RAMS Development

Aims & Objectives

To equip delegates with a clear and practical understanding of how to develop, implement, and review risk assessments and method statements (RAMS) as part of a safe system of work, consistent with UK legal duties and proven good practice.

Suitability

This course is suitable for anyone involved in planning, authorising, overseeing, or undertaking work activities where formal RAMS are required. This may include operational leads, supervisors, engineers, contractors, and safety representatives.

Requirements

Syllabus

Why RAMS are essential: historical failures and systemic lessons. Legal foundations:. Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Section 2). Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (Regs 3 and 5). Common law duties and supporting case law. The link to enforcement, civil claims, and prosecution ,How CDM 2015 interfaces with RAMS without being exclusive to construction. “What is a Risk Assessment? ,Structured identification of hazards. Evaluation and selection of controls. Use of proportionality (ALARP). What is a Method Statement?. Sequencing tasks in a safe and logical order. Assigning roles, responsibilities, and resources. Highlighting controls, emergency actions, and environmental factors. What is a Safe System of Work?. Coordinating risk assessments and method statements into an operational plan. Legal duty to implement and communicate SSOWs. Approval and sign-off processes. Overview of the five-part Control Approach:. Policy and planning. Risk assessment. Safe systems / SOPs / method statements. Permit to work systems (when to escalate). Personal risk review (dynamic, worker-led). Practical distinctions between these components. Avoiding system degradation through overuse or misunderstanding. Poorly written RAMS – typical examples and risks. Ensuring clarity without oversimplification. Linking RAMS back to the actual work, not just the paperwork. The importance of:. Worker involvement. Competency criteria. Time and resource allocation. Review, update and version control. “Demonstration of the use of the RA form. Example RAMS walk-through. Group exercise: evaluating a flawed method statement. Dynamic vs planned reviews. Closing the loop – communication and sign-off.

Notes

Fully Comprehensive notes will be given to all delegates who attend the course

Certification

On satisfactory completion of the course a certificate of competence will be issued that will be valid for 3 years