Writing risk assessments and method statements before we start

What goes into the document before pricing finishes

We walk the areas being decorated, note the access equipment needed, the substrates involved and anything unusual — a shared stairwell, a plant room, a public entrance. Those observations shape the RAMS rather than being bolted on afterwards, so the paperwork matches what the crew actually does on the day.

• Site-specific hazards listed by area, not by generic trade category
• Access method matched to each elevation or room, not assumed
• Named control measures for each hazard, not a tick-box column

Circulating it to the right people

A RAMS is only useful if the people running the site have actually read it. We send it ahead of the start date so it can go through a principal contractor's own approval process, and we build in time for revisions if their site rules differ from our first draft.

Keeping it live once work is underway

Buildings change during a contract — a lift breaks down, a corridor gets fenced off, a new hazard turns up under old paint. Where that happens we amend the document and reissue it rather than carrying on against paperwork that no longer describes the job.

• Amendments dated and reissued, not verbally agreed and forgotten
• Crew briefed on any change before the next shift starts

Toolbox talks on site

Beyond the written document, we run a short briefing at the start of each phase so operatives can ask questions in plain language rather than just signing a form. This catches misunderstandings before they become incidents, particularly where several trades are sharing the same floor.