rams boards - summary
TRANSCRIPT
Modular Information Board – RAMS Boards
Summary
Prepared by: RAMS Boards Ltd
RAMS Boards Summary
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Contents
Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................. 3
1 Introduction and Purpose ................................................................................................................. 4
2 Brief Description ................................................................................................................................ 4
2.1 Existing information boards ...................................................................................................... 4
2.2 RAMS Boards description ......................................................................................................... 5
3 Design Concept ................................................................................................................................. 5
3.1 Concept targets .......................................................................................................................... 5
4 Materials used in manufacturing process ...................................................................................... 5
5 Health and Safety message ............................................................................................................. 6
6 Standardisation and uniformity ........................................................................................................ 7
7 Transportation / assembly, maintenance and durability .............................................................. 7
7.1 Transportation / assembly ........................................................................................................ 7
7.2 Maintenance ............................................................................................................................... 7
7.3 Durability ...................................................................................................................................... 7
8 Finances ............................................................................................................................................. 8
9 Why You should support this innovation? ..................................................................................... 8
9.1 Delivering a world-class product .............................................................................................. 8
9.2 Setting new standards ............................................................................................................... 8
9.3 Environment ................................................................................................................................ 8
9.4 Health and Safety....................................................................................................................... 8
10 Examples on sites ........................................................................................................................... 9
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Executive Summary
This report is to show the new breath of fresh air in delivering the H&S message on
construction sites with standardised and uniform Modular Information Board – RAMS Boards.
They are designed to become the new standard in the Manufacturing Industry, with the
emphasis on Construction.
The report below presents the concept, advantages, targets and benefits of the modular
information boards – RAMS Boards.
Existing information boards construction is done hastily. They are heavy, plywood–timber
constructions, without any quality and aesthetic aspects. Moreover, they are very expensive
compared to their durability and time they are meant to serve (average cost of single timber
construction is more than £300). Extremely hard to manoeuvre on site without lifting
equipment due to their weight (almost always beyond 50 kg), different shapes and sizes.
With time, when plywood and timber deteriorate, existing constructions discourage rather
than encourage construction staff from using them. And whatever happens, they always end
up in a skip.
RAMS Boards are modular – three main elements, compact, self-assembly plastic
information boards. The main element of RAMS Board weight is 37 kg, therefore can be
easily transported by two operatives, under current HSE guidance with regards to manual
handling. When assembled and fully loaded with water the board can withstand wind speeds
up to 70 km/h (43.5 mph), when anchored it fully complies with "Wind Action" standard EN
1991-1-4:2005. They are to be made of recycled plastic – they are eco-friendly and reduce
carbon footprint. Minimum maintenance (clean when dirty) and extremely long durability,
makes them very desirable assets.
Not only will each project save money by moving RAMS Boards from place to place, but they
will also earn money (by not spending it) by using it more than twice (this is based on
average costs of manufacturing the existing plywood-timber construction).
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1 Introduction and Purpose
RAMS board has been designed for the UK construction industry by a site based engineer in
the UK construction industry. Creating a fit for purpose solution and making a safer site.
The purpose of this summary is to present the concept of RAMS Board project to the
Industry.
2 Brief Description
RAMS is an abbreviation used in the Construction Industry for Risk Assessment and Method
Statement.
2.1 Existing information boards
All workplaces across the Industry use information boards in one form or another. One basic
problem is a lack of standardisation and uniformity. They are being constructed by
carpenters with different skills, perception of quality and materials available at the time on
site.
The most common construction materials for manufacturing are a combination of timber and
plywood. The information boards, when completed, are extremely heavy, up to 100 kg. This
stops the site management team from moving them from place to place, where they are
needed at the time. This forces them to create another information board.
Despite painting, timber and plywood deteriorate when left exposed to different
environmental conditions. With time, information boards become less and less attractive to
the site team as well as the message which they are meant to deliver.
All of the above leads to poor quality objects, which do not encourage site staff to use them
in the correct manner. Therefore, the main purpose of their existence, which is delivering a
Health and Safety message to site staff, is lost.
Despite the poor quality and less than optimal design, information boards that are being
produced cost every project money. An average cost of a standard timber information board
is more than £300. This is a combination of the cheapest available materials and labour
costs for sub-contractor, who have direct labour. All this ends up in a skip when the project is
completed or the area handed back.
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2.2 RAMS Boards description
RAMS Boards Ltd is proposing a new World Class Product, Modular Information Board –
RAMS Board.
The product consists of three structural elements; board and two supports. The board itself
can be used as a wall-mounted unit. When assembled with supports, it can be used as a
free-standing unit.
Main element of Rams Boards weigh 37 kg. This enables easy placement at the designated
place by two operatives, under current HSE guidance for manual handling, without any
special risk assessment made for this operation.
3 Design Concept
The key concept was to create a product that will change the image of information delivered
on site. The company aim was to use standard shape of the object, which with time, will
instinctively recall to mind the health and safety and items that can be found on the RAMS
boards.
3.1 Concept targets
1. Object that will attract operatives’ attention and become a reflex action with time
2. Unique shape which will be accepted across Construction Industry and beyond
3. Clear segregation of information on the board
4. Flexibility to end user, as different projects have different needs
5. Possibility of using RAMS boards as a multipurpose H&S station with all aspects
required by law
6. Protection of the message and documents placed on the board
7. Environmentally friendly product - materials used during manufacturing process can
be easily recycled
8. Ease of transportation on site and between sites
9. Low maintenance and extended durability
4 Materials used in manufacturing process
The RAMS Board is fully recyclable. Recycling will reduce carbon footprint which is highly
desired by industries all over the world. It also helps in promoting the product on the market
as an environmentally friendly product.
Magnetic white board, which is one of accessories of the RAMS Board, is a standard
element. The main benefit of the white board is its size. 600 x 400 mm gives the end user
sufficient space to present all daily / weekly updated information.
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Transparent pockets are used as integral part of the RAMS Boards. Six purpose made
pockets are made of transparent PC, to enable everyone to see the front page of the
document/message. Wide clear pocket is placed at the bottom of the board to provide
administrator space to keep his day to day tools (markers, wipes, pins etc.).
Simplicity of the products and minimising quantity of different solutions is a huge advantage
for end user. This also minimises the risk that the product will be assembled incorrectly.
5 Health and Safety message
The main objective of RAMS Board is to help deliver a clear message to all personnel in
relation to Health and Safety. Six A4 size transparent pockets give sufficient room for site
management team to place all relevant documentation like Method Statement with Risk
Assessment (Risk Assessment is a mandatory document in law and is required prior to
commencing any activity), Inspection and Test Plans, Important phone numbers,
Construction Plans and others.
Having transparent pockets gives confidence that paper copies will always be in good and
legible condition.
Allocation of the space on one side of the RAMS boards standardises this and clearly defines
what activities are currently progressing on site or at the location of the task. This also helps
to control float of documentation and deliver clear message to personnel assigned to the
task. Overloaded information boards currently used do not present clear picture.
The magnetic white board gives an advantage in passing the most recent information on a
daily/weekly basis. Construction sites can be described as a living organism – risks can
change on a daily basis, eg. changing weather conditions. Updating the board helps to a
control dynamic construction site environment.
A4 size mirror is another feature, with H&S sentence “PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR
SAFETY…” contains a mind trick. This is a subconscious reminder to the person passing by
or stopping in front of the board. This message can and will change behaviour of the
exposed person.
By changing perception of the people we will observe safer sites across the Industry.
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6 Standardisation and uniformity
As we have mentioned before, current information boards are made by carpenters on sites.
They have different skills and all objects differ in size and shape.
RAMS Boards have unique shape. With time, this shape will induce a reflex action and only
by seeing it people will think about H&S, and the expectations of what can be found there will
become uniform.
As operatives move from site to site so do the RAMS boards. This will become a standard
product on all sites as this is what they will expect to see.
That is what RAMS board project is aiming for.
7 Transportation / assembly, maintenance and durability
7.1 Transportation / assembly
The RAMS Board kit, when ordered, is to be delivered on site by courier as a carton box
pack of size 1720x1420x330 mm. Box design will enable two operatives to easily handle and
move it to designated assembly point. Assembling process is extremely easy, excludes
possibility of errors associated with this operation.
Each support has openings. One on the top of the support and one on the bottom. This is to
enable add 70 litres of water as weight. This solution, when implemented, gives RAMS
Boards extremely high wind speed resistance up to 70 km/h (43.5 mph). When anchored,
RAMS board fully complies with "Wind Action" standard EN 1991-1-4:2005.
Two operatives are required to move the RAMS Board from place to place. When RAMS
Board needs to be relocated, the board has to be disassembled from supporting bolts and
move by two operatives. Water has to be discharged from supports. All three elements have
to be moved to new designated place and re-assembled.
7.2 Maintenance
Product is maintenance free, when dirty, soap and water is to be used to make it clean.
7.3 Durability
Plastic is used to provide min 3 years of continual usage.
As mentioned before, this product is reusable and can be relocated within the site or moved
from one site to another. It means a huge advantage in terms of logistics but also in cost
saving aspect.
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8 Finances
RAMS Boards are available to buy through e-commerce website or by purchase orders.
www.ramsboards.com
The price of the RAMS Board kit is dependant on number of accessories purchased. The
basic version is £ 399.00 + VAT.
9 Why You should support this innovation?
9.1 Delivering a world-class product
RAMS Boards are a World Class Product, which is to be used on Construction sites and
overall industry. It fulfils major requirements and expectations of its purpose.
9.2 Setting new standards
RAMS Board in presented form is a new standard which will spread and become essential
day to day management tool in industry. By implementing your organization will be part of
this adventure and will be even more recognised in setting new standards.
9.3 Environment
By eliminating timber/plywood construction and replacing it with recycled plastic construction
is one of the ways to reduce carbon footprint made by Industry.
9.4 Health and Safety
We expect that having this World Class Product on all our sites will change every operative’s
perception of H&S and its image will subconsciously evoke health and safety principles.
Boards design process was made in respect of human perception properties, colours,
shapes, layout etc.
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10 Examples on sites
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Visualization 1: Current solution on sites
Visualization 2: New Standard