If you have been asked to provide a Risk Assessment and Method Statement (RAMS) document before starting a job, you need to know what goes in one — and you need it done quickly. This page covers exactly what a RAMS document must contain and how to get yours completed professionally in minutes.
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What Must a RAMS Document Include?
A complete RAMS document covers these essential sections:
1. Project Information
Title, site address, client name, company name, start and end dates, document reference number and revision number. This establishes the context for the whole document.
2. Scope of Work
A clear description of exactly what work is being carried out. Be specific — the scope of work drives everything else in the document including the hazards identified and the methodology described.
3. Key Personnel
Names and roles of everyone involved — site supervisor, operatives, subcontractors and emergency contacts. Include competency confirmation for any specialist roles.
4. Methodology
Step by step description of how the work will be carried out. This is the Method Statement part of the document. It should be detailed enough to follow on site and clear enough for a client to approve.
RAMS-flow writes your methodology sections from your scope of work
5. Risk Assessment
Each significant hazard identified, who might be harmed, and the control measures in place. Risk is scored using Frequency × Probability × Severity to produce a RAG (Red, Amber, Green) rating. The overall risk is governed by the highest individual hazard score — never an average.
6. PPE Requirements
Personal protective equipment required for the task, referenced to EN standards. PPE is always the last line of defence — engineering and administrative controls must be considered first.
7. Training Requirements
Qualifications, certifications and training required for the work — IPAF for MEWPs, Gas Safe registration for gas work, CSCS cards for construction sites and so on.
8. Plant, Equipment and Tools
All plant and equipment being used, with confirmation of inspection status. For lifting equipment, LOLER thorough examination certificates must be current and available.
9. Emergency Arrangements
Assembly point, nearest A&E department, first aid provision and emergency procedures. Every RAMS document must include what to do if something goes wrong.
RAMS-flow
Stop filling in blank templates
RAMS-flow generates all of the above sections from your scope of work. Methodology, PPE, training, safety arrangements and emergency procedures — completed in minutes, reviewed by you before use.
RAMS Document Legal Requirements
Specific RAMS vs General RAMS
Specific RAMS — written for one particular job, site or event. Has a start and end date. Required for unique or higher-risk activities.
General RAMS — covers a recurring type of work carried out regularly in similar conditions. Applies across multiple sites. Must still be reviewed for site-specific conditions before each use.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Copying a template without adapting it — a generic document is not a suitable and sufficient risk assessment
- PPE as the only control measure — always apply engineering and administrative controls first
- Averaging risk scores — the overall risk is governed by the highest individual hazard score
- Not getting operatives to sign it — everyone carrying out the work must read and confirm they understand the RAMS document before starting
Ready to create your RAMS document?
RAMS-flow builds professional, compliant RAMS documents in minutes. Free trial — no credit card required.
Create My RAMS Document Free →Is there a free RAMS document template?
RAMS-flow offers a free trial that gives you access to the full RAMS document builder — including AI generation of methodology, PPE, training and safety sections from your scope of work. No credit card required. Rather than a blank template to fill in, you get a complete guided builder that produces a professional document ready to submit to your client.
How long does a RAMS document take to complete?
Manually, a professional RAMS document can take 2-4 hours. Using RAMS-flow, the AI generates your methodology, PPE, training and safety sections from your scope of work description in minutes. You review and adapt the content before approving — the whole process typically takes under 30 minutes for most jobs.
Does a RAMS document need to be signed?
All operatives should read and sign the RAMS document before work begins to confirm they have understood it. This is considered best practice and is increasingly required by principal contractors as evidence of workforce briefing. RAMS-flow stores your documents securely so signed copies are always accessible.
Can I use the same RAMS document for multiple jobs?
A General RAMS can cover recurring work of the same type across multiple sites. However it must be reviewed and adapted for site-specific conditions before each use. A Specific RAMS is written for one particular job and cannot simply be reused without review and amendment. RAMS-flow supports both types and makes it straightforward to create new documents based on previous ones.