What Are RAMS Documents?

When we talk about RAMS documents in health and safety, we are not talking about the woolly creatures with horns (a.k.a. rams).

Disappointing, I know.

RAMS is an acronym and it stands for two types of health and safety documents, that are often found together:

• Risk Assessments
• Method Statements.

Risk Assessments and Method Statements.

RAMS!

So if someone asks for your RAMS documents, it's just a short way of asking for your risk assessments and method statements for the project or activity.

RAMS in health and safety

So what are RAMS documents?

Risk assessments and method statements are two types of health and safety documents that are often required together on a project.

Risk assessments are an assessment of risk for an activity or task.

Method statements describe how to do an activity safely.

If a client or contractor asks for your RAMS, they are asking to see a copy of your risk assessments and method statements for the job.

Find out more about the differences between risk assessments and method statements.

Why are these two types of documents asked for as RAMS?

As we just mentioned, risk assessments and method statements are often found together. In fact, if you are asked for a method statement, you will almost always be asked for a risk assessment to go with it, because risk assessments are a legal requirement.

You can't really have a method statement without doing a risk assessment first. So if your work is high-risk enough to need a method statement, you will need a risk assessment as well.

But it's a bit of a mouthful to ask for "risk assessments and method statements". Using the term RAMS is just a shorter one-syllable way of asking for them!

And we love a good acronym for health and safety.

RAMS in construction

The term RAMS is probably most often heard in construction.

If you're new to construction, you might be a bit thrown off the first time you are asked for RAMS.

You've heard the jokes when new workers are asked to get a "long weight" or "tartan paint". But this isn't another fool's errand! And rams are not just farm animals.

But the reason why the first time you hear about RAMS might be in construction (rather than other workplaces), is because construction work is high risk. So you're more likely to need a method statement with your risk assessment.

Is RAMS a single document?

Nope. You can supply them together, and they may be asked for together. But usually, RAMS will be 2 or more documents.

Remember, RAMS stands for risk assessments and method statements. To provide RAMS, you are certainly going to be supplying both:

• a risk assessment
• a method statement

Depending on the task or activity, you may need to supply a few documents.

For a project, you might need multiple RAMS.

For example, let's say you are completing a bathroom refurbishment. Your client has asked for your RAMS documents. That's fine, we know what these are now. You might supply a plumbing risk assessment and a plumbing method statement.

But what about the strip-out works? And the electrical works to install those fancy new spotlights? What about the tiling? And the painting?

Sometimes, you might expand your method statement to include all the work activities involved. You may even do that for your risk assessment. That's usually a simple enough task on a smaller project or a single task carried out by one tradesman.

But, it doesn't tend to make sense on a larger project.

Larger projects often involve multiple contractors and subcontractors. They will produce RAMS for their activities too.

One document can become lengthy and confusing. Does your electrician need to look through all the controls for works that he is not a part of, and won't even be being carried out when he is on the job? Or is that just going to cause frustration?

The best way to provide health and safety information is to provide clear, concise information, and make sure that everyone gets the information they need. If you hide the important information, amongst pages and pages of information that's not relevant to a specific task, it can be tricky for your workforce (and you, and your client) to find the information they need.

It's all important, of course, but it's important to different people, at different stages of the project.

So, even though RAMS are often asked for as one thing, remember that RAMS are groups of documents.

How do you create RAMS documents?

Now we know what RAMS documents are, how do we create them?

RAMS documents are risk assessments and method statements. So to create RAMS you need to write risk assessments and method statements for the project.

These are two different documents, and both need to be created when you are asked for RAMS.

Not sure what the difference is between a risk assessment and a method statement? Read our guide.

Luckily, they are fairly easy to put together, especially if you use a template to get started.

Your risk assessment identifies the hazards that are involved, and the controls you have put in place to reduce the risk. For higher-risk activities, your method statement is more detailed step-by-step instructions for how the work will be carried out.

Start with the risk assessment first. This is a legally required document, and the information you gather will also help you to create your method statement later.

Here are some resources to help you create your risk assessment:

• The 5 steps to risk assessment
• How to write a risk assessment in 5 minutes
• Free risk assessment template
• Free risk assessment calculator

Once you have completed your risk assessment, you can move on to your method statement. Method statements are usually only required for high-risk or complex work, where extra health and safety information is needed in addition to the risk assessment to ensure the work can be completed safely. If you've been asked for RAMS, chances are you need at least one method statement.

Here are some resources to help you create a method statement:

• What is a method statement?
• 10 tips for writing a method statement
• How to write a method statement in 5 minutes
• Free method statement template

The above guides and resources will help you create risk assessment and method statement documents for your projects. So, next time you are asked for a copy of your RAMS, you will be ready for it!

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Now you know what you need to supply when you are asked for a copy of your RAMS for a project. You can use our free risk assessment template, and free method statement template to get started, or choose from hundreds of pre-completed health and safety templates for your activities.