RAMS & RISK MANAGEMENT
Structured risk assessment, safe systems of work and task-specific method statements supporting DVM operations across logistics, warehousing, installations and urban mobility.
Operational framework · DVM Group
IDENTIFY. ASSESS. CONTROL.
DVM uses risk assessment and method statement processes to identify foreseeable hazards, define appropriate controls and communicate safe working arrangements before relevant operations begin.
Hazards, people at risk and controls
Safe sequence and working method
Proportionate to the operation
Updated when circumstances change
01. WHAT RAMS MEANS
RAMS is commonly used to describe Risk Assessments and Method Statements. Together, these documents can help define the risks associated with an activity and explain how the work is intended to be carried out safely.
DVM does not treat RAMS as a generic certificate or a one-document solution for every operation. The level of detail should remain proportionate to the task, environment, equipment, people involved and risks identified.
Identifies hazards, considers who may be affected, evaluates risk and defines appropriate control measures.
Describes the planned sequence of work, responsibilities, equipment and safety precautions relevant to the operation.
02. DVM RISK MANAGEMENT PROCESS
DVM uses a structured approach to help ensure risks are considered before work starts and reviewed when operating conditions change.
Identify hazards associated with the task, equipment, environment and planned activity.
Consider who may be affected and the likelihood and potential severity of harm.
Select appropriate measures to eliminate or reduce identified risks.
Brief relevant personnel on the planned controls and safe working method.
Review arrangements when circumstances, equipment or the scope of work changes.
03. OPERATIONS WITHIN THE RAMS FRAMEWORK
Risk management requirements vary according to the DVM activity being undertaken.
Loading, unloading, storage, racking, vehicle movements, pedestrian controls and warehouse handling activities.
Commercial furniture installation, reconfiguration, removals and workplace relocation activities.
Vehicle loading, unloading, load restraint, manual handling and movement of commercial equipment.
Battery swaps, collections, bike movement, deployment and associated urban operational activities.
04. RISK ASSESSMENT
A risk assessment should identify significant foreseeable hazards associated with the planned activity and determine appropriate measures to control the risks.
What has the potential to cause harm?
Who may be affected and in what way?
What safeguards are already in place?
What additional measures are reasonably required?
Who is responsible for implementing each action?
When should the assessment be reconsidered?
05. METHOD STATEMENTS
Where appropriate to the work, a method statement can be used to communicate the planned safe system and logical sequence in which an operation is to be completed.
Access, personnel, equipment, site conditions, permits and pre-start requirements.
Planned stages of work and controls that should remain in place throughout the task.
Close-down, housekeeping, inspection, handover and removal of temporary controls.
06. SITE & TASK-SPECIFIC INFORMATION
Effective RAMS depend on accurate information about the work and the environment in which it will take place.
Clients and operational partners should provide relevant information in sufficient time for DVM to consider foreseeable hazards and prepare appropriate arrangements where required.
Vehicle access, loading areas, entrances and restrictions.
Public areas, employees, visitors and segregation requirements.
Lift availability, corridors, stairs and material routes.
Inductions, permits, security and client procedures.
Asbestos information, fragile areas and other identified risks.
Fire arrangements, evacuation procedures and emergency contacts.
07. DYNAMIC RISK ASSESSMENT & CHANGE CONTROL
Conditions encountered during an operation may differ from those originally planned.
Personnel should remain alert to significant changes that may affect the safety of the agreed work, including unexpected access restrictions, damaged equipment, changing traffic conditions, additional work activities or previously unidentified hazards.
Work should not simply continue where a significant uncontrolled risk has arisen. The activity should be reassessed and the relevant controls or method updated before proceeding where necessary.
08. COMMUNICATION & TOOLBOX TALKS
Safe working arrangements are only effective when the people carrying out the task understand the relevant hazards, controls and responsibilities.
Relevant RAMS and operational controls communicated before work.
Focused safety communication relating to relevant work activities.
Client and site-specific rules understood where required.
Personnel encouraged to identify concerns and changing conditions.
09. COMPETENCE, EQUIPMENT & PPE
Risk controls may depend on appropriate competence, suitable equipment and task-specific personal protective equipment.
Suitable knowledge, experience, training or supervision for the activity.
Suitable equipment selected and maintained for its intended operational purpose.
PPE selected according to identified risk and the nature of the task.
Relevant pre-use checks, inspections and records completed where required.
10. MOBILITY & BATTERY OPERATIONS
Mobility activities can introduce additional risks associated with urban vehicle operations, loading, manual handling and the movement of lithium-ion battery equipment.
Relevant RAMS may therefore address battery handling, loading and restraint, roadside activity, operational vehicles, damaged equipment, incident escalation and emergency arrangements.
Manual handling, inspection and safe movement.
Loading arrangements and appropriate load restraint.
Traffic, pedestrians, cyclists and roadside conditions.
Damaged equipment and abnormal conditions reported promptly.
Detailed battery handling and lithium-ion safety information is addressed separately within the DVM Battery Safety & Handling framework.
11. INCIDENTS, NEAR MISSES & REVIEW
Accidents, near misses, unsafe conditions and relevant operational observations may provide information that should be considered when reviewing risk controls.
Where an incident indicates that an existing control or working method is no longer appropriate, relevant assessments and procedures should be reviewed before similar work continues where necessary.
12. DOCUMENT CONTROL
Where formal RAMS documentation is produced, document control helps ensure that the relevant version is identifiable and available to the people who need it.
Defined document or project reference.
Revision status and date of issue.
Appropriate preparation and review arrangements.
Relevant version available to affected personnel.
13. LEGAL & SAFETY FRAMEWORK
Depending on the activity and DVM's role within the work, risk management arrangements may interact with applicable UK health and safety legislation and guidance.
The requirements applicable to a particular operation depend on the nature of the work, location, equipment, contractual role and risks involved.
This webpage describes the DVM RAMS and risk management framework. It is not itself a project-specific risk assessment or method statement. Where RAMS are required for a particular project or operation, documentation should reflect the actual scope, site conditions and identified risks.
NEED RAMS FOR A DVM PROJECT?
Clients and operational partners can contact DVM regarding project-specific risk assessments, method statements and supporting Health & Safety documentation.
SAFETY DOCUMENTATION QUESTION?
Contact DVM Group regarding RAMS, site requirements, operational controls or project Health & Safety documentation.
enquiries@dvmbulgar.com