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RAMS and ITP Review Services: What Contractors Should Expect

When a principal contractor or client asks for your RAMS before work starts, the pressure is immediate. Whether you need a construction RAMS template to build from or a full review of documents your subcontractor has submitted, the quality of that review directly affects your liability position under CDM 2015. Getting it wrong is not a paperwork problem. It is a prosecution risk.

This article covers what a proper RAMS and ITP review service should include, what contractors should expect from a competent reviewer, how the process connects to temporary works compliance under BS 5975:2024, and where the gaps most commonly appear on live projects.

What RAMS and ITP Actually Mean in a Temporary Works Context

RAMS stands for Risk Assessment and Method Statement. An ITP is an Inspection and Test Plan. Both are required for temporary works activities, but they serve different purposes and are reviewed against different criteria.

The RAMS describes how the work will be carried out safely. It identifies hazards, sets out the control measures, and defines the sequence of operations. For temporary works, it must be consistent with the design. If the design specifies a particular prop spacing, a load limit, or an installation sequence, the RAMS must reflect all of that. A generic construction RAMS template that has not been tailored to the actual design is one of the most common reasons RAMS get rejected on site.

The ITP sets out what will be inspected, when, by whom, and against what standard. For temporary works, this typically covers checks at installation, at load application, and at removal. It should reference the relevant design drawings and calculations — not just describe a generic inspection routine.

Critically, both documents need to be reviewed together. A RAMS that describes the correct method but an ITP that misses a check at the critical load stage is still a gap in your compliance record.

Why Generic Templates Fail Under Scrutiny

A construction RAMS template is a starting point, not a finished document. The problem is that many contractors submit templates as though they were complete. A reviewer working to BS 5975:2024 will check whether the RAMS references the actual design, names the correct temporary works supervisor, includes the correct permit-to-load or permit-to-alter reference, and describes the actual site conditions rather than a generic scenario.

Under BS 5975:2024 Part 1, the Designated Individual carries procedural responsibility for ensuring RAMS align with the temporary works design before work starts. That responsibility is not discharged by approving a document that looks right on the surface but has never been cross-checked against the calculations and drawings.

Common failures in submitted RAMS and ITPs include:

  • No reference to the temporary works design drawing number or revision
  • Generic hazard lists that do not reflect the specific structure type — treating a propped excavation the same as a hoarding, for example
  • Missing or incorrect load limits, particularly on working platforms and piling mats
  • ITP hold and witness points that do not align with the design's critical stages
  • No named temporary works supervisor or coordinator in the document
  • Method statements describing a sequence the design does not support

Each of these is a finding a competent reviewer will flag. Each is also a potential liability gap if the document is approved without correction.

What a Proper RAMS Review Service Should Deliver

A review is not a rubber stamp. When you engage a competent reviewer, you should receive a structured written response that identifies specific findings, references the relevant clauses in the design or the standard, and distinguishes between observations, minor non-conformances, and major non-conformances.

The reviewer should also be able to tell you what a corrected document needs to contain — not just that something is wrong. A comment that says "method statement does not comply" without explaining what compliance actually requires is not useful to a site team under time pressure.

For temporary works specifically, the review should check:

  • Alignment between the RAMS and the approved temporary works design
  • Correct reference to BS 5975:2024 procedural controls, including permit requirements
  • Named and competent personnel for each role described in the method statement
  • ITP hold points at stages defined by the design, not just at practical completion
  • Emergency procedures relevant to the specific structure type

The output should be a reviewable record. Under BS 5975:2024, the temporary works register must capture the status of RAMS and ITPs as part of the procedural audit trail. A verbal approval or an email that just says "looks fine" does not meet that requirement.

How RAMS Reviews Connect to the Temporary Works Design

One reason RAMS reviews often go poorly is that the reviewer and the designer are different people who have never spoken. The reviewer checks the RAMS against a generic standard. The designer produced a calculation pack that makes specific assumptions. Nobody has confirmed that the two documents are actually consistent.

This is where a single point of contact across the full design process makes a practical difference. When the same team that produced the calculations, drawings, and design risk assessment also reviews the RAMS and ITP, the cross-check is direct. The reviewer knows what the design assumes, what the critical load stages are, and what the permit structure requires.

Temporary Works Consulting & Design Ltd operates this way. The firm handles the full temporary works design process — including RAMS and ITP reviews — as part of an integrated service rather than a separate document-checking exercise. That means the review is grounded in the actual design, not in a generic checklist.

ITP Review: What Contractors Frequently Overlook

The ITP is often treated as a formality. It gets submitted alongside the RAMS, receives a quick look, and gets filed. The problem is that an ITP that is not properly structured creates a gap in your inspection record — one that becomes visible during audits or, worse, after an incident.

A properly reviewed ITP for temporary works should confirm the following.

Hold points are stages where work cannot proceed without a sign-off. For a propped excavation, a hold point might be required before any surcharge loading is applied. For a working platform, it might be required before plant access. These hold points must match the design's assumptions about when loads are applied and how the structure behaves at each stage.

Witness points are stages where the reviewer or supervisor should be present but where work can continue if they are unavailable. The distinction matters because it affects your site programme and your risk register.

Reference documents in the ITP must match the current revision of the design drawings. An ITP referencing revision A when the current drawing is revision C is a non-conformance. It suggests the ITP has not been updated to reflect design changes — a common failure on projects where the design went through several iterations.

Acceptance criteria must be specific. "Inspect for damage" is not an acceptance criterion. "Confirm no visible deformation beyond the tolerances stated in drawing TW-001 Rev C" is.

CDM 2015 and the Liability Position

Under CDM 2015, the principal contractor is responsible for ensuring that all contractors working on site have suitable RAMS in place before work starts. Reviewing and approving a RAMS that is materially deficient does not protect you. It demonstrates that you approved a deficient document, which can be used as evidence in enforcement action.

The HSE's approach to temporary works failures has consistently focused on whether procedural controls were in place and whether the people responsible for them understood their obligations. A RAMS review service that produces a clear written record of what was checked, what was found, and what was approved or rejected is a direct contribution to your defensible position.

This is particularly relevant now that BS 5975:2024 Part 1 has been in force long enough for the HSE to expect contractors to have adapted their procedures. Submitting RAMS that reference the previous version of the standard, or that do not reflect the procedural controls introduced by the February 2025 split into Part 1 and Part 2, is a visible compliance gap.

What to Look for in a RAMS and ITP Review Provider

Not every reviewer brings the same level of site knowledge. Someone who has spent their career reviewing documents against a checklist will read a method statement differently from someone who has stood in the excavation and understands what the sequence actually looks like on the ground.

When selecting a review service, look for:

  • Demonstrated knowledge of BS 5975:2024, including Part 1 procedural controls and the Designated Individual framework
  • Experience with the specific structure type your project involves — whether that is excavation support, propping, working platforms, falsework, or another category
  • A clear review output format that produces a written record suitable for your temporary works register
  • The ability to turn around a review quickly when the programme is tight
  • Direct access to the reviewer, not a helpdesk that routes your query through a queue

That last point matters more than it might seem. When a site agent calls at 07:30 because the subcontractor has arrived and the RAMS have a problem, being able to speak directly to the reviewer and get a decision in real time is the difference between a delay and a stoppage.

Temporary Works Consulting & Design Ltd offers WhatsApp access to a qualified engineer for exactly this reason. Direct contact is part of the service model, not an upgrade.

Integrating RAMS Reviews Into Your Temporary Works Procedures

A RAMS and ITP review is most effective when it sits inside a documented temporary works procedure rather than being treated as a one-off task. BS 5975:2024 Part 1 requires that the temporary works procedure describes how RAMS and ITPs are managed — who reviews them, at what stage, and how the outcome is recorded in the temporary works register.

If your procedure does not currently describe this, or if you have inherited one written before the 2024 revision, that is a gap worth addressing before your next audit or client review.

Support with BS 5975:2024 procedure setup — including RAMS and ITP review workflows — is available through Temporary Works Consulting & Design Ltd. The service covers both the procedural documentation and the ongoing review work, so you are not managing two separate relationships.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a RAMS review and a design check?
A design check examines the engineering calculations and drawings to confirm they are structurally sound. A RAMS review checks that the method statement and inspection plan are consistent with the approved design and meet the procedural requirements of BS 5975:2024 and CDM 2015. Both are required, but they are separate activities carried out at different stages.

Can I use a standard construction RAMS template for temporary works?
A template is a useful starting point, but it must be tailored to the specific design, site conditions, structure type, and named personnel before it is submitted for review. A generic template submitted as a finished document is one of the most common reasons RAMS are rejected or flagged as non-compliant.

Who is responsible for approving RAMS on a CDM project?
Under CDM 2015, the principal contractor is responsible for ensuring that all contractors have suitable RAMS before starting work. Under BS 5975:2024, the Designated Individual carries procedural responsibility for ensuring RAMS align with the temporary works design. Both responsibilities can be supported by an external review service, but the legal obligation remains with the duty holder.

What should a RAMS review record contain?
The review record should identify the document reviewed (including revision number), the date of review, the reviewer's name and competence, any findings raised and their severity, the required actions, and the final approval status. This record should be retained in the temporary works register.

How does an ITP differ from a quality plan?
A quality plan covers the broader scope of quality management on a project. An ITP is specific to a defined scope of work and sets out the inspection and test activities, hold and witness points, acceptance criteria, and responsible parties for that scope. For temporary works, the ITP must be tied to the specific design rather than to a generic quality framework.

What happens if a RAMS is approved but the work does not follow it?
If the work deviates from the approved RAMS without a formal change control process, the approval is effectively void. Under BS 5975:2024, any change to the temporary works design or method must be reviewed and approved before it is implemented. Deviating from an approved RAMS without re-approval is a procedural failure that can result in enforcement action if an incident occurs.

Can RAMS and ITP reviews be carried out remotely?
Yes. A competent reviewer can assess RAMS and ITP documents remotely provided they have access to the approved design drawings and calculations, the relevant site information, and the ability to raise and resolve findings directly with the contractor. Remote review is standard practice and does not reduce the quality of the review if the reviewer has the right background.

Make Your RAMS Work for You, Not Against You

A RAMS review is not a bureaucratic hurdle. It is the point at which someone with engineering knowledge confirms that your method statement is consistent with your design and that your inspection plan will actually catch problems before they become failures.

If your current process involves submitting a construction RAMS template and hoping it gets through, you are carrying a liability gap that is visible to any competent auditor. A structured review service, integrated with your temporary works design, closes that gap and gives you a defensible record.

For contractors who want RAMS and ITP reviews grounded in the actual design rather than a generic checklist, Temporary Works Consulting & Design Ltd provides this as part of a full temporary works service. Fixed-price quotes are available on request via the quote form or WhatsApp.

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