RAMS — Risk Assessments and Method Statements — are the foundational safety documents for any construction or demolition project. They are a legal requirement under CDM 2015 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and they represent the contractor's documented plan for managing every significant risk on your site.

What Is a Risk Assessment?

A risk assessment is a systematic evaluation of the hazards associated with the planned works and the controls that will be implemented to reduce risk to an acceptable level. A compliant risk assessment for demolition should identify all significant hazards (structural collapse, asbestos exposure, dust, noise, plant movements, working at height, utility strikes, and more), assess the likelihood and severity of harm for each, and document the control measures that will be implemented. Generic risk assessments — copied from a library without reference to the specific site — are not compliant with CDM 2015 and are a serious red flag.

What Is a Method Statement?

A method statement describes, in sequence, how the works will be carried out. For demolition, it should cover: the sequence of demolition, the plant and equipment to be used, the structural propping or support strategy, how waste will be managed, how hazardous materials will be controlled, supervision arrangements, welfare provisions, and emergency procedures.

RAMS and CDM 2015

Under CDM 2015, the principal contractor is responsible for preparing and maintaining the Construction Phase Plan — a project-level safety management document. Individual task-level RAMS (produced by the principal contractor or sub-contractors) sit beneath the Construction Phase Plan and must be consistent with it. For notifiable projects, the principal contractor must also submit an F10 notification to the HSE before the construction phase begins.

How to Review a RAMS Document

As a client, you should be able to identify whether a RAMS document is project-specific or generic. Key questions to ask:

• Does the document reference your specific site address and project?
• Does the risk assessment include site-specific hazards (adjacent buildings, buried services, asbestos survey findings)?
• Does the method statement describe the actual sequence of works for your project, with named plant?
• Is the document signed by a named, qualified individual?
• Does it reference the relevant legislation and standards?

Jim Wise Demolition produces project-specific RAMS for every project, reviewed and signed by our NEBOSH-qualified management team. We are happy to provide RAMS for client review prior to works commencing. Call 0800 222 9772 to discuss any project.