Avoid these

7 risk assessment and method

statement mistakes

You’ll reduce rejections, save time, and your clients will love you!

• Typically 50–90% of RAMS (risk assessments and method statements) are rejected by clients

• Usually for the same reasons, over and over again

• That’s a lot of wasted time for both you and your client

○

• We’ll take a look at the 7 common mistakes you can avoid to improve your RAMS so they don’t get rejected

• But first… let’s start with the basics

What is a risk assessment?

A risk assessment is a careful examination of what could cause harm to people and how you plan to minimise the risk

What is a method statement?

A method statement details how work will be carried out safely, and used to communicate this to people working on the job

Who should write your RAMS?

If you are an employer or a self-employed person, you are responsible for health and safety in your business.

You can delegate writing RAMS, but ultimately you are responsible.

You will need to make sure that whoever does the risk assessment:

• is competent to do so

• involves your workers in the process

• understands when specialist help might be needed

They are also a written record…

They can be referred to in legal proceedings if an accident were to occur onsite or an HSE inspector visited

mistakes you should avoid7The

MISTAKE

Repurposing an old RAMS document

1MISTAKE

Why is this bad?

• The #1 reason RAMS get rejected is because they contain details from a previous job

• This is a clear sign it’s an old document has been repurposed

• It shows project-specific risks have most likely not been considered, putting people at risk and damaging your reputation

1

How to fix it

• Have a system in place to create accurate, project-specific RAMS across your business

• Don’t use a previous job’s RAMS as a starting point

• Create a new document every time

1

MISTAKE

Not identifying who’s at risk

2MISTAKE

Why is this bad?

• Not specifying who’s at risk shows that you might not have considered the hazards fully

• Those at risk could be the operative, other engineers, the public, or even client staff if your working in a occupied building

• Working around different people will dramatically change your control measures in your risk assessments

2

How to fix it

• Specify on each hazard in your risk assessment with who is at risk

• Ensure your control measures address each of the different groups of people at risk

2

MISTAKE

Not including a risk matrix in your risk assessments

3MISTAKE

Why is this bad?

• Although a matrix is not a legal requirement, construction is high risk so most clients will ask you to quantify the hazards before and after control measures

• Not including a matrix indicates you might not have an understanding of which activities are more riskier than others

3

How to fix it

• Use a 5x5 risk matrix to score the likelihood and severity of each hazard you identify

• Do this for the hazard before and after control measures

• Only the likelihood should change after implementing control measures

3

The HANDS HQ risk matrix

MISTAKE

Not considering your method statement methodology with care

4MISTAKE

Why is this bad?

• Your method statement methodology helps communicate an effective safe system of work to your staff

• Not carefully considering and communicating your methodology will put your staff at risk

• Staff are sometimes less experienced than the person responsible for creating the method statement so it’s important that all the issues and step by step processes are clearly communicated before work starts

4

How to fix it

• Create clear step by step instructions of how to safely undertake the work

• It doesn’t need to be over the top with detail like how to hammer a nail in a wall - but briefly describe the more dangerous parts of your working, and how you plan to control this work

4

MISTAKE

Not having a system in place for quickly making updates

5MISTAKE

Why is this bad?

• Clients will want to see the RAMS document revised over time as working conditions or tasks change

• Delaying or doing this wrong will send out red flags to the site management which could also delay your work and lose you money

• Dynamic, weekly RAMS are also being requested on larger sites, can you handle submitting new updated RAMS every week?

• Not updating risk assessments as conditions change leaves people at risk of harm

5

How to fix it

• Have a system in place where you and those involved in the work can easily make updates

• Consider how those in the field can make updates to avoid delays

5

MISTAKE

Not including the site rules in your method statement

6MISTAKE

Why is this bad?

• Not demonstrating an understanding of the site rules could indicate a lack of care for the health and safety of your workers

• It also shows the client you have little regard for the site rules they’ve spent time implementing to keep everyone safe

6

How to fix it

• Make sure you include details about induction times, site working hours, delivery details, where welfare and first aid is located and who’s responsible for it

6

MISTAKE

Including out of date legislation in your documents

7MISTAKE

Why is this bad?

• This is a clear sign to the client that you don’t have a good grasp of health and safety and current, applicable legislation

7

How to fix it

• Subscribe to HSE email updates to be notified of relevant legislation changes

• You can make same day changes to your documents as soon as you receive the update

• Find out more here: http://www.hse.gov.uk/legislation/news.htm

7

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And we can help you avoid all 7 mistakes.

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Resources

• HSE News: http://www.hse.gov.uk/legislation/news.htm

• Free risk assessment and method statement template

• HSE risk management FAQs: http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/faq.htm