First published on Friday, January 9, 2026
Last updated on Friday, January 9, 2026
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- What is a risk assessment?
- What is a method statement?
- What is a Risk Assessment Method Statement (RAMS)?
- When is RAMS typically required?
- How risk assessments and method statements work together
- What inspectors and clients expect from RAMS
- Common mistakes when producing RAMS
- Is RAMS a legal requirement?
- Why RAMS matters beyond paperwork
A risk assessment method statement, commonly referred to as RAMS, is not a single document and not a separate legal requirement. It is the combined use of a risk assessment and a method statement, brought together to plan work safely and communicate how risks will be controlled in practice.
Confusion around RAMS is common. Many employers, contractors, and site managers are unsure whether they need a risk assessment, a method statement, or both. This article explains the difference clearly, how the two documents work together, and when RAMS is typically expected.
What is a risk assessment?
A risk assessment identifies hazards associated with a task or activity and sets out the control measures needed to reduce the risk of harm.
In practical terms, a risk assessment:
Identifies what could cause injury or ill health
Assesses who might be harmed and how
Evaluates the level of risk
Records the measures needed to control that risk
Risk assessments are a core part of workplace health and safety management and are widely recognised as a legal requirement where work activities could pose a risk.
A risk assessment answers one key question:
What could go wrong, and what controls are needed to prevent harm?
What is a method statement?
A method statement explains how a specific task will be carried out safely.
It sets out:
The sequence of work
The equipment or materials used
Who is responsible for each step
How safety controls will be applied during the task
Unlike a risk assessment, a method statement does not identify hazards. Instead, it assumes the risks are already known and focuses on the safe system of work.
A method statement answers a different question:
How will the work be done safely in practice?
What is a Risk Assessment Method Statement (RAMS)?
A Risk Assessment Method Statement (RAMS) is the working combination of:
A risk assessment (hazards and controls), and
A method statement (how the work will be carried out using those controls)
RAMS is not a new type of document. It is a practical way of linking risk identification with the method of work so that safety controls are not just identified but implemented.
In many industries, RAMS is used as a single term to describe this combined approach, particularly where work is higher risk or subject to external scrutiny.
When is RAMS typically required?
RAMS is commonly expected when:
Work involves higher-risk activities
Contractors or subcontractors are carrying out tasks
A client, principal contractor, or site controller requires formal safety planning
Work methods may vary depending on site conditions
In these situations, a risk assessment alone may not show how controls will be applied, while a method statement alone may not show why those controls are necessary. RAMS addresses both.
How risk assessments and method statements work together
Risk assessments and method statements are not separate, parallel documents. One informs the other.
The typical flow is:
Hazards are identified and assessed in the risk assessment
Control measures are defined
Those control measures are built into the step-by-step method statement
If the method of work changes, the risk assessment should be reviewed.
If new hazards are identified, both documents may need updating.
For this reason, RAMS is often treated as a live working document, reviewed when conditions, equipment, or processes change.
What inspectors and clients expect from RAMS
In inspections, audits, or client reviews, RAMS is typically expected to:
Reflect the actual task being carried out
Address site-specific hazards rather than generic risks
Show realistic and proportionate control measures
Be communicated to workers before work starts
Be reviewed where circumstances change
A generic RAMS document that does not match real working practices may fail to demonstrate effective risk control, even if it is technically complete.
Common mistakes when producing RAMS
Across industry guidance, several recurring issues appear:
Treating RAMS as a single static document
Using generic templates without adapting them to the task
Writing method statements that do not reflect how work is done
Failing to review RAMS when conditions change
Producing RAMS purely for compliance rather than communication
These mistakes undermine the purpose of RAMS as a practical safety tool.
Is RAMS a legal requirement?
Risk assessments are a legal requirement where work presents a risk
Method statements are not always explicitly required by law, but are often required by clients or as best practice
RAMS, as a combined term, does not usually appear directly in legislation
RAMS exists because it provides a clear, practical way to demonstrate that risks have been identified and controlled through the planned method of work.
Why RAMS matters beyond paperwork
Used properly, RAMS helps to:
Communicate safe working methods clearly
Align planning with real-world conditions
Support inspection and audit readiness
Reduce misunderstandings on site
Encourage proactive risk management
When treated as a box-ticking exercise, it loses this value and becomes ineffective.
Final thoughts
A risk assessment method statement is not about producing more paperwork. It is about connecting risk identification with how work is carried out.
Understanding the difference between risk assessments and method statements and how they work together is essential for effective safety planning, not just compliance.
