When this template fits
Bricklaying gangs and subcontractors building brick and block walls on housing, commercial and civils sites need a bricklaying risk assessment before the principal contractor lets them load out a scaffold. This RAMS is written for the bricklayer and the labourer who serves them, covering the real risks of lifting blocks all day, mixing and handling mortar, and working off a rising scaffold. It is the document a PC or client will ask for at induction and refuse access without.
What this RAMS includes
- ✓ 9 task-specific hazards scored on a 5×5 matrix (initial → residual)
- ✓ Specific control measures for each hazard, in hierarchy-of-control order
- ✓ A 10-step method statement (sequence of works)
- ✓ PPE, plant/equipment, permits and competence requirements
- ✓ Emergency arrangements and operative briefing / sign-off section
Scope of works
Lay bricks and blocks including mortar handling and work at height.
Sequence of works
- 1PLAN & ASSESS: Review drawings, confirm material specifications (including low-chromate cement), complete COSHH and manual handling assessments, and obtain scaffold handover certificate before work commences.
- 2SITE SET-UP: Establish designated material storage bays on level, compacted ground. Arrange mechanical handling (crane/forklift) to deliver brick and block packs to working platform level, minimising manual carries.
- 3SCAFFOLD & ACCESS CHECK: Inspect working platforms, guardrails, toe-boards and access ladders before the start of each shift. Record inspection. Confirm no gaps or overloading beyond the scaffold design load.
- 4MORTAR MIXING: Don PPE (gloves, goggles, RPE). Mix mortar using a guarded mechanical mixer or pre-bagged ready-mix system. Ensure mixer is positioned on stable ground, guards are fitted, and bystanders are excluded.
- 5CUTTING MASONRY: Set up the cutting station in a segregated area away from other workers. Use a wet-cut disc cutter or hydraulic block splitter. Fit on-tool extraction if dry cutting is unavoidable. Operatives and bystanders to wear FFP3 RPE and ear protection.
- 6LAYING BRICKS/BLOCKS: Work from the scaffold platform, keeping materials at a height that minimises bending and over-reaching. Keep the working platform clear of debris. Apply mortar, lay and tap courses using appropriate technique to avoid sudden jarring forces.
- 7WORKING AT HEIGHT CONTROLS: Never reach beyond the edge of the working platform. Report and do not bypass any missing guardrail or board. Do not overload scaffold platforms. Use the correct access route (ladder tied at top and bottom) to reach the platform.
- 8HOUSEKEEPING: At regular intervals and at end of every shift, remove mortar droppings, off-cuts and debris from platforms and ground level. Re-secure loose materials before leaving. Dispose of cement waste in accordance with site waste management plan.
- 9TOOL & EQUIPMENT STORAGE: Isolate and store electrical and mechanical tools securely. Clean mortar from trowels, hawk and mixer drum. Return unused materials to storage bays.
- 10END OF SHIFT REVIEW: Record any near-misses, damage to scaffold or equipment, or health concerns (skin irritation, breathing difficulties). Brief incoming shift or supervisor on outstanding issues.
Hazards, risk rating & controls
Risk = likelihood × severity (1–25). Initial is before controls; residual is with controls applied.
Fall from height
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Design or pre-fabricate elements at ground level where practicable to eliminate the need for elevated working.
- › Erect and use a properly designed, inspected scaffold or system scaffold with double guardrails, mid-rails and toe-boards on all open edges. Inspect before each shift.
- › Scaffold must be erected by a competent person (ideally CISRS-carded) and a handover certificate issued. Re-inspect after adverse weather or any alteration.
- › Where collective protection cannot be provided (e.g. leading edge), use a full-body harness with short lanyard and appropriate anchor point as a last resort.
Manual handling — bricks and blocks
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Use crane, forklift or hoist to deliver packs of bricks/blocks directly to the working platform, minimising manual movement of full packs.
- › Specify lightweight aggregate or aerated blocks in place of dense concrete blocks where structural requirements permit to reduce individual lift weight.
- › Keep single-person lifts to a manageable weight (HSE guidance suggests 25 kg as a general upper limit in ideal conditions; dense blocks may exceed this and require two-person lift). Rotate tasks to limit cumulative exposure.
- › Ensure all operatives have received manual handling training covering correct posture, grip and team-lift coordination.
Cement dermatitis and chemical burns
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Specify cement products compliant with the EU/UK low-chromate requirement (≤2 ppm water-soluble Cr VI) to reduce sensitisation risk.
- › Obtain and review Safety Data Sheets for all cement products, admixtures and render materials. Produce a site-specific COSHH assessment before work begins.
- › Provide pre-work barrier cream, regular washing facilities with pH-neutral soap, and post-work moisturiser. Enforce a no-bare-skin contact policy with wet cement.
- › Wear long-cuff nitrile or neoprene gloves (EN 374), waterproof knee pads, long sleeves and change wet cement-contaminated clothing immediately.
Silica dust inhalation
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Avoid dry cutting of bricks and blocks; use wet-cut methods (water-suppressed disc cutters or guillotine block splitters) to eliminate airborne dust generation.
- › Where wet cutting is impracticable, use power tools fitted with H-class on-tool vacuum extraction (minimum 99.995% filter efficiency) or integral water suppression.
- › Where dust suppression and extraction cannot reduce exposure below the WEL for RCS (0.1 mg/m³ 8h TWA per EH40), wear a tight-fitting FFP3 disposable or half-mask respirator with P3 filter. RPE must be face-fit tested.
Mortar mixer contact and entanglement
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Ensure all belt drives, gears and rotating shafts are fully guarded. Check guards are in place and secure before each use.
- › Issue and brief operatives on a written SOP: never reach into a running drum, isolate before clearing blockages, keep bystanders clear, and park mixer on stable level ground.
- › Wear safety footwear, close-fitting clothing (no loose cuffs/scarves), safety glasses against splatter, and nitrile gloves when loading/unloading.
Slips, trips and falls at ground level
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Maintain a clean and tidy working area: remove mortar droppings, stack unused materials neatly, keep walkways clear of tools and leads, and clear debris at the end of each shift.
- › Stack bricks and blocks on level, compacted ground in stable packs no higher than manufacturer guidance (typically 1 m for loose bricks). Provide dedicated storage bays away from pedestrian routes.
- › All operatives to wear safety boots with slip-resistant soles (EN ISO 20345 SRC rated) appropriate for wet, muddy and uneven ground conditions.
Noise exposure from cutting and mixing
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Use hydraulic or manual block splitters (guillotines) in preference to disc cutters where cut accuracy permits, significantly reducing noise output.
- › Locate cutting stations away from other workers and occupied areas. Limit duration of noisy tasks through job rotation and scheduling.
- › Provide and enforce use of hearing protection (minimum SNR 20 dB ear defenders or moulded plugs) in designated hearing protection zones around cutting equipment.
Hand-arm vibration (HAV)
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Plan work to keep tool usage within the HSE Exposure Action Value (EAV: 2.5 m/s² A(8)) using a HAV exposure calculator. Rotate operatives to spread exposure.
- › Select tools with low vibration emissions (as stated in manufacturer technical data) and keep tools well-maintained (sharp blades, balanced components) to minimise transmitted vibration.
- › Implement a HAV health surveillance programme for operatives regularly reaching or exceeding the EAV, including pre-placement checks and periodic monitoring.
Eye injury from mortar splash and debris
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Ensure disc cutters and angle grinders are fitted with appropriate blade guards and deflectors to contain ejected material.
- › Wear safety glasses (EN166 1B or higher) at a minimum during all cutting; upgrade to goggles (EN166 3B or higher) when mixing mortar or working overhead.
- › Maintain a sterile eye wash station within easy reach of mortar mixing and cutting areas for immediate decontamination in case of cement or debris contact.
PPE
- ✓ Safety footwear (EN ISO 20345)
- ✓ Hi-vis clothing
- ✓ Safety gloves (task-appropriate)
- ✓ Hard hat (EN 397) where overhead risk or site rules require
- ✓ Safety harness and lanyard where fall arrest is the selected control
- ✓ RPE per the COSHH assessment
- ✓ Chemical-resistant gloves
- ✓ RPE (FFP3 or as risk-assessed) with face-fit
- ✓ Hearing protection (to the assessed SNR)
Competence
- ✓ Site induction completed; CSCS or equivalent where the site requires it
Schemes (CSCS, PASMA, IPAF…) evidence competence; they are not statutory requirements in themselves.
Plant & equipment
- › Brick/block cut-off saw with water suppression
- › Cement/forced-action mixer
- › Spot boards and mortar tubs
- › Lines, pins, levels and gauge rods
- › Brick trowels and jointers
- › Wheelbarrows and material hoist
Permits & legislation
What principal contractors usually check
- ✓ That cutting is on a water-suppressed saw with FFP3 specified — reviewers reject bricklaying RAMS that rely on dry-cutting with a dust mask
- ✓ That cement dermatitis controls (gloves, washing facilities, reduced-chromium cement) are named, not just listed as PPE
- ✓ That the scaffold loading and rate of lift are agreed with the scaffold contractor, with no laying above shoulder height
- ✓ The document is site-specific — real address, access arrangements and dates, not a generic template
- ✓ Hazards match the actual task and the controls are specific (not “take care” and “use PPE”)
- ✓ Named supervisor and competent person, with operative sign-off space
- ✓ Emergency and rescue arrangements that work for this site
The report builder runs these as pre-submission checks before you download — or run an existing document through the free RAMS pre-submission checker.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a separate COSHH assessment for cement?
Yes. Cement is a COSHH substance because wet mortar is highly alkaline and can cause severe dermatitis and chemical burns, and dry cement and cutting dust contain respirable silica. Your RAMS should reference a cement COSHH assessment that names skin protection, washing facilities and respiratory protection for cutting. HSE guidance CIS26 sets out the skin-contact controls. A generic line saying 'wear gloves' is not enough for a competent reviewer.
How heavy can a block be before two people must lift it?
There is no single legal weight limit under MHOR, but the HSE guideline figures and most site rules treat dense concrete blocks over 20 kg as a two-person or mechanically-assisted lift, and many sites cap one-handed laying blocks at lower weights. Because bricklayers lift one-handed onto the line, even a sub-20 kg block carries a higher risk than the guideline suggests. The practical control is to specify lighter aerated or split blocks, keep the laying height between knee and shoulder, and rotate the gang.
What regulations apply to bricklaying & blockwork?
Work at Height Regulations 2005, Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) are the main ones, alongside PUWER 1998 — Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, reg 3 — risk assessment, Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and CDM 2015 apply to all construction work.
Does a RAMS need to be site-specific?
Yes — this is the most common reason documents get sent back. Principal contractors reject generic copy-paste RAMS. Your document should name the site, access arrangements, dates, supervisor and any site-specific hazards. The RamsDocs builder fills these in for you and flags what's missing before you download.
Is this template free?
Yes — everything on RamsDocs is free during early access, including building a site-specific version of this RAMS and downloading the PDF. No card required.