Compare
The Site Book vs Excel
Excel works. But using a spreadsheet for your RAMS, COSHH assessments, and site safety docs costs you hours of admin every week — and one missed section could mean a failed HSE inspection. There's a better way.
The problem with Excel for site safety
- ⚠️It's slow. You're starting from a blank template every time. A RAMS that should take 10 minutes takes an hour.
- ⚠️It's easy to get wrong. CDM 2015 has specific requirements. Excel doesn't know if you've missed a mandatory section — and an HSE inspector will.
- ⚠️Version control is a nightmare. How many files called “RAMS_v3_FINAL_USE_THIS_ONE.xlsx” do you have?
- ⚠️It doesn't work on site. Filling in Excel on a phone in the rain isn't happening.
Feature comparison
| Feature | The Site Book | Excel / Word |
|---|---|---|
| Time to complete a RAMS | Under 10 minutes | 1–3 hours (start from scratch each time) |
| CDM 2015 compliance | Built-in, automatically structured | Manual — easy to miss required sections |
| COSHH assessments | AI-powered, substance lookup built in | Manual data entry, no substance database |
| Construction Phase Plan | Yes, auto-generated | Word/Excel template, manual |
| Version control | Automatic | Manual (v1, v2, v2-FINAL, v2-FINAL2...) |
| Sharing with clients/principal contractors | One-click PDF or shareable link | Email attachment, easy to send wrong version |
| Mobile access on site | Fully mobile — works on any phone | Difficult — Excel on mobile is painful |
| Cost | Free tier, from £30/mo | Microsoft 365 licence (£7.90+/mo per user) + your time |
| HSE inspection ready | Yes — all docs in one place, professional format | Depends on how well you maintain it |
| Suitable for | Sole traders, small contractors, subbies | Anyone willing to spend hours on admin |
Stick with Excel if…
- ✗ You have a dedicated admin person with hours to spare
- ✗ You only ever do one type of job and never change
- ✗ You enjoy version control via filename
- ✗ You never need to access docs on your phone
Switch to The Site Book if…
- ✅ You want RAMS done in under 10 minutes
- ✅ You need to stay CDM 2015 compliant without thinking about it
- ✅ You want to access and share docs from your phone on site
- ✅ You're a sole trader or small contractor with no admin support
Stop spending your evenings on Excel
The Site Book does your RAMS, COSHH assessments, and site safety docs in a fraction of the time — and they look professional when you hand them over.
Try a free RAMS now →