When this template fits
Groundworkers, concretors and bricklayers handling wet cement and concrete face two distinct hazards a generic dust assessment misses: alkaline burns from prolonged skin contact and chromium VI sensitisation. This RAMS is for crews pouring, screeding, laying or finishing concrete who kneel or stand in wet mix, and for anyone batching or mixing dry cement powder. Principal contractors increasingly ask for cement to be assessed in its own right after documented amputation-level burn injuries.
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
Handle cement and wet concrete with dermatitis and burn risk.
Sequence of works
- 1Pre-task: Complete and communicate the COSHH assessment, review SDS for all cement products and admixtures, and brief all operatives with a toolbox talk covering skin, eye and inhalation risks.
- 2Procurement and delivery: Specify low-chromate cement (≤2 ppm Cr VI); confirm ready-mixed concrete supply where volume warrants it to minimise on-site dry mixing and dust generation.
- 3Work area setup: Erect clearly marked boundaries; position eyewash station within 10 seconds of work area; lay duckboards for safe access; ensure mixer guards are fitted and LEV is operational.
- 4PPE donning: All operatives to put on chemical splash goggles, chemical-resistant long-cuff gloves, waterproof boots with gaiters, and RPE (FFP3) before handling cement or operating the mixer.
- 5Mixing: Add water before dry cement or use pre-batched wet supply; operate mixer at safe distance with splash guard in place; avoid breathing directly over the drum during loading.
- 6Placing and finishing: Use mechanical aids (pumps, chutes, vibrators) to minimise direct skin immersion; keep time in wet concrete to a minimum; remove wet concrete from skin immediately.
- 7Ongoing monitoring: Supervisor inspects skin condition during breaks; if concrete enters boots or gloves, operative must stop, remove garment and rinse skin with clean water for at least 20 minutes.
- 8Housekeeping during work: Keep access routes clear of hoses and reinforcement; collect cement bag waste promptly in sealed containers to prevent dry cement dust resuspension.
- 9End of shift: Wash hands and all exposed skin thoroughly with pH-neutral soap and water; apply moisturiser; inspect PPE for damage; dispose of contaminated gloves in accordance with site waste management plan.
- 10Post-task review: Record any skin or respiratory symptoms in site health log; report to occupational health if symptoms are present; update COSHH assessment if work method or materials changed.
Hazards, risk rating & controls
Risk = likelihood × severity (1–25). Initial is before controls; residual is with controls applied.
Dermatitis from cement contact
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Specify and procure cement containing ferrous sulphate additives to reduce hexavalent chromium content to below 2 ppm, eliminating the primary sensitiser.
- › Apply pre-work barrier cream before starting; wash hands and exposed skin thoroughly with pH-neutral soap and water after contact; apply post-work moisturiser to restore skin integrity.
- › Wear CE-marked waterproof gloves (minimum nitrile or neoprene) that are long enough to prevent concrete from entering at the wrist; inspect before use and replace if torn.
Alkali chemical burns
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Organise work to avoid workers standing or kneeling in wet concrete; use mechanical methods (pumps, chutes, vibrators) to reduce direct contact duration.
- › Wear rubber or PVC waterproof boots extending above the ankle; use gaiters or waterproof trousers tucked into boots to prevent concrete ingress. Remove promptly if concrete enters.
- › Supervisor carries out visual checks; workers must immediately remove contaminated clothing and rinse affected skin with copious clean water for at least 20 minutes.
Cement dust inhalation
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Use ready-mixed concrete or site batching with water addition to suppress dust at source; avoid dry-bag mixing in open areas wherever practicable.
- › Where dry mixing cannot be avoided, use mixer with integrated LEV or shrouded extraction hood connected to an H-class vacuum to capture dust at source.
- › Where dust exposure cannot be adequately controlled by other means, wear a close-fitting FFP3 filtering face piece; face-fit tested before use.
Manual handling of cement bags and concrete
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Use pallet trucks, bag splitters, concrete pumps or crane-lifted skips to move bulk materials; avoid manual carrying of full bags where equipment is available.
- › Specify 25 kg maximum bag size; use two-person lifts for cement bags where mechanical aids are unavailable; provide manual handling training to all operatives.
Eye splash from cement or concrete
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Ensure drum mixers have effective guards and splash shields; do not lean over rotating drums.
- › Wear close-fitting chemical splash goggles (EN 166) during mixing, pouring and screeding; safety spectacles alone are not adequate against splashes.
- › Provide a dedicated sterile eyewash station within 10 seconds travel of concrete work area; check seals and expiry dates daily.
Slips on wet concrete surfaces
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Keep access routes clear of hoses, tools and surplus material; use duckboards or walkway planks over fresh concrete to maintain safe access.
- › Wear rubber or PVC waterproof boots with slip-resistant soles (SRC rated) when working on or near wet concrete.
Noise from concrete mixing and vibrating equipment
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Select electrically powered or low-emission equipment in preference to petrol-driven where available; check manufacturer noise data before procurement.
- › Designate hearing protection zones around mixers and vibrators; limit exposure time using job rotation; provide EN 352 hearing protection to all workers in the zone.
COSHH — chromate sensitisation
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Prepare a written COSHH assessment covering cement type, estimated exposure levels, control measures and health surveillance requirements before any cement work commences.
- › Workers regularly handling wet cement must be enrolled in a skin health surveillance programme; records kept for 40 years; any early signs of dermatitis reported to occupational health immediately.
- › Obtain and review the manufacturer's SDS for each cement product used; communicate relevant hazard information and first-aid measures to all operatives via toolbox talk.
Inhalation of admixture fumes
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Review SDS for each admixture; assess inhalation and skin contact risks; substitute with lower-hazard alternatives where technically feasible.
- › Dose admixtures in open or well-ventilated areas; avoid confined batching areas without fresh air supply; use splash-proof dispensers to reduce vapour generation.
PPE
- ✓ Safety footwear (EN ISO 20345)
- ✓ Hi-vis clothing
- ✓ Safety gloves (task-appropriate)
- ✓ Hard hat (EN 397) where overhead risk or site rules require
- ✓ 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
- › Waterproof concreting gloves and trousers
- › Kneeling boards or impervious knee protection
- › Clean-water supply and eyewash at the work face
- › Screeds, floats and trowels for placement and finishing
- › FFP3 masks for dry-cement handling
Permits & legislation
What principal contractors usually check
- ✓ That wet concrete is assessed as a corrosive alkaline skin hazard, not just as nuisance dust — waterproof gloves and trousers must be specified
- ✓ That clean water and washing facilities are provided at the work face for immediate decontamination of skin contact
- ✓ That chromium VI sensitisation and cement shelf life are addressed for repeat-exposure crews
- ✓ 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
Why are barrier creams not enough for working with wet concrete?
Wet concrete is strongly alkaline and can cause serious chemical burns after prolonged contact, and there are documented cases severe enough to require skin grafts or amputation. Barrier creams give a false sense of security because they rub off, are applied unevenly and do not stop the high-pH mix reaching skin. The reliable control is a physical impervious barrier — waterproof gloves and waterproof trousers — backed by immediate washing if mix does contact skin. Barrier cream may have a minor supporting role but it should never be the primary control in a RAMS.
Can wet concrete cause burns even if it does not hurt at the time?
Yes, and that is exactly why cement burns are so dangerous. The alkaline mix attacks skin slowly and the worker often feels little or nothing until significant damage has already occurred, sometimes hours after the contact. Kneeling or standing in wet concrete with mix inside a boot or glove is a common cause of severe burns precisely because it goes unnoticed. The RAMS should make clear that any skin contact must be washed off immediately regardless of whether it hurts.
What regulations apply to cement & concrete?
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, reg 3 — risk assessment are the main ones, alongside 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.