# 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.

<!--
Guidance: How to use this template
- Write one RAMS per activity, not per company. "Roofing" is too broad;
  "Installing rooflights to roof zone 2" is right.
- The people who will do the work must help write it and must be briefed
  on it before starting (section 8). A RAMS nobody on the job has read is
  paperwork, not a safe system of work.
- Use the hierarchy of controls: eliminate the hazard, substitute,
  engineering controls, administrative controls, then PPE. Say why a
  higher control is not reasonably practicable before relying on PPE.
- The construction phase plan (`construction/construction-phase-plan`)
  sets site-wide rules and links to each RAMS; HSE guidance says detailed
  method statements belong outside that plan.
- Fictional example: rooflight installation on the Fernhollow Library and
  Learning Centre (code FHL), roofing contractor working for principal
  contractor Quillmere Construction. All names are invented.
-->

## 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

<!-- Guidance: Say exactly what is and is not covered, so a change of scope triggers a new review. -->

*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

<!-- Guidance: Use the same scale as the project's construction phase plan and risk register, so scores mean the same thing everywhere. -->

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

<!-- Guidance: For each hazard: who could be harmed and how, the rating before controls, the controls with the hierarchy level, and the residual rating. Pitfall: listing PPE as the only control for a fall from height. -->

| 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

<!-- Guidance: Write the sequence the team will follow, step by step, with the control from section 3 at the step where it applies. If a step cannot be done as written on the day, stop and review. -->

| 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

<!-- Guidance: List what will be used and the checks before use. Include the hazardous substances and their safety data sheets. -->

| 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

<!-- Guidance: Plan the rescue before the work starts. Calling the emergency services is not a rescue plan for someone suspended in a harness or trapped on a roof. -->

- 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

<!-- Guidance: Everyone doing the work signs after the briefing, including people who join later. A signature means "I was briefed and understood", not "I received a copy". -->

| 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](https://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/risk/steps-needed-to-manage-risk.htm);
HSE notes that an employer with five or more employees must record the
significant findings), HSE guidance L153 on CDM 2015
([HSE](https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l153.htm)), OSHA publication
3071 *Job Hazard Analysis* (2002, revised) and OSHA's hierarchy of
controls ([OSHA](https://www.osha.gov/safety-management/hazard-prevention)),
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.