What is RAMS in health and safety?

Updated 2026-10-04 · UK law and HSE guidance

Short answer

RAMS stands for risk assessments and method statements. Together, they identify a job's hazards, evaluate who could be harmed, specify controls and set out the safe sequence of work. RAMS is commonly used for construction and higher-risk tasks, although the combined document itself is not a defined legal requirement.

Key facts
Meaning	Risk assessments and method statements
Risk assessment duty	Management Regulations 1999, regulation 3
Written record	Required for significant findings where 5+ people are employed
Method statement	Usually good practice; not generally required by name
Primary user	Workers and supervisors carrying out the task

What a RAMS document contains

The risk-assessment part identifies hazards, the people who may be harmed, existing controls and any further action needed. The method-statement part turns those controls into an ordered way of doing the work. A useful RAMS document is specific to the activity, location, equipment and workforce rather than a generic form copied from another job.

Scope, location and responsible supervisor
Hazards, risk ratings and control measures
Plant, materials, competence and personal protective equipment
Work sequence, exclusion arrangements and emergency actions

What the law actually requires

Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requires every employer to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of work risks. Employers with five or more employees must record significant findings. HSE says method statements are not generally required by law, but are an effective way to plan, manage and monitor higher-risk, complex or unusual work.

Demolition, dismantling and structural alteration arrangements must be recorded in writing
Other method statements are a practical means of communicating a safe system
Producing paperwork does not replace putting the controls into practice

How RAMS should be used

Prepare RAMS before work starts, brief everyone affected and give workers a chance to question anything unclear or impractical. The supervisor should check that the stated equipment and controls are present. Stop and revise the document when the scope, site, sequence, people, substances or equipment change significantly. Keep the approved version available at the work location and record briefings where that helps demonstrate communication.

Use plain language and sketches where they improve understanding
Name action owners and completion dates
Monitor the work against the stated method
SitePaper can generate a RAMS document for review by a competent person

Sources

This guide summarises UK law and HSE guidance for small businesses. It is not legal advice; check the sources and your own circumstances.