Example of RAMS for Construction (UK) — A Worked, Annotated Example

A useful way to understand construction RAMS structure is to read a worked example for similar work. This is an illustrative RAMS — annotated section by section — for a routine UK construction task: installing a 9 m system scaffold to the gable end of a two-storey commercial extension.

Every part of this document follows the eight-section structure UK principal contractors scan for. Where a section is the most-rejected reason in our experience reviewing RAMS, we've called it out.

1. Project details (the easy section everyone half-fills in)

This is the section most rejected first — not because it's hard, but because contractors copy-paste from a previous job and leave the wrong site address in. A principal contractor reading this should be able to tell, at a glance, that the document was written for this site.

Project: Western Gable Scaffold — Unit 12, Acme Distribution Park, Reading RG2 0XX
Client: Acme Logistics Ltd
Principal Contractor: Northgate Construction Ltd
Sub-contractor (this RAMS): Riskora Example Scaffolding Ltd
Programme: Erect 14–15 July 2026 · Strike 22–23 August 2026
Site supervisor: J. Patel (CISRS Advanced Scaffolder, card no. 12345)
Document reference: RAMS-2026-0712 · Version 2 · Issued 12 July 2026 · Review by 11 July 2027

2. Scope of works (specific, not generic)

"Scaffolding installation" is not a scope. A scope describes what, where, how high, what loading class and what it's for.

Erection, alteration and dismantle of a TG20:21 compliant single-lift system scaffold to the western gable elevation of Unit 12. Maximum platform height 9.2 m (3 working lifts at 2.0 m, 4.0 m and 6.0 m). Loading: Class 3 (general purpose, up to 2.0 kN/m²). Purpose: enable Riskora Example Roofing to replace 240 m² of single-ply membrane to the gable parapet. Internal access via a fixed ladder bay. Public protection: 1.0 m brick-guard with debris netting throughout. Scaffold to remain in place for 6 weeks for follow-on trades.

3. Hazard identification and risk evaluation

The risk-assessment half. This is where most rejections happen — generic hazards lifted from a template ("slips, trips and falls") with no link to the site-specific work. Each row should name the actual hazard from the scope above, who is exposed, the existing controls already in place, the residual risk, and any further action.

Format the table with: Hazard · Who's at risk · Existing controls · Likelihood × Severity (residual) · Further action. Below is the populated set for this job — eight rows, all site-specific, all matched to the scope:

Falls from height during erection · Scaffolders · Advanced guard-rail system installed from below, two-point harness with shock pack clipped to the inner standard during transom installation above 4 m, CISRS-carded operatives only · 2 × 5 = 10 · No further action.
Falling materials onto the public footpath below · Public, scaffolders · 50 mm toe board, brick guards to all lifts, debris netting outside the working face, exclusion zone with Heras fencing 2 m off the elevation during raising/lowering operations · 2 × 5 = 10 · Banksman on the footpath during fork-lift deliveries (added at PC's request, see v2).
Manual handling — system components 20–22 kg · Scaffolders · Two-person lift on all standards above 1.8 m, mechanical hoist for tube bundles > 25 kg, MAC-tool assessment carried out on initial site visit · 3 × 3 = 9 · No further action.
Contact with overhead 11 kV line, ~6 m from gable · Scaffolders, public · 6 m horizontal exclusion zone marked, no metallic loads to be raised within the zone, SSE shrouding installed on 10 July (permit ref SSE-PR-9912), banksman on the elevation for full duration · 1 × 5 = 5 · No further action — permit signed by PC and SSE.
Public access to the working area outside hours · Public, including children · Lower lift scaffold ladder removed and stored on the second lift overnight, full hoarding to the footpath side, anti-climb on the south corner standard · 2 × 4 = 8 · No further action.
Adverse weather (wind > 38 mph) · Scaffolders · Daily wind check at 07:30 and 12:30 using site anemometer, stop-work threshold 38 mph at platform height per SG4:22, debris netting checked weekly for tear · 2 × 4 = 8 · No further action.
Slips on wet platforms / ice · Scaffolders, follow-on trades · Non-slip platforms (anti-slip steel), morning visual inspection logged, salt available in welfare cabin, work paused if ice cannot be cleared · 2 × 3 = 6 · No further action.
Hand-arm vibration from impact wrench (battery) · Scaffolders · Tool used < 30 mins per shift, scheduled rotation between two operatives, HAVS health surveillance current, daily exposure logged on site sheet · 2 × 2 = 4 · No further action.

If any of those hazards aren't in your scope, leave them out — don't pad. PCs prefer eight site-specific rows to twenty generic ones.

4. Sequenced method statement (the bit people skip)

A method statement is a step-by-step sequence. The PC reviewer is checking that each step references the controls in the risk-assessment table above — not floating in isolation.

Pre-start (07:00 day 1). Site induction with PC. Confirm exclusion zone is set, 11 kV permit (SSE-PR-9912) is signed, weather check < 38 mph, banksman briefed. Tool-box talk delivered to all operatives on this RAMS — sign-on sheet retained.
Set out base plates and sole boards (07:30–08:30). Sole boards on prepared hardstanding, base plates levelled within 2.5° per TG20:21. Two-person lift on bundles > 25 kg per manual-handling control.
Erect first lift to 2.0 m (08:30–11:30). Standards, ledgers, transoms in sequence. Guard-rail-from-below system fitted before any operative moves above 2 m. Brick guards and toe boards installed at each lift before any additional weight is loaded.
Erect second lift to 4.0 m (12:30–15:30). Above 4 m, two-point harness clipped to inner standard during transom installation per control 1. Debris netting fitted to outer face before brick guards are removed at any lift.
Erect third lift to 6.0 m (Day 2). Mechanical hoist used for bundles. Re-verify exclusion zone to the 11 kV line at the start of each shift.
Handover inspection (Day 2, 15:00). CISRS Advanced Scaffolder hand-over inspection. Scaff-tag green issued. Inspection register signed by PC. Scaffold then released for follow-on trade.
Weekly statutory inspection. Inspection every 7 days and after any wind event > 38 mph, recorded on Scaffold Inspection Register held in PC site office.
Dismantle (Day 41–42). Reverse sequence. Lower lift ladder reinstated before any descent. Public exclusion zone re-established. Materials lowered via mechanical hoist, banksman on footpath.

5. PPE, plant and substances

List the actual kit being used, not a generic line. PPE is the easiest part of the document for a reviewer to challenge.

PPE (all operatives): CE-marked safety helmet with chin strap (EN 397), Class 2 hi-vis (EN 20471), S3 steel-midsole boots, Cat II impact gloves, eye protection during impact-wrench use, two-point harness with shock pack (EN 361/355) for transom work > 4 m.

Plant: System scaffold components (Layher Allround), pallet truck, mechanical scaffold hoist (1.0 t SWL, ref H-21, last LOLER inspection 02 June 2026), battery impact wrench (Makita TW001G).

Substances: None. No COSHH section required for this scope. (For reference, a hot-works or surface-treatment scope would attach the relevant safety data sheets and a COSHH assessment here.)

6. Competence, training and supervision

All scaffolders are CISRS-carded (Advanced, Scaffolder or Trainee). Card numbers and expiry dates are listed on the project competence register, attached as Appendix A.
Site supervisor J. Patel holds CISRS Advanced and CITB SSSTS, in-date.
HAVS health surveillance is current for all operatives — last assessment May 2026.
Supervision ratio: 1 supervisor per 4 operatives during erection / dismantle.

7. Emergency arrangements

First aid: Site first-aider available in PC welfare cabin (M. Singh, FAW in date). Site first-aid kit in welfare unit and on the scaffolder's tool bag.
Rescue from height: Suspended operative recovery plan — operative clipped to anchor will be retrieved within 6 minutes using the on-site MEWP (already on hire for the roofing follow-on). Suspension-trauma straps deployed within 1 minute by the standby scaffolder.
Emergency contacts: Site office 0118 xxx xxxx · Project manager 07xxx xxx xxx · Nearest A&E: Royal Berkshire Hospital, RG1 5AN.
Fire / overhead-line incident: Stop work, clear to muster point, contact PC and SSE on permit number.

8. Sign-off and review

Prepared by: J. Patel — CISRS Advanced, SSSTS · Riskora Example Scaffolding Ltd · 12 July 2026.
Approved by: S. Khan — Contracts Manager, NEBOSH Construction Certificate · 12 July 2026.
Illustrative principal-contractor review: A. Reeves — fictional example · 12 July 2026.
Briefed to operatives: Sign-on sheet retained — five signatures, all CISRS card numbers recorded.
Review trigger: Annually, or on any change of scope, plant, weather restriction, or after any near-miss involving this work activity.

What makes this example easier to review

Three things, all of them mundane:

Every hazard is in the scope. If a hazard isn't in the scope, it isn't in the table. No padding with "office hazards" on a scaffolding RAMS.
Every method step references a control. Step 3 references control 1; step 4 references controls 1 and 2; step 5 references control 4. The reviewer can audit the document by cross-checking — that's the whole point.
It's site-specific. Real site address, real permit number, real card numbers, real review date. None of those are hard. All of them are routinely missing from rejected RAMS.

How to use this example

Copy the structure, not the content. The hazards in your scaffold job will be similar but not identical — different overhead lines, different traffic management, different weather window. Lift the section headings and the format of the hazard table; rewrite every cell against your actual scope.

If you'd rather skip the formatting work entirely, Riskora's free RAMS generator renders this same eight-section structure automatically — pick the construction preset, confirm the hazards from a pre-loaded library, edit the controls to match your job, and export PDF. There's no card needed for the free tier.

Turn this guidance into a site-specific document — preview free

Generate a preview first. Sign up only when you want to save, edit or export.

Turn this guidance into a site-specific document Already have a RAMS? Upload and rebuild it

Final RAMS must be reviewed and approved by a competent person before use.