How to Review Subcontractor RAMS Before Work Starts

The review should be done by someone who understands the work, the site and the risks involved. On a project with more than one contractor, the principal contractor must plan, manage, monitor and coordinate the construction phase and check that appointed people have the relevant skills, knowledge, experience and organisational capability. The reviewer may be a site manager, supervisor, competent health and safety person or another nominated reviewer, depending on the job.

Read each significant hazard with the method beside it. The controls should be practical actions someone can see, supervise and maintain, rather than “take care” or “use appropriate PPE”. Check:

• ☐ The hazards match the task, location, people affected and project information.
• ☐ The assessment covers public, neighbours, occupants, other contractors and workers who may be exposed indirectly.
• ☐ Controls follow a sensible hierarchy: remove or reduce the hazard first, then use engineering and organisational controls before relying on PPE.
• ☐ The method statement actually describes how the controls will be applied in sequence.
• ☐ Plant, tools, substances, lifting, access, work at height, excavation, temporary works, fire, emergency and environmental controls are covered where relevant.
• ☐ Permits, isolations, service information, COSHH assessments, safety data sheets, inspection certificates and design information are identified where the task needs them.
• ☐ Residual risks are credible and do not become “low” simply because PPE was added.
• ☐ The RAMS says what changes require a review and who can stop or alter the work.

Ask a simple test: could a supervisor use this document to brief the team and observe the method on the ground? If the answer is no, record the precise clarification needed. Do not accept a generic paragraph about working at height when the job depends on a specific scaffold, MEWP, rescue plan and exclusion zone.

A RAMS review is a document gate. Complete the physical pre-start checks separately:

• ☐ The work area matches the information reviewed.
• ☐ Access, exclusion zones, edge protection, welfare and emergency arrangements are in place.
• ☐ The specified plant, equipment, materials, controls and competent supervision are present.
• ☐ Permits, isolations, service marks, inspections or handover certificates required by the task are complete.
• ☐ Other contractors know about the work and the planned interfaces are controlled.
• ☐ The team has been briefed, understood the method and knows who can stop the job.

If you are producing RAMS for your own work, The Site Book can create site-specific RAMS, CPPs, inductions and related paperwork from your project details. Pro includes document quality checking, permits and site diary tools; Business adds internal team access and site files for sharing project information. Review every generated document against the actual work and have a competent person make the start decision. Create a free job pack for one real project.