RAMS – be they for Electrical, Plumbing, Carpentry or Brickworks (or any other “Trade”) have to be produced for all commercial works (If you are being paid) and be “Site Specific”.
RAMS stands for Risk Assessment and Method Statements. Used mainly in construction and other high‑risk industries, these documents help ensure tasks are carried out safely. They combine hazard identification (Risk Assessment) with a step‑by‑step plan for completing each job safely (Method Statement).
Professionals and experienced individuals, whether trained formally or through practice, are best equipped to identify and evaluate the risks in the legally required sections of these documents.
Assessing the Risk Element:
- Identify the Hazard
- Assess the uncontrolled risk
- Apply and list the control measures
- Re-Assess the risk
Common Hazard Categories:
- Physical: Machinery, noise, vibrations, electricity.
- Chemical: Substances like paints, cleaners, fumes, and dust.
- Ergonomic: Manual handling, poor workstations, repetitive strain.
- Psychosocial: Work-related stress, violence, fatigue.
- Environmental: Slippery floors, confined spaces, extreme temperatures.
When identifying hazards, it is essential to consider both regular operations and non-routine activities like maintenance or emergencies.
It can be a complex process, and it is easy to get wrong. The problem with getting it wrong is that it leaves you in a poor legal position if something goes wrong and there is an accident at site, for which you will be held liable.
MyRAMSapp.com has been created to resolve the issue. Within the app, you complete the basics of ‘Who, What, When, Where and for Whom’ and then describe the extent or ‘Scope’ of the works. The next vital box you see is “Site Specific Risks”, which still goes largely ignored. Then you need to list those risks which are specific to that site. You might be carrying out simple electrical circuit maintenance, but next to a fuel depot, which means there is a DSEAR risk (Explosive Atmosphere). This box is where this item should be listed. That information alone will complete the Method Statement.
The next step is to select your Risk Assessments before you “Create” the document. When it is created, you can then digitally sign the document via the App and the Portal.
The software will automatically save your documents, and you can send them directly to your client via the app/portal.
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