidence that planning and management duty for high-risk tasks.

Under CDM 2015, a principal contractor must organise cooperation between contractors and coordinate implementation of the relevant legal requirements. (CDM 2015) In practice, this is why principal contractors commonly require subcontractor RAMS to be submitted and reviewed before work commences — the PC carries coordination duties that depend on knowing how each contractor intends to manage the risks from their work.

CDM 2015 also places duties on contractors to provide workers under their control with appropriate supervision, instructions and information, including information on relevant risks and emergency procedures. (CDM 2015) The RAMS briefing record — the signed sheet confirming workers have been talked through the document — is a practical evidence trail for that duty.

What CDM 2015 does not do: it does not prescribe a specific RAMS format, a mandatory field list, or a required risk scoring system. The 14 sections below are the industry-established structure for satisfying those underlying duties in a single, auditable document.

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The 14 Sections Every Compliant RAMS Template Must Contain

#	Section	CDM 2015 duty it helps satisfy
1	Project and task identification	Contractor's planning duty; PC coordination duty
2	Company and competence details	Contractor's duty to deploy competent workers
3	Scope of work	Contractor's planning and management duty
4	Legislation and standards reference	Demonstrates awareness of applicable legal framework
5	Hazard identification	Risk assessment requirement underpinning contractor's duty
6	People at risk	Ensures all affected parties are considered
7	Risk rating (before controls)	Quantifies inherent risk; baseline for demonstrating control
8	Control measures	Core of contractor's duty to eliminate or reduce risk
9	Risk rating (after controls)	Demonstrates residual risk is as low as reasonably practicable
10	Sequence of work / method statement	Contractor's planning and management duty
11	Plant, equipment, and materials	Identifies additional hazard sources; supports safe place of work duty
12	PPE requirements	Specific control measure; last-resort protection
13	Emergency arrangements	CDM 2015 Part 4 — emergency procedures on construction sites
14	Sign-off and briefing record	Evidence of information and instruction duty to workers

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Section Deep-Dive: The Risk Assessment Half

Hazard Identification (Section 5)

List every foreseeable hazard associated with the task — not generic categories but specific hazards. "Working at height" is a category; "unguarded leading edge on lift 3 during bay infill" is a hazard. The more precisely a hazard is named, the more precisely a control can be written.

People at Risk (Section 6)

Go beyond "operatives". Name every group who could be harmed: the erection crew, workers passing beneath the scaffold, members of the public, delivery drivers, and any other trade working nearby. This shapes the scope of control measures needed.

Risk Rating Before Controls (Section 7)

Use a Likelihood × Severity matrix. This is a best-practice tool, not a statutory requirement — but it makes the risk reduction process auditable.

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Risk Scoring Matrix: Calculating Residual Risk Before and After Controls

5 × 5 Likelihood × Severity Matrix (best practice — not a statutory requirement)

	Severity 1 Negligible	Severity 2 Minor injury	Severity 3 RIDDOR reportable	Severity 4 Major injury	Severity 5 Fatal
Likelihood 1 Very unlikely	1	2	3	4	5
Likelihood 2 Unlikely	2	4	6	8	10
Likelihood 3 Possible	3	6	9	12	15
Likelihood 4 Likely	4	8	12	16	20
Likelihood 5 Very likely	5	10	15	20	25

Score bands: 1–5 Low | 6–12 Medium | 13–19 High | 20–25 Very High

Worked example — scaffold erection, fall from height hazard:

Stage	Likelihood	Severity	Score	Band
Before controls (no edge protection, no TW permit)	4	5	20	Very High
After controls (TW permit, advance guardrail system, harness with anchor, trained operatives, exclusion zone)	2	5	10	Medium

The residual score does not reach Low because fall from height severity cannot be reduced — a fall from scaffold height remains potentially fatal. The control effort is concentrated on reducing likelihood. This is the correct analytical approach and should be visible in the template.

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Section Deep-Dive: The Method Statement Half

Sequence of Work (Section 10)

Number each step. For scaffold erection: (1) site set-up and exclusion zone establishment; (2) delivery and inspection of components; (3) base plates and standards; (4) ledgers and transoms — lift by lift; (5) guardrail and toe-board fitting; (6) handover inspection and tag. Vague entries like "erect scaffold as required" are the single most common reason RAMS are rejected.

Plant, Equipment, and Materials (Section 11)

State the specific items, their inspection status, and the competence requirement for each. A MEWP used to facilitate erection requires an operator with documented training; a gin wheel requires a specific working load limit check.

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Worked Example: Scaffold Erection RAMS — Adequate vs Inadequate Entries Side by Side

Scenario: Erection of a tube-and-fitting scaffold to a 3-storey domestic conversion on a notifiable CDM project. Subcontractor submitting RAMS to principal contractor for pre-start approval.

RAMS Field	❌ Inadequate Entry	✅ Compliant Entry	CDM 2015 / Duty Satisfied	Who Completes	Who Approves	Who Signs at Briefing
1. Project / task ID	"Scaffold — Unit 4"	Site address, contract ref, specific lift/elevation, revision number, RAMS issue date	PC coordination duty — document must be traceable	Subcontractor supervisor	PC site manager	—
2. Company / competence	"Our guys are trained"	Company name, evidence of scaffold competence for the system used, temporary works permit holder named where relevant	Contractor's duty to deploy competent workers	Subcontractor H&S lead	PC H&S advisor	—
3. Scope of work	"Erect scaffold as required"	"Tube-and-fitting independent scaffold, 3 lifts, 12 m bay length, east elevation, max working height 8.4 m above ground level"	Contractor's planning duty	Subcontractor supervisor	—	—
4. Legislation / standards	"All relevant regs"	CDM 2015; BS EN 12811-1; TG20:21 guide; WAHR 2005 referenced	Demonstrates awareness of legal framework	H&S advisor	—	—
5. Hazard ID	"Working at height"	"Unguarded leading edge during bay infill at lift 2; falling objects striking exclusion zone; scaffold component handling — manual handling injury"	Core of contractor's risk reduction duty	Supervisor / H&S lead	—	—
6. People at risk	"Workers"	"Scaffold erection crew (4 persons); ground workers within 6 m radius; public using adjacent footpath; bricklayers on adjacent lift"	Ensures all affected parties considered	H&S lead	—	—
7. Risk rating (pre-control)	"High" (no matrix)	L4 × S5 = 20 (Very High) — fall from height	Makes inherent risk auditable	H&S lead	PC H&S advisor	—
8. Control measures	"Use PPE and be careful"	"Advance guardrail system installed before each lift; exclusion zone cones and barrier tape 3 m from base; TW permit signed by named TW supervisor before each lift; operatives briefed daily; personal fall protection used only where collective protection is not yet in place and anchor points have been confirmed suitable"	Core risk reduction; contractor's management duty	Supervisor drafts; H&S lead reviews	PC site manager	—
9. Risk rating (post-control)	Not completed	L2 × S5 = 10 (Medium) — residual risk accepted by named TW holder	Demonstrates ALARP	H&S lead	PC H&S advisor	—
10. Sequence of work	"Erect scaffold in stages"	Numbered 8-step sequence from exclusion zone set-up through component inspection, base plates, lift-by-lift erection, guardrail fit, handover tag	Contractor's planning and management duty	Supervisor	PC site manager	—
11. Plant / equipment	"Scaffold tubes and fittings"	Tube-and-fitting (BS EN 39), base plates, gin wheel (SWL 100 kg), inspection record date; MEWP if used — operator training category and record reference	Identifies additional hazard sources	Supervisor	—	—
12. PPE	"Hard hat, boots"	Hard hat (EN 397), safety boots (EN ISO 20345 S3), hi-vis vest (EN ISO 20471 Class 2), gloves (EN 388), full-body harness (EN 361) + lanyard with anchor — specific to tasks above 2 m where collective protection not yet established	Last-resort control; specific to task	Supervisor	PC H&S advisor	Each operative (confirms receipt/fit)
13. Emergency arrangements	"Call 999"	Site first-aider name and location; muster point grid ref; nearest A&E (named hospital, route); rescue plan if operative suspended in harness; PC emergency contact number	CDM 2015 Part 4 — emergency procedures	PC provides; contractor supplements	PC H&S advisor	Each operative
14. Briefing record	No signatures	Printed names + signatures of all operatives, date of briefing, name of person who conducted briefing, confirmation document version briefed	Contractor's information and instruction duty	Supervisor conducts	—	All workers present

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Roles and Sign-Off: Who Completes, Who Approves, Who Signs at Briefing

Worker signatures on the briefing record are widely recommended as the primary evidence that CDM 2015 duties to provide information and instruction to workers have been discharged — but they are not a free-standing statutory requirement stated in those terms in CDM 2015. Their value is evidential: if an incident occurs, a signed briefing record demonstrates that the operative was informed of the hazards and controls before starting work.

Minimum sign-off structure:

Role	Action	Timing
Subcontractor supervisor / H&S lead	Drafts and signs RAMS as author	Before submission
Subcontractor director / senior manager	Counter-signs as approving authority	Before submission
PC site manager / H&S advisor	Reviews and accepts (or rejects with comments)	Before work starts
All operatives who will carry out the work	Sign briefing record confirming they have been talked through the document	Morning of first day of task; re-briefed if scope changes

A RAMS signed only at the top by an office-based manager and never briefed to the workers on the ground satisfies no one — and provides no protection in enforcement proceedings.

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PPE, Emergency Arrangements, and Welfare — The Sections Most RAMS Get Wrong

PPE: The most common error is listing generic PPE ("hard hat, hi-vis, boots") without linking it to specific hazards. PPE is the last line of defence after collective controls (edge protection, exclusion zones, permits). The template must state: which specific hazard the PPE item addresses, the relevant standard (e.g. EN 361 for harness), and the condition for its use (e.g. "harness worn when working above 2 m where collective edge protection is not yet installed").

Emergency arrangements: Templates routinely copy a generic site emergency plan without adapting it to the specific task. For scaffold erection, the template must address suspended-in-harness rescue — a specific scenario with a short rescue time window. Name the first-aider, the nearest A&E, and the rescue procedure. These details should be provided by the principal contractor as part of the site induction information and then supplemented by the subcontractor for task-specific emergencies.

Welfare: Schedule 2 of CDM 2015 sets minimum welfare facility requirements for construction sites (sanitary conveniences, washing facilities, drinking water, changing rooms, rest facilities). The RAMS template should confirm workers know where these facilities are located — it is a brief addition but demonstrates the contractor has considered worker welfare beyond the immediate task.

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Pre-Submission Adequacy Checklist: 15 Pass/Fail Tests Before Handing RAMS to a Principal Contractor

Use this checklist before submitting any subcontractor RAMS. Each item is binary: pass or fail. A single fail should be corrected before submission.

#	Test	Pass / Fail
1	RAMS is task-specific (not a generic template with blanked fields)	☐
2	Site address and contract reference are correct and current	☐
3	Revision number and issue date are present	☐
4	All named operatives hold documented competence relevant to the task	☐
5	Every hazard is described specifically, not by category alone	☐
6	All groups of people at risk are named (not just "operatives")	☐
7	Pre-control risk scores are completed for every hazard row	☐
8	Control measures are specific, actionable, and proportionate to the pre-control score	☐
9	Post-control risk scores are completed and are lower than pre-control scores	☐
10	Every hazard in the risk assessment maps to at least one control in the method statement	☐
11	Method statement describes a numbered, step-by-step sequence (not narrative prose)	☐
12	PPE is listed with relevant standard and the specific hazard it addresses	☐
13	Emergency arrangements name a first-aider, muster point, and nearest A&E	☐
14	Document is signed by the subcontractor's approving authority	☐
15	Blank briefing record sheet is included, ready for operative signatures on day of work	☐

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Notifiable vs Non-Notifiable Projects: Does the Template Change?

CDM 2015 defines a notifiable project as one where the construction phase is expected to last longer than 30 working days with more than 20 workers simultaneously on site, or to exceed 500 person-days of construction work. (CDM 2015, Regulation 6) Notifiable projects require HSE notification and the formal appointment of a principal designer and principal contractor.

Practically, what changes for the RAMS template on a notifiable project?

Where a principal contractor is appointed, the PC has explicit statutory coordination duties, which means the PC's pre-start RAMS review is normally a formal gate under site rules and contract procedures. The RAMS should reference the construction phase plan, and control measures must align with it. The PC may also require RAMS to reference specific site rules established in that plan (e.g., fixed permit-to-work procedures, delivery management arrangements).

On a non-notifiable project with a single contractor, there is no principal contractor. The contractor operates under their own planning and management duties. The RAMS template structure does not change — the same 14 sections apply — but the approval chain is internal rather than submitted to a PC. The briefing record remains essential as evidence of the contractor's duty to inform and instruct workers.

The template content requirements are the same. The submission route and approval authority change.

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Common Reasons RAMS Are Rejected — and How to Fix Them in the Template

Rejection reason	Root cause	Template fix
Generic hazards ("working at height")	Template has free-text field with no prompt	Add a prompt: "Describe the specific hazard at this task, location, and stage of work"
No post-control risk scores	Risk rating column missing from template	Add pre- and post-control columns as mandatory fields
Method statement is a narrative paragraph	No structure imposed	Replace with numbered sequence table
PPE list is site standard only	PPE section not task-specific	Add field: "PPE specific to this task and why"
No emergency rescue detail	Emergency section is generic	Add mandatory field for suspended-in-harness or task-specific rescue plan
No briefing signatures	Template ends at approval sign-off	Add a second page: briefing record with signature rows
Document is undated / unversioned	No version control field	Add "Issue date" and "Revision number" to the header
Competence claimed but not evidenced	Competence field is free text only	Add field for card/certification number and expiry date

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How ramsdocs Generates PC Review-Ready, Site-Specific RAMS Templates in Minutes

ramsdocs builds RAMS documents from the ground up for each specific task and site, ensuring the two halves are internally consistent — every hazard row in the risk assessment is linked to a corresponding control in the method statement. Fields prompt for specific entries rather than accepting generic text, and the briefing record is included automatically.

Documents generated by ramsdocs are designed to be PC review-ready and to reduce RAMS rework — but they must always be reviewed and adapted to the specific site, task, and contractor by a competent person before use. No software output removes that obligation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the compulsory sections every RAMS template must contain? CDM 2015 does not prescribe a specific format. The 14 sections listed above represent the industry-established structure for satisfying the underlying duties — contractor planning and management, risk reduction, worker information and instruction, and emergency preparedness — in a single auditable document.

How does the risk assessment part differ from the method statement part? The risk assessment identifies and scores hazards. The method statement describes the physical controls that reduce those scores. They must be internally consistent: every hazard needs a corresponding control, and every control in the method statement should link back to a hazard.

What legal framework governs RAMS on UK construction sites? CDM 2015 is the primary instrument. It places duties on contractors to plan, manage and monitor work; on principal contractors to coordinate between contractors; and on contractors to provide workers under their control with suitable information, instructions and supervision.

How should hazards and risk ratings be recorded? As a Likelihood × Severity matrix producing a numerical score, recorded before and after controls. This is best practice, not a statutory requirement — but it makes the risk reduction process auditable and defensible.

Who should sign off a RAMS document, and is a worker signature required? The subcontractor's approving authority signs before submission. The PC reviews and accepts before work starts. Worker signatures at briefing are strongly recommended as evidence that the information and instruction duty has been discharged — but they are not stated as a free-standing statutory requirement in CDM 2015.

What information about PPE and emergency arrangements must be captured? PPE entries must name the specific hazard, the protective item, its relevant standard, and the condition for use. Emergency arrangements must name a first-aider, muster point, nearest A&E, and any task-specific rescue procedure (e.g., suspended-in-harness rescue for scaffold work).

How do RAMS requirements change for notifiable vs non-notifiable projects? The template content is the same. Where a principal contractor is appointed, the RAMS must align with the construction phase plan and be accepted through the PC's pre-start review process before work starts. On a single-contractor project, the approval chain is internal.

What makes a RAMS template inadequate or likely to be rejected? Generic hazard descriptions, missing post-control risk scores, method statements written as narrative prose, PPE lists not linked to specific hazards, no emergency rescue detail, no briefing signature sheet, and no version control. All of these are fixable at template design stage.

Should COSHH assessments be included in a RAMS template? Where work involves substances hazardous to health — such as resins, solvents, cement dust, or silica — a COSHH assessment should be included within or appended to the RAMS package. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) impose a distinct requirement to assess and control exposure to hazardous substances, separate from the general task hazard assessment; the "Construction method statements (managing the work)" guidance confirms that COSHH is one of the specific regulations requiring its own risk assessment. In practice, principal contractors expect to see the COSHH assessment, the relevant Safety Data Sheet reference, and the substance-specific controls cross-referenced in the method statement so that the full control picture is visible in one submission.

Do training records and competence evidence need to be part of the RAMS submission? Naming a competent person in Section 2 of the RAMS is a starting point, but most principal contractors expect supporting evidence — trade cards, licences, plant operator certificates, or toolbox talk records — to be attached or referenced within the submission. The HSA RAMS guidance identifies "training and competencies that may be required" as a discrete element a RAMS should address, and in practice a reviewer checking your method statement against your workforce details will look for documented proof, not just a name. Keep training records current and site-specific; a certificate that covers a different scope of work or has lapsed will raise questions during pre-start review.

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Disclaimer: This page provides general guidance on RAMS template structure for UK construction projects. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Any RAMS document — whether produced manually or generated by software — must be reviewed and adapted to the specific site, task, contractor arrangements, and workforce by a competent person before use. Regulatory requirements may change; always check the current version of CDM 2015 and any applicable HSE guidance.