Risk Assessment vs Method Statement (RAMS) Explained
People often talk about "RAMS" as if it were a single document, but a risk assessment and a method statement do two different jobs. Understanding the distinction — and when you actually need both — helps you produce paperwork that protects people rather than ticking a box.
Two documents, one purpose
RAMS stands for Risk Assessment and Method Statement. They are commonly issued together, especially in construction and contracting, but they answer different questions. A risk assessment asks what could go wrong and how serious is it? A method statement asks how exactly will we do this job safely, step by step? One identifies and evaluates hazards; the other sets out the safe way of working that flows from them.
The risk assessment
The risk assessment is the legal foundation. Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and within the broader duty of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, employers must assess the risks their work creates. It identifies hazards, decides who might be harmed, and records the controls in place. If you are new to it, our guides on how to write a risk assessment and the five steps to risk assessment cover the process in full.
The method statement
The method statement, sometimes called a safe system of work, takes the controls from the risk assessment and turns them into a practical sequence. It describes the task from start to finish: how it will be set up, the order of operations, the equipment used, the precautions at each stage, and how the area will be left safe at the end. Where a risk assessment is analytical, a method statement is instructional — it is something the work team can follow on site.
A useful way to remember it: the risk assessment is the "why", the method statement is the "how". Without the assessment, the method statement has no basis; without the method statement, the controls may never be put into practice.
When you need a RAMS
A risk assessment is always required for work activities — that duty does not go away. A method statement is needed when the work is complex, high-risk, or non-routine, where simply listing controls is not enough to ensure they are followed correctly. Typical triggers include:
- Work at height, on scaffolding, or near excavations.
- Demolition, lifting operations, or work in confined spaces.
- Tasks involving hazardous substances or hot works.
- Jobs where several trades or contractors work in the same area.
- Work specified in a contract or requested by a principal contractor or client.
For straightforward, low-risk tasks a method statement may be unnecessary — a clear risk assessment and a briefing can be enough. The point is proportionality: write what the job genuinely needs to be done safely.
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What to include in a method statement
A clear method statement is specific to the job and easy to follow on site. As a guide, it should cover:
- Project and task details — what the work is, where, and the dates or duration.
- Responsibilities — who is supervising and who is doing the work.
- Reference to the risk assessment — linking the controls to the hazards identified.
- Sequence of work — the steps in order, from set-up to completion.
- Plant, equipment and materials — what is used and any inspection requirements.
- Control measures and PPE — the precautions at each stage.
- Emergency arrangements — first aid, fire and incident procedures.
- Sign-off — confirmation that the team has read and understood it.
✓ Key takeaways
- RAMS = Risk Assessment and Method Statement — two linked documents, not one.
- The risk assessment identifies and evaluates hazards; it is a legal requirement.
- The method statement explains, step by step, how the job will be done safely.
- A method statement is needed for complex, high-risk or non-routine work, or when a contract requires one.
- Keep both proportionate and make sure the work team reads and understands them.
Making RAMS work in practice
The best RAMS are written by people who understand the job, kept short enough to be read, and reviewed when conditions change. A method statement filed away and never opened protects no one. Brief the team, confirm they have understood it, and treat the documents as living tools that guide how the work is actually carried out — that is where the safety, and the legal protection, really comes from.