RAMS, CPP & Site Documents for Builders

Built for Builders

Real work, real hazards. Here are examples of what The Site Book creates RAMS for:

CDM 2015 Compliance for Builders

Builders are often the de facto principal contractor on domestic and small commercial projects under CDM 2015. Regulation 13 places specific duties on the principal contractor to plan, manage, and monitor the construction phase, ensure cooperation and coordination between all contractors on site, and arrange for adequate welfare facilities. Projects that are notifiable to HSE — those exceeding 30 working days with 20 or more workers, or 500 person-days of construction work — require F10 notification before work begins. As the principal contractor, you must ensure every subcontractor provides suitable RAMS, that site inductions cover all relevant hazards, and that the Construction Phase Plan is kept up to date throughout the project. CDM 2015 Regulations 4 to 7 place duties on the client that builders often help domestic clients understand, including the obligation to provide pre-construction information and ensure suitable management arrangements are in place.

Common Hazards We Cover

These are the real risks builders face on site every day. Your RAMS will address each one with specific control measures.

• Structural collapse during alterations — temporary propping, lintel installation, and load-bearing wall removal
• Working at height — scaffolding, roof work, and stairwell areas
• Excavation hazards — unstable ground, striking buried services, collapse of trench sides
• Asbestos in pre-2000 buildings — Artex, floor tiles, pipe lagging, soffit boards
• Dust exposure from cutting blocks, bricks, and concrete — silica dust risk
• Manual handling of heavy building materials — blocks, steels, lintels, bags of cement

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need RAMS as a builder?

Yes. Under CDM 2015, all construction work requires risk assessments. As a builder, you are often managing the whole project — which may make you the principal contractor if there are two or more contractors on site. RAMS are essential for demonstrating that you have identified and planned for the risks on each job, and most commercial clients and principal designers will expect them.

How long does it take to create RAMS for building work?

Under 5 minutes with The Site Book. Describe the job — for example, 'single-storey rear extension, 1930s semi, with structural opening' — and the AI creates RAMS covering excavation, structural work, manual handling, and every other relevant hazard for your specific job.

Does The Site Book cover CDM 2015 duties for builders?

Yes. The Site Book is built around CDM 2015. It generates your Construction Phase Plan, RAMS, COSHH assessments, and site induction documents. It also tracks whether your project is notifiable, helps you manage subcontractor documentation, and provides a compliance dashboard so you know what is outstanding at any point.

Am I the principal contractor under CDM?

Under CDM 2015 Regulation 5, if there are or will be more than one contractor on a commercial project, the client must appoint a principal contractor. On domestic projects, if the client does not make an appointment, the contractor who controls the construction phase takes on principal contractor duties automatically under Regulation 7(1)(b). In practice, as a general builder managing subcontractors on a house extension or renovation, you are very likely the principal contractor — which means you must plan, manage, and monitor the construction phase, ensure cooperation between trades, and maintain a Construction Phase Plan.

What documents do I need for a CDM-notifiable project?

A project is notifiable to HSE under CDM 2015 Regulation 6 if it involves more than 30 working days with more than 20 workers at any point, or exceeds 500 person-days of construction work. Notifiable projects require an F10 notification submitted to HSE before work begins, a Construction Phase Plan produced before the construction phase starts, pre-construction information from the client, risk assessments and method statements for all work activities, and adequate welfare facilities from day one. The Site Book generates the CPP, RAMS, and COSHH assessments and tracks what documentation is still outstanding.

How does The Site Book help builders manage subcontractors' compliance?

The Site Book tracks subcontractor documentation including CSCS card expiry dates, insurance certificates, and trade qualifications. You can set up digital site inductions that every worker must complete before starting on site, with sign-off recorded against their name and date. When a subcontractor submits their RAMS, you can review them within the platform. Certification expiry alerts notify you before documents lapse, so you are never caught with expired cover on site.

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