Know the Plan: Reading the RAMS Before Starting

The plan tells you how to work safely: check it before you start.

Why this matters

The Risk Assessment and Method Statement, known as RAMS, is the roadmap for your shift. It is not just a document for the safety office. It lists every danger you will face today and exactly how to avoid them.
Working without reading the RAMS is like driving in the dark without lights. You might know the general way, but you will not see the new hazards. If the plan says one thing and you do another, you are putting yourself and your team in danger.

Talking points

Listen carefully during the morning briefing when the RAMS is explained.
Identify the specific hazards listed for your task, such as falling objects or sharp edges.
Check that the tools and safety equipment mentioned in the plan are the ones you have on site.
Follow the work steps in the exact order they are written: do not take shortcuts.
Make sure you understand your specific role and who is in charge of each step.
Stop work immediately if the site conditions or the task change from what is written in the plan.

Ask the crew

Where is the RAMS kept for the job you are doing right now?
What should you do if the plan says to use a scaffold but you only have a ladder?
Who should you talk to if you do not understand a part of the method statement?

Download the PDF with attendance sheet

More general site talks

Welcoming New Starters: Safety in the First Weeks Change of Plan: Why You Must Stop and Reassess Waste Segregation: More Than Just Cleaning Working with Other Contractors: Coordination and Shared Hazards End of Shift: Securing the Workplace Before You Leave Stop Work Authority: You Have the Power to Say No

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