Built for Roadworks & Infrastructure
RAMSGen understands the specific pressures of lane rentals, strict possessions, and National Highways safety standards.
Chapter 8 Compliance
Our templates are pre-configured with controls for high-speed roads, traffic management (Red Book), and pedestrian safety.
Tier 1 Approval Ready
Generate documents that satisfy the rigorous PQQ and safety checks of Principal Contractors like Balfour Beatty, Kier, and Skanska.
Street Works Specific
Dedicated workflows for excavation, reinstatement, and surfacing that align with NRSWA and HSG47 regulations.
Everything You Need for Highways RAMS
Stop copy-pasting generic hazards. Use a system built for the risks of the road.
Live Traffic Hazards
Specialised risk libraries covering vehicle incursions, tapering, and working within closures.
NRSWA & CSCS Tracking
Attach operative competencies directly to the document, including Lantra, CSCS, and Street Works cards.
HSG47 Integration
Specific sections for underground services, permit-to-dig protocols, and CAT/Genny usage requirements.
Plant & Machinery
Detailed operating procedures for pavers, planers, rollers, and sweeper wagons.
COSHH for Surfacing
Pre-loaded COSHH assessments for hot rolled asphalt, bitumen emulsions, road markings, and tack coats.
Night Work Controls
Dedicated safety measures for reduced visibility, lighting tower setup, and lone worker fatigue.
Site Condition Updates
Access your RAMS on mobile to review and update for changing site conditions. Digital records capture any amendments made.
HAVS Management
Monitor and specify exposure limits for breakers and floor saws in line with Control of Vibration at Work Regulations.
How It Works
Select Highways Profile
Choose from pre-set profiles including Surfacing, Traffic Management, Line Marking, or Civil Engineering.
Input Site Details
Add specific road names, speed limits, traffic management types, and upload relevant drawings or diversion plans.
Generate & Sign
Download a professional PDF incorporating specific hazards like 'Live Traffic' and 'Bitumen Fumes', ready for site operatives to sign.
Highway Works RAMS: Chapter 8, Safe Systems of Work, and Your Legal Obligations
Highways and surfacing work involves a unique combination of public risk, statutory authority obligations, and live traffic interface that makes RAMS production more complex than for most construction activities. National Highways and local authority highway authorities have specific document standards that go beyond CDM 2015 — and RAMS that satisfy a building site Principal Contractor will frequently fail the 'Raising the Bar' standards applied to roadworks.
Ch. 8
TM layout drawings must be referenced in RAMS, not just 'Chapter 8 compliant'
2.5 m/s²
HAVS Exposure Action Value — often exceeded within 2 hours of breaker use
0.5 mg/m³
WEL for bitumen fumes — COSHH assessment required in surfacing RAMS
NRSWA 1991
Street works RAMS must reference NRSWA supervisor qualifications
Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual governs traffic management for roadworks in Great Britain. It prescribes the signing, lighting, and guarding requirements for all works on public roads, from the size and placement of advance warning signs to the dimensions of lane tapers and the specification of portable signal installations. Your RAMS must not simply state 'Chapter 8 compliant traffic management will be in place' — it must describe the traffic management scheme, reference the Chapter 8 layout drawings, identify the person responsible for TM installation and inspection, and document the inspection and adjustment regime for the duration of the works.
The Lane Rental Scheme, operated by National Highways and some local authorities, charges contractors for time spent occupying a lane or road space. This creates a direct commercial incentive to minimise occupation time — but it also creates a safety risk if operatives rush works or skip planned safety checks. Your RAMS must document the work sequence in a way that is achievable within the planned possession window, and must include provisions for extending or closing out the TM safely if work overruns. Rushed lane closures are a major cause of TM-related incidents.
HAVS (Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome) is an occupational disease with significant legal exposure for highways contractors. The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 set an exposure action value (EAV) of 2.5 m/s² A(8) and an exposure limit value (ELV) of 5 m/s² A(8). For breakers, floor saws, plate compactors, and rammer compactors, daily exposure can exceed the EAV in under two hours. Your RAMS must reference the specific tool vibration magnitudes, calculate the daily exposure for each operative role, specify the maximum continuous use time per tool, and document the health surveillance programme. HAVS claims are among the most common occupational disease claims against highways contractors.
For bituminous fumes from hot-applied asphalt, the COSHH 2002 assessment must reference the HSE's Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL) for bitumen fumes (0.5 mg/m³ as a short-term limit), the specific material being used (hot rolled asphalt, SMA, thin surface course), and the control measures — distance from the paver, wind direction management, and respiratory protective equipment if the WEL cannot be reliably maintained by engineering controls alone.
Key Regulations & Standards for Highways & Surfacing RAMS
| Reference | Regulation / Standard | Relevance to RAMS |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Signs Manual Ch. 8 | Chapter 8: Traffic Safety Measures and Signs for Road Works | TM scheme, layout drawings, and inspection regime must be referenced in RAMS for all roadworks |
| NRSWA 1991 | New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 | NRSWA supervisor qualifications and permit conditions must be recorded in RAMS for street works |
| CVR 2005 | Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 | HAVS EAV/ELV calculations, maximum tool use times, and health surveillance programme in RAMS |
| COSHH 2002 | Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 | Bitumen fumes WEL, RPE specification, and exposure controls required in surfacing RAMS |
| CDM 2015 | Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 | Base statutory framework for RAMS production; works on public highways often involve significant traffic management as a notifiable hazard |
| HSG47 | Avoiding Danger from Underground Services (HSE) | Buried service avoidance, Permit to Dig, and CAT/Genny procedures required in RAMS for any highway excavation |
'Raising the Bar' and Why Highway RAMS Need a Higher Standard
National Highways' 'Raising the Bar' programme and local authority pre-qualification requirements have raised the minimum content standard for highways RAMS significantly since 2020. RAMS that were accepted three years ago may now fail review because they don't include HAVS exposure calculations, specific TM drawing references, or COSHH assessments for bituminous fumes. RAMSGen's highways template is built to meet Raising the Bar standards, with specific modules for Chapter 8 TM documentation, HAVS daily exposure calculation, COSHH for surfacing materials, and NRSWA competency fields — so your RAMS satisfy both National Highways and local authority requirements.
RAMS Templates for Highways & Surfacing
Browse trade-specific templates commonly used in highways & surfacing projects.
Traffic Management & Vehicle Movements
Professional RAMS for planning, setting up and controlling site traffic and deliveries. Built around UK HSE best practice to keep people, plant and the public safe.
View templateGroundworks & Excavation
Professional RAMS for trenches, drainage and site strip works—clear hazards, controls and method steps ready to customise for your project.
View templateConcrete Works
Create a professional Concrete Works RAMS in minutes. Identify hazards, set robust controls, and generate a clear method statement for safe concrete pours—fully aligned to UK HSE expectations.
View templateHot Works, Welding & Cutting
Create a professional Hot Works, Welding & Cutting RAMS in minutes. Includes hazards, controls, permits and a clear method statement aligned with UK best practice.
View templateFlexible plans for every team size
From individual contractors to large teams, RAMSGen provides scalable compliance for every project.
Starter
For contractors producing a handful of RAMS each month who need compliant documents fast.
- 5 RAMS per month
- Unlimited edits
- Company branding
- PDF export
- COSHH assessments
- One-page summaries
Professional
Unlimited RAMS with everything you need to win more work and stay compliant.
- Everything in Starter, plus:
- Unlimited RAMS
- Reusable templates
- Digital signatures
- Worker QR sign-ons
Managing a supply chain? See our Principal Contractor plan →
Highways RAMS Questions
Yes. Our templates are designed to meet 'Raising the Bar' safety standards and are regularly accepted by major Tier 1 contractors and National Highways for both trunk roads and local authority works.
Yes. We have specific modules for TM installation, maintenance, and removal, referencing Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 8 requirements for signing, lighting, and pedestrian provisions.
Yes. You can append traffic management plans, diversion routes, and as-built drawings directly to your RAMS document as supporting information.
Yes. Our software adapts to both major infrastructure projects (Section 278) and reactive maintenance or utilities street works, with NRSWA compliance sections.
Yes. You can record NRSWA Supervisor/Operative qualifications, CPCS/NPORS plant cards, and Lantra traffic management certifications within your RAMS.
Yes. We include specific controls for respiratory hazards including bituminous fumes, planing dust, and silica exposure with appropriate COSHH assessments.