How Many Edits Does It Take to Get the RAMS Right?(or: Why Your Copy-Paste Days Are Over)

Picture this: you’ve spent your morning polishing up a shiny new set of RAMS (Risk Assessments and Method Statements). You’ve got your classic sections locked in — the ones you’ve lifted from that “golden template” saved three years ago. Confined spaces? Check. Hot works? Sure, throw that in even if we’re only hand-digging. You’re feeling smug, you click send, and sit back with your coffee.

Then comes the email. Or worse, the phone call. It’s the main contractor — the one who’s got a well-earned reputation for being, shall we say, thorough. They’ve clearly gone through your RAMS line by line, highlighter in hand, and spotted every lazy copy-paste cliché. Suddenly, the phrase “generic catch-all document” sounds like a personal insult. Your pride takes a nosedive.

Because here’s the truth: more and more main contractors and principal designers have wised up. They’re ahead of the game. They’re done accepting one-size-fits-all RAMS stuffed with irrelevant hazards and standard waffle. They want site-specific, task-specific documents that actually reflect the risks and control measures for that very street, that very pit, that very sewer. And fair play to them — it’s their project (and their liability, in part), so they deserve more than a Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V job.

Cue the edits. You go back, rewrite the whole lot to actually mention Rotherhithe, Old Road, the 8m hand excavation, the fancy Davits arm you’ll be swinging over the trench. Now you’re adding photos of the trial pit locations, tweaking the sequence of works, and rewriting your confined space rescue plan to show your operatives actually know their oxygen levels from their elbows. By the third draft, it starts to look like a document that genuinely belongs on that site.

By version five (or was it six?), it’s become a bit of a labour of love. The main contractor signs it off with barely a scribble. Your client is relieved. The operatives on site finally get a briefing sheet that doesn’t mention spark arrestors for imaginary welding or “roof edge protection” on a project that’s 100% underground. Everyone wins.

Risk assessments are crucial for identifying potential hazards, evaluating their associated risks, and implementing control measures to prevent harm. This proactive approach helps to protect employees, reduce accidents and injuries, and ensure a safer working environment. They also ensure legal compliance and can lead to improved efficiency and reduced costs by minimising the likelihood of accidents and related expenses. 

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

1. Protecting Health and Safety:

• Identifying hazards:

  Risk assessments help to uncover potential hazards that might otherwise be overlooked, allowing for proactive measures to be taken. 

• Preventing harm:

  By identifying hazards and evaluating the associated risks, organisations can implement control measures to prevent accidents, injuries, and even fatalities. 

• Reducing injuries and saving lives:

  Risk assessments don't just identify immediate risks, but also help to minimise the likelihood of work-related accidents and ill-health, ultimately contributing to a safer workplace. 

• Promoting a positive safety culture:

  When employees see that risk assessments are being conducted, it can foster a sense of awareness and responsibility for safety, leading to a more positive work environment. 

  
  

  2.Ensuring Legal Compliance:

  • Meeting legal obligations:

    Many regulations and laws require employers to conduct risk assessments, particularly for higher-risk activities. 

  • Avoiding legal liabilities:

    Failure to conduct proper risk assessments can lead to legal consequences, including fines and potential lawsuits. 

  
  

So next time you’re tempted to dust off that old RAMS template, pause for a moment. Think about the main contractor waiting to shred it with a red pen. Then embrace it: crafting proper site-specific RAMS isn’t just about jumping through hoops — it’s about proving you know your stuff, keeping people safe, and maybe even protecting your own backside. And who knows, you might even start to take a bit of pride in it. (Just don’t tell your boss — they’ll have you writing them all.)