Interface Risks

Interface risks arise when multiple contractors work on the same site and their activities interact. For example, one contractor doing hot works near another contractor’s flammable materials, or two contractors needing access to the same area at the same time. RAMSdoc helps you identify and manage these risks.

What are interface risks?

Interface risks are hazards that exist because of the interaction between different contractors’ work, not from any single contractor’s activities alone. Common examples:

Scenario	Interface risk
Contractor A doing hot works while Contractor B stores flammable coatings nearby	Fire and explosion from ignition of flammable materials
Contractor A using a crane while Contractor B works in the lift zone below	Struck by falling load
Two contractors need the same access route at the same time	Congestion, vehicle-pedestrian conflict
Contractor A turns off power for electrical work while Contractor B needs power for their equipment	Loss of ventilation, lighting, or life-safety systems
Contractor A creates dust while Contractor B is doing clean-room work nearby	Contamination of clean environment

These risks are often missed because each contractor writes their RAMS in isolation, considering only their own work.

How RAMSdoc detects interface risks

When multiple contractors submit RAMS for the same project and site, RAMSdoc analyses the documents for potential interactions:

1. Automatic scanning — AI compares the work scopes, hazards, and method statements across all approved RAMS for the same site.
2. Flagged interactions — potential interface risks are flagged with a description of the conflict and the contractors involved.
3. Notification — the principal contractor receives an alert when interface risks are detected.

[Screenshot: Interface risk alert showing two contractors’ conflicting activities with risk description]

Reviewing interface risks

When an interface risk is flagged:

1. Go to the project’s Supply Chain tab.
2. Click Interface Risks (or click the alert notification).
3. You will see a list of flagged interactions, each showing:
   • Contractors involved — which two (or more) contractors are affected
   • Activities in conflict — what each contractor is doing that creates the interaction
   • Risk description — what could go wrong
   • Suggested mitigations — recommended actions to manage the risk

Taking action

For each flagged interface risk, you can:

• Accept and mitigate — acknowledge the risk and add coordination measures (see below)
• Dismiss — if the risk does not apply (e.g. the contractors will not actually be on site at the same time)
• Request contractor coordination — notify the affected contractors that they need to coordinate their work

Coordination measures

Common ways to manage interface risks:

Measure	When to use
Time separation	Schedule contractors at different times so their work does not overlap
Physical separation	Establish exclusion zones, barriers, or separate access routes
Permit coordination	Link permits so one contractor’s permit cannot be issued while the other’s is active
Communication protocol	Establish a communication channel between contractors (radio channel, daily coordination meeting)
Shared briefing	Include interface risks in both contractors’ toolbox talks
Supervision	Assign a coordinator to manage the interaction on site

Record the agreed coordination measures in the project record. RAMSdoc links these measures to the relevant RAMS documents so they appear in briefings and sign-offs.

The principal contractor’s role

Under CDM 2015, the principal contractor is responsible for coordinating the work of all contractors on site. Interface risk management is a key part of this duty.

RAMSdoc supports this by:

• Centralising all RAMS — every contractor’s RAMS is visible in one place
• Automated scanning — AI identifies interactions you might miss
• Coordination records — decisions and measures are recorded with an audit trail
• Briefing integration — interface risks appear in toolbox talks and mobile briefings

Manual interface risk assessment

You can also add interface risks manually if you are aware of an interaction that AI has not flagged:

1. Go to the project’s Interface Risks section.
2. Click Add Interface Risk.
3. Select the contractors involved.
4. Describe the interaction and the risk.
5. Add coordination measures.
6. Assign responsibility for each measure.

Monitoring interface risks

As the project progresses:

• Review interface risks whenever a new contractor is added or an existing contractor changes their work scope
• Update coordination measures if site conditions or schedules change
• Include interface risks in site inductions and regular coordination meetings
• Use What-If Analysis to model the impact of schedule changes on interface risks (e.g. “What if Contractor A and Contractor B work at the same time?”)