How-to guide

How to write a RAMS for a small job

Principal contractors and clients often ask for a RAMS - a risk assessment and method statement - before you start, even on a small job. It doesn't need to be long. It needs to show you've thought about what could go wrong on this job and how you'll do the work safely.

Published 8 Nov 20264 min readBy metre2

Quick answer

List the hazards, rate each one, add the controls and PPE, then write the method in order. Open the Metre2 RAMS Generator in your browser - it's free for 15 days, then a one-off price, and nothing you type is uploaded.

1. Describe the job

Site address, client, what you're doing, dates, who's doing it and who prepared the document.

2. List the hazards

Think about this job, not a generic list: work at height, manual handling, power tools, dust, live services, other trades, the public. For each one, note who could be harmed.

3. Rate the risk

A 5x5 matrix is common: likelihood (1-5) times severity (1-5). Rate it before controls, then again after, so it's clear the controls bring it down.

4. Controls and PPE

Say what you'll actually do - edge protection, dust extraction, isolation, exclusion zones - and list the PPE required.

5. The method statement

Number the steps in the order the work is done, from setting up to clearing away. Keep each step short.

6. Sign it

Leave signature lines so the people doing the work can confirm they've read it.

Do it in the Metre2 RAMS Generator - 15 days free in your browser, or as a Windows app.

Use it in your browser - free, no sign-up Get the Windows app More about RAMS Generator

Common mistakes

Copying a generic RAMS that doesn't match the job.
Rating risks but never showing what reduces them.
Writing a method no one on site has read.

Frequently asked questions

Is a RAMS a legal requirement?

Employers must assess risks (with five or more employees it must be written down), and many contractors require a written RAMS before you start. This guide isn't legal advice - check what your client and the HSE guidance ask for.

Can I reuse a RAMS?

Yes - save it and reopen it for the next similar job, then change what's different. The RAMS Generator keeps every one you've made.