A bottleneck the team found, and how to clear it
While running the three agreed packs in Q2, the skills team observed mobilisation delays associated with site-specific RAMS. This assessment separates that observation from illustrative planning costs and proposed draft-preparation targets. It proposes a fourth pack modelled on RAMS Factory and a four-week pilot for the COO to consider.
- Client
- Greystone FM Group
- Prepared by
- S. Okoro, Skills Lead
- Trigger
- Q2 skills-team observation
- Decision by
- End August 2026
- Reference
- BTO-GFM-NUC-001
- Status
- Decision required
Illustrative example: fictional project and parties.
The bottleneck the team observed
Across 14 active contracts, 23 of 31 new Q2 work packages were delayed by 3 to 6 days during site-specific RAMS preparation. Previous-job templates had little site adaptation; supervisors raised late corrections, and health-and-safety review added 2 to 3 days before mobilisation.
| Step | Current practice | Issue |
|---|---|---|
| Template selection | A RAMS is copied from a previous job | Rarely matches the new site or scope |
| Adaptation | Supervisor edits by hand for site conditions | Inconsistent depth, hazards missed |
| H&S review | HSQE lead reviews, average 2.1 rounds | Late corrections delay mobilisation |
| Approval and issue | Contract manager signs off, issued as PDF | Sign-off delays, weak version control |
A fourth pack of RAMS skills
Propose a fourth pack modelled on RAMS Factory. Supervisors would prepare site-specific drafts for competent HSQE review and proposed approval, one pack per run. Confirm the relationship with current contract-manager sign-off and issue before the pilot.
| Output prepared | What it replaces |
|---|---|
| Site-specific method statement with task sequence, hazards and controls | Templates copied from previous jobs |
| Task, hazard and control matrix | Generic hazard lists |
| COSHH index with exposure limits and PPE | Missing or incomplete COSHH |
| Site-specific permit checklist | Generic permit references |
| PPE and equipment register, plus briefing and sign-off record | Standard lists and ad-hoc sign-off sheets |
Proposed HSQE approval does not replace contract-manager sign-off. Agree their relationship before the pilot. Drafts need competent human review; fewer correction rounds are a target, not a confirmed outcome.
Estimated impact and how it would be tested
Observed mobilisation delay (4.2 days) and the two-day review-ready draft target have different endpoints: −52% needs a like-for-like pilot baseline. Costs are illustrative planning assumptions without an annual volume or rate basis. Define measures in Week 1 and test them over four weeks.
| Measure | Current | With RAMS skills | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobilisation delay / draft target | 4.2 days | 2 days or less | −52% |
| H&S review rounds | 2.1 average | 0.8 or less | −62% |
| HSQE review time per RAMS | about 90 min | about 30 min | −67% |
| Work packages affected | 74% | 20% or less | −54pp |
| Illustrative annual cost assumptions | £96,000 | £48,000 | −£48k |
| Pilot week | Focus |
|---|---|
| Week 1, setup | Select the contract, collect six months of data, set the baseline and inputs |
| Week 2, first outputs | Prepare 3 to 4 RAMS for competent HSQE review, with agreed approval and issue roles |
| Week 3, iterate | Fold HSQE corrections into the skills, prepare the next batch, measure the fall in rounds |
| Week 4, review | Compare against baseline, present to the COO and HSQE, issue the go or no-go recommendation |
Proposed criteria: a review-ready draft in 2 days or less, one review round or fewer on average, HSQE first-pass approval of 80% or better, a site-team survey score of 7 out of 10 or better, and zero safety compromises. Agree endpoints, assessment bases and approval roles before testing; these are targets, not certified outcomes.
The commercial basis, and the decision
Quote pilot skills under a Statement of Work before testing; quote any full catalogue build-out separately on approval after success. The £48,000 difference between the £96,000 and £48,000 annual planning assumptions is not a verified saving. Volume, rates, endpoints and build costs are not supplied; net benefit is not established.
Consider a four-week Meridian NHS Trust pilot in September 2026, after quote acceptance and agreement of HSQE/contract-manager approval and issue roles. If the criteria are met, consider a fourth pack from October 2026, with full build-out quoted separately on approval.