Riskora vs HandsHQ — Honest Comparison for UK Contractors
HandsHQ is a long-established UK RAMS and training-records platform aimed at mid-sized to larger construction businesses. Riskora is a modern, governance-grade RAMS builder that ships with role-based access, audit-ready downloads, version control, project/site organisation and SSO — without the enterprise rollout. If you are weighing the two, this page is the straight comparison — no marketing copy.
UK (RAMS) example document — Two-Storey Rear Extension — 14 Birchwood Lane, Reading. Client: Mr & Mrs A. Whitfield (Private Client). Site: 14 Birchwood Lane, Reading, RG1 5JT. Scope: Construction of a two-storey rear extension (6.4m × 4.2m) to an existing semi-detached dwelling. Works comprise breaking out of existing rear elevation, trench-fill foundations to 1.0m, traditional cavity blockwork to first floor, pre-stressed concrete lintels, timber roof structure with natural slate finish, plus alterations to existing rear wall to form structural opening with rolled steel joist (RSJ 203×102 UB23). Works programmed over 9 weeks with a peak site team of 6 operatives. Hazards assessed: Manual handling — blocks, lintels, plasterboard, Working at height — independent scaffold & roof structure, Buried services strike during excavation, Collapse of excavation / trench wall, Hand-arm vibration (HAVS) — breaking out, drilling, Silica dust — cutting blocks, brick, concrete, Vehicle/pedestrian segregation — narrow domestic street.
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Which is better, Riskora or HandsHQ?
HandsHQ is the better fit if you specifically need integrated training records, competence tracking and induction sign-on as part of one platform. For everything else — fast RAMS generation, role-based access, audit-ready document packs, version-controlled review and sign-off, projects/sites, SSO and a structured QA engine — Riskora delivers enterprise-grade governance without the enterprise rollout, onboarding fee or per-seat ramp.
How we compared Riskora and HandsHQ
Both tools were tested in March–April 2026 by producing the same RAMS — a 3-day scaffolding access install for a two-storey commercial fit-out — and timing every step from sign-up to PDF download.
- Sign-up friction (self-serve vs sales-led demo)
- Time-to-first-finished-RAMS, accepted by a PC
- Hazard prompt coverage for the test scope
- Governance: RBAC, SSO, version locking, audit download
- Adjacent workflows: training records, induction sign-on
- Published cost for a 5-user firm, year one
Assessment period: March – April 2026. Riskora is our own product — comparison points for other tools reflect publicly available information at the time of review.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Riskora | HandsHQ |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Governance-grade RAMS builder | RAMS + training records platform |
| RAMS / risk assessment / method statement builder | ||
| Time to first finished RAMS | Under 5 minutes | Demo + onboarding before access |
| Setup time | Minutes | Days to weeks |
| Training required to use | None — guided builder | Onboarding session typical |
| Role-based access (RBAC) | yes — granular roles & permissions | |
| SSO / Google sign-in | Enterprise tier | |
| Version control & review locking | ||
| Audit-ready download packs | yes — bulk download with manifest | |
| Compliance calendar & review reminders | ||
| Projects / sites organisation | ||
| Built-in document QA engine | ||
| Training records / competence tracking | ||
| Site induction / sign-on workflow | ||
| Free account | free account | Demo only |
| Starting price | £29/mo, transparent | Custom (typically £100+/mo) |
| PDF download |
Individual Tool Breakdowns
HandsHQ
HandsHQ is a UK-based health and safety platform combining RAMS, risk assessment and method statement generation with training-records, competence-tracking and induction sign-on. It has been around since the early 2010s and is well established with mid-sized to large construction and rail contractors.
Best for: Mid-sized contractors (typically 25+ workers) with a dedicated H&S manager, integrated training-record needs, and a budget for a full SaaS platform with onboarding.
Strengths
- Mature, well-tested RAMS builder used by larger contractors
- Built-in training records and competence tracking
- Site induction and sign-on workflows
- Strong rail and tier-one contractor footprint
- UK support team familiar with CDM 2015 and rail standards
Limitations
- Pricing is on application — typically £100+/mo, often much more once seats are added
- Onboarding usually involves a sales call and a demo before access
- Feature set is broader than most subcontractors actually need
- Setup overhead is disproportionate for sole traders or sub-10-worker firms
Common Questions Before Getting Started
Will this take long?
Under 5 minutes. Select your trade, pick hazards, download.
Is it complicated?
No training needed. The guided builder walks you through every step.
Do I need experience?
If you know what work you're doing, you can use Riskora.
Is it free to try?
Yes. The Free plan needs no card — generate, review and download one free PDF. Upgrade any time for branding, DOCX, sign-off and higher limits.
Worked head-to-head: same scaffolding-access brief, both tools
We ran the same brief — a 3-day mobile-tower scaffold access install for a high-street commercial fit-out, two operatives, IPAF MEWPs on standby, working over a pedestrianised footway — through both tools and timed every step.
- Riskora: self-serve sign-up, 90 seconds. Selected "Scaffolding / temporary works access" preset, confirmed 11 pre-loaded hazards (fall from height, dropped objects, pedestrian interface, manual handling of components, weather sensitivity, etc.), added project address and named PASMA card holders. Downloaded a 12-page PDF at the 4 min 50s mark. The document QA flagged one weak control ("PPE worn") and prompted us to specify FFP3 vs FFP2 — caught before download.
- HandsHQ: sign-up routed via a demo-request form. Sales call booked 2 working days out. After onboarding (45 minutes), the RAMS builder is competent and the output looks professional — but the test brief took 22 minutes of active builder time because hazards weren't pre-loaded for the scaffolding scope and had to be picked from a wider library. Training-records module added value separately (we logged PASMA expiry dates) — but that's outside the RAMS comparison.
The honest read: HandsHQ produces a high-quality RAMS once you're set up, and the training-records integration is genuinely useful if you need it. Riskora produces the same RAMS quality faster, with self-serve sign-up and a QA engine that catches generic content. If RAMS speed is the priority, Riskora wins; if integrated training records are non-negotiable, HandsHQ wins.
Migration checklist if switching from HandsHQ
- Download your last 5 active RAMS from HandsHQ as PDFs — these are your reference set for recreation.
- Download training records and competence-card data separately. Riskora does not import these — either keep HandsHQ running for that workflow, or move it to a dedicated tool (iCompli, Trade Pass, or a spreadsheet).
- Recreate one typical RAMS in the Riskora trial. Most users find it takes 5–8 minutes — faster than editing a HandsHQ duplicate.
- Compare the output side-by-side against the HandsHQ original. Pay attention to hazard coverage and named-operative blocks.
- Set up RBAC and projects/sites before rolling out to your team — the governance features are the equivalent of HandsHQ's account structure and matter more on day 30 than day 1.
Why Teams Choose Riskora
Riskora and HandsHQ both produce RAMS — but Riskora gives you the governance features that used to require an enterprise platform, without the enterprise rollout. Where HandsHQ wins: integrated training records, competence tracking and induction sign-on. If those workflows must live in the same tool as your RAMS, HandsHQ is built for that and is well established with larger contractors. Where Riskora wins: speed and governance. Role-based access (RBAC), SSO, version control with review locking, audit-ready bulk download packs, a compliance calendar that chases reviews automatically, projects/sites organisation, and a built-in document QA engine that flags gaps before a principal contractor does. All of it works the day you sign up — no demo call, no onboarding fee, no implementation project. For most contractors, that means: same governance, faster output, transparent pricing. £29/mo, three documents free, full enterprise feature set on the Pro plan at £69/mo.
When HandsHQ is the better choice
We don't think Riskora wins every scenario. A few where HandsHQ is the right call:
- If You need training-records and competence-card tracking inside the same tool as your RAMS — HandsHQ — the integrated training module is its strongest feature and Riskora does not match it.
- If You run site inductions with sign-on workflows tied to RAMS acceptance — HandsHQ — the induction sign-on flow is purpose-built for this.
- If You're a tier-one rail contractor needing Network Rail-templated outputs — HandsHQ — its rail footprint is deeper and the templates align with sponsor expectations out of the box.
- If Your H&S manager prefers a single supplier across documents, training and induction — HandsHQ — fewer tools to procure and govern, and the platform is mature.
All documents should be reviewed by a competent person before use on site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Riskora a HandsHQ alternative?
Yes, for the RAMS-builder portion of HandsHQ. Riskora does not replace the training-records, competence-tracking or site-induction sign-on functionality. If you only need RAMS, Riskora is a far cheaper, faster alternative. If you need the full platform, HandsHQ is the right tool.
Can I migrate my HandsHQ documents to Riskora?
There is no automated migration — but you can recreate any HandsHQ RAMS in Riskora in under 10 minutes per document because the builder is prompt-based rather than blank-template-based. Most users on the trial recreate one or two of their typical RAMS to compare.
How much does HandsHQ cost compared to Riskora?
HandsHQ pricing is on application but typically starts around £100/mo and scales with seats. Riskora is £29/mo on the Starter plan (20 documents) and £69/mo on Pro (200 documents), with Team, Business and Enterprise tiers above that.
Does Riskora handle CDM 2015 and rail RAMS?
Yes for general CDM 2015 work. Rail RAMS often have additional sponsor/principal contractor requirements (e.g. Network Rail templates) — Riskora generates the underlying RAMS structure but you may need to manually map the output into a Network Rail-required format if working trackside.
Ready? It takes less than 5 minutes.
No training. No complex setup. Just select your trade and go.
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Create your RAMS free — preview before sign-up
Generate a preview first. Sign up only when you want to save, edit or export.
Final RAMS must be reviewed and approved by a competent person before use.
Riskora is an assistive document preparation tool. All documents generated must be reviewed, verified, and approved by a competent person before use on site. Riskora does not replace professional safety judgment, and no output should be treated as a legal compliance guarantee.