What is RAMS? A Guide for UK Trades
RAMS explained for small trades. Learn what RAMS is, why you need it, and how to stop copying the same Word document between jobs.
If you're still copying the same RAMS Word document between jobs, you're one mistake away from a headache with a client – or an inspector.
What is RAMS?
RAMS stands for Risk Assessment and Method Statement. It's a document that outlines:
- Risk Assessment: What could go wrong on this job, and how likely is it?
- Method Statement: How are you going to do the work safely, step by step?
In short: RAMS proves you've thought about safety before starting work. It's your evidence that you're a professional operation, not just winging it.
Why does RAMS exist?
Three reasons:
Safety
It forces you to actually think about hazards before you start. "What could go wrong with this boiler install?" is a question worth answering before you're halfway up a ladder.
Liability
If something goes wrong and HSE comes knocking, a signed RAMS shows you took reasonable precautions. Without one, you're exposed.
Professionalism
FM clients, main contractors, and commercial sites increasingly require RAMS before you step on site. No RAMS = no access = no job.
A simple example
Let's say you're doing a boiler replacement in a domestic property.
Risk Assessment might identify:
- • Working at height (flue through roof)
- • Manual handling (old boiler weighs 40kg)
- • Gas work (requires Gas Safe engineer)
- • Hot surfaces during commissioning
- • Customer's dog in the house
Method Statement might include:
- 1. Isolate gas and water supplies
- 2. Drain system using drain-off valve
- 3. Disconnect old boiler (two-person lift)
- 4. Install new boiler per manufacturer spec
- 5. Pressure test at 1.5 bar
- 6. Commission and issue Gas Safe certificate
Why small trades struggle with RAMS
The concept is simple. The execution is where it falls apart:
Copy-paste templates
You download a generic template, swap in a few details, and hope it covers everything. Spoiler: it doesn't.
Out-of-date versions
You're using a RAMS from 2019 because it's the one saved on your desktop. Legislation has changed twice since then.
No central storage
RAMS are scattered across email attachments, shared drives, and WhatsApp. Good luck finding the one for the Johnson job.
No audit trail
When was it signed? Who approved it? Did the client even receive it? Nobody knows.
Time-consuming
Writing a proper RAMS from scratch takes 30-60 minutes. So you don't do it, or you rush it.
What "good" RAMS management looks like
If you're doing RAMS properly, you should have:
Standardised templates
Templates by job type that cover common hazards
Easy customisation
Quick to add site-specific risks per job
Linked to jobs
RAMS attached to the job, site, and workers
E-signatures
Signed by workers and acknowledged by clients
Audit trail
Full history of who created, signed, and viewed
Central storage
One place to find any RAMS from any job
How Gaffer handles RAMS
Gaffer has RAMS built into the job workflow. Here's how it works:
Pull job and site details automatically
Client name, address, job description, and assigned workers pre-populated from the job record.
2-click generation with AI suggestions
Select your job type, and Gaffer suggests relevant hazards and control measures. Edit or add as needed.
Send for e-signature
Workers sign on their phone before starting. Client can acknowledge receipt.
Stored with the job
RAMS lives alongside photos, quotes, invoices, and certificates. One record, everything attached.
Status visible in job views
See at a glance which jobs have RAMS, which need signing, and which are overdue.
Want RAMS that don't live in a Word document?
Gaffer generates, tracks, and stores RAMS as part of every job. Stop copying templates and start being compliant.