Risk Assessment and Method Statement (RAMS) Template

Construction RAMS for one activity: risk rating, hazards with hierarchy of controls, step-by-step method, competence, plant, rescue, briefing record

ConstrucciónEstándarHSE risk assessment steps (MHSWR 1999); OSHA 3071 job hazard analysis; 29 CFR 1926ramsActualizada 29 oct 2026

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Cómo usar: Use it for each construction activity before work starts. Fill the scope and the hazard table with the people who will do the work first. The main pitfall is relying on PPE where a higher control is reasonably practicable.

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Risk Assessment and Method Statement (RAMS): [Activity]

A task-level document for one construction activity: the risk assessment (hazards, who is at risk, controls, residual risk) and the method statement (the safe sequence of work, people, plant, permits and emergency arrangements), with a briefing record signed by the people doing the work. It follows the five steps HSE describes for risk assessment under the UK Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and the job hazard analysis approach of OSHA publication 3071 with the hierarchy of controls OSHA recommends. Replace every [bracketed] value and every row marked Example. This is a documentation format, not legal or safety advice: check the current official text and a competent health and safety adviser. Facts checked October 2026.

Document control

Field	Value
RAMS ID	[RAMS-FHL-011]
Activity	[Install two rooflights to roof zone 2, grid C-D/4-5]
Project and location	[Project name, area, level]
Contractor	[Company carrying out the work]
Author	[@name, role]
Version	[1.0]
Status	[Draft / Submitted / Accepted / Accepted with comments / Rejected]
Planned start and duration	YYYY-MM-DD, [4 days]
Reviewed by (principal contractor)	[@name]
Last updated	YYYY-MM-DD

Revision history

Version	Date	Author	Change summary
0.1	YYYY-MM-DD	[@name]	First submission
1.0	YYYY-MM-DD	[@name]	Example: Accepted after adding rescue plan and exclusion zone drawing

1. Scope of the activity

Example: Cut openings in roof zone 2 deck as marked on drawing FHL-MPA-01-R1-DR-A-00410 rev C02, install steel trimmers, upstands and two rooflight units lifted by the site crane, and make weathertight. Excludes the internal ceiling work below, which has its own RAMS.

Change reference: [VO-007, see construction/change-order-variation].

2. Risk rating method

Risk = likelihood (1 to 5) x severity (1 to 5). Ratings: 1 to 6 low, 8 to 12 medium, 15 to 25 high. Work does not start while any residual rating is high.

3. Risk assessment

ID	Hazard and how harm occurs	Who is at risk	L	S	Initial	Controls (hierarchy level)	L	S	Residual
H1 (Example)	Fall through the new roof opening while cut and before the unit is fixed	Roofers, others on roof	3	5	15	Openings cut only immediately before fixing, to shorten exposure (administrative); edge protection around the work area and a fixed cover over the opening when unattended (engineering); permit and supervisor present (administrative)	1	5	5
H2 (Example)	Fall from the roof edge	Roofers	2	5	10	Existing perimeter guardrails checked before start (engineering); no work outside the protected zone (administrative)	1	5	5
H3 (Example)	Struck by a load during the crane lift of the rooflight units	Roofers, slinger, people below	2	5	10	Lift plan by the appointed person; exclusion zone below; tag lines; lift outside school arrival and departure times (administrative)	1	5	5
H4 (Example)	Cuts and dust from cutting the deck	Roofers	3	2	6	Cutter with blade guard and on-tool extraction (engineering); gloves and eye protection (PPE)	2	2	4
H5 (Example)	Fire from hot work on upstands	Roofers, building	2	4	8	Cold-applied detail where the specification allows (substitute); otherwise hot work permit, extinguisher at the work, fire watch for 60 minutes (administrative)	1	4	4
H6 (Example)	Manual handling of rooflight units on the roof	Roofers	3	3	9	Units landed by crane next to the opening (eliminate carry); team lift of four for final positioning (administrative)	2	2	4
[Hn]	[Hazard]	[Who]	[1-5]	[1-5]	[n]	[Controls and level]	[1-5]	[1-5]	[n]

Example check: H1 initial 3 x 5 = 15 (high); residual 1 x 5 = 5 (low).

4. Method statement

Step	Action	Controls applied	Responsible
1	Brief the team on this RAMS, lift plan and permits; sign section 8	All	Supervisor
2	Inspect perimeter guardrails and set up edge protection around the work area	H1, H2	Supervisor
3	Set exclusion zone below the openings and confirm the area is clear	H3	Supervisor with site manager
4	Mark out openings from the drawing; check against the structure		Roofer
5	Cut the first opening with extraction; fit temporary cover until trimmers are in	H1, H4	Roofer
6	Install steel trimmers and upstands	H1	Roofer
7	Crane lift of the rooflight unit to the landing position under the lift plan	H3, H6	Appointed person, slinger
8	Position and fix the unit; seal and flash	H5, H6	Roofers
9	Repeat steps 5 to 8 for the second opening	All	Roofers
10	Remove the exclusion zone, clear waste, close permits, report to the site manager		Supervisor

5. People, competence and supervision

Role	Number	Competence evidence
Supervisor	1	[Supervisory safety training, experience]
Roofers	3	[Trade qualification, work at height training]
Slinger and signaller	1	[Lifting qualification]
Appointed person (lifting)	1	[Principal contractor's appointed person]

6. Plant, equipment, materials and permits

Item	Check before use	Record
Example: Mobile crane and lifting accessories	Thorough examination certificates in date; pre-use check	Lift plan LP-FHL-004
Example: Deck cutter with extraction	Guard and extraction working	Pre-use checklist
Example: Sealant and primer	Safety data sheets read; ventilation	Substance assessment SA-FHL-021
Permits	Example: Hot work permit, lift plan approval	Permit register

7. Emergency and rescue arrangements

First aid: [first aider name and location of kit on the roof level].
Rescue from height: [method, equipment and who is trained].
Fire: follow the site fire plan in the construction phase plan section 11.
Emergency contact: [site manager phone]; incidents recorded in the daily site report (construction/daily-site-report).

8. Briefing record

Name	Company	Role	Date	Signature
[Name]	[Company]	[Role]	YYYY-MM-DD
[Name]	[Company]	[Role]	YYYY-MM-DD

9. Review and acceptance

Reviewer	Decision	Comments	Date
Principal contractor, site manager	[Accepted / with comments / rejected]	[Comments]	YYYY-MM-DD
Health and safety adviser	[Decision]	[Comments]	YYYY-MM-DD

Review again when: the method, team, plant or location changes; after any incident or near miss on this activity; or before restarting after a pause of more than [two weeks].

Standard and licence note

Based on the risk assessment steps HSE describes for the UK Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (HSE; HSE notes that an employer with five or more employees must record the significant findings), HSE guidance L153 on CDM 2015 (HSE), OSHA publication 3071 Job Hazard Analysis (2002, revised) and OSHA's hierarchy of controls (OSHA), with US construction rules in 29 CFR Part 1926, as checked in October 2026. The text is original. Check the current official guidance and your jurisdiction's rules; this is not legal or safety advice. Template licence: MIT.

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