When this template fits
Painters and decorators preparing and coating internal and external surfaces should give the principal contractor this painting and decorating risk assessment before they start. Two trade-specific issues drive it: solvent and isocyanate exposure when spraying, and the chance of disturbing lead paint in pre-1970s buildings. It is written for the decorator brushing, rolling and spraying, and the operative sanding down old coatings.
What this RAMS includes
- ✓ 8 task-specific hazards scored on a 5×5 matrix (initial → residual)
- ✓ Specific control measures for each hazard, in hierarchy-of-control order
- ✓ A 9-step method statement (sequence of works)
- ✓ PPE, plant/equipment, permits and competence requirements
- ✓ Emergency arrangements and operative briefing / sign-off section
Scope of works
Surface prep and paint/coating application.
Sequence of works
- 1Pre-start planning: Complete COSHH assessments for all paints, primers, and solvents. Review SDS sheets, confirm product compatibility, check for lead paint in older substrates, and brief all operatives. Confirm work at height equipment is suitable and inspected.
- 2Area preparation: Segregate the work area with barriers or signage where needed. Protect floors and fixed fittings with dust sheets secured to prevent slipping. Confirm ventilation strategy (open windows, extraction fans set up) before introducing any solvent-based materials.
- 3Surface preparation — mechanical: Use vacuum-extraction power sanders with H-class or M-class vacuum for keying, filling, and abrading surfaces. Apply correct RPE and eye protection. Collect and bag dust waste immediately; treat as hazardous if lead paint is confirmed.
- 4Surface preparation — chemical: Apply sugar soap, chemical strippers, or fungicidal wash following SDS instructions. Wear chemical-resistant gloves, eye protection, and RPE as required by COSHH assessment. Dispose of chemical waste as hazardous.
- 5Set up access equipment: Inspect and erect podium steps, scaffold tower, or position hop-ups and ladders to an appropriate safe reach. Do not overload platforms. Confirm guardrails, toe-boards, and stabilisers are in place before ascending.
- 6Primer/undercoat application: Apply primer or undercoat by brush or roller in accordance with manufacturer instructions. Maintain ventilation throughout. Keep paint tins closed when not in use; store flammable materials in fire-resistant cabinet at end of each day.
- 7Top coat application: Apply finish coat(s) using brush, roller, or spray as specified. For spray application ensure bystanders are excluded, adequate RPE is worn, and spray equipment is correctly set up and earthed if solvent-borne. Work systematically to avoid re-contaminating wet surfaces.
- 8Cleaning up: Clean brushes and tools with appropriate solvent or water in a designated area. Place solvent-soaked rags in a sealed metal bin. Return unused materials to the store. Remove dust sheets carefully to avoid spreading debris. Clean the work area before demobilising access equipment.
- 9Final inspection and sign-off: Competent person visually inspects finished surfaces and checks the work area is clear of hazardous materials, access equipment has been dismantled safely, and waste has been segregated and labelled for collection.
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
- › Redesign task or sequence work so that painting and surface preparation can be performed at ground level wherever practicable before installation.
- › Provide a suitable working platform such as a tower scaffold, podium steps, or mobile scaffold with guardrails and toe-boards rather than relying on ladders for prolonged work.
- › Use ladders only for short-duration, light-duty work (max 30 min in one position). Inspect before use, ensure 3-point contact, secure or foot the ladder, and maintain a 1:4 angle. Class 1 industrial rated minimum.
- › Wear appropriate head protection where there is risk of striking fixed overhead structures or falling objects from above.
Harmful vapour/solvent inhalation
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Where technically feasible specify water-based paints, primers, and coatings in place of solvent-based equivalents to reduce VOC exposure at source.
- › Open windows and doors; use forced ventilation fans to dilute and extract vapours when working in enclosed or poorly ventilated areas. Ensure supply of fresh air and confirm airflow direction moves vapours away from the worker's breathing zone.
- › Complete a COSHH assessment for each product using Safety Data Sheets (SDS). Communicate results to operatives and restrict access to the area during application and initial drying.
- › Where ventilation alone cannot reduce exposure below the relevant WEL (e.g., white spirit 100 ppm 8-hr TWA), wear a half-face respirator with appropriate organic vapour cartridge (EN 140/EN 14387 A-class). RPE must be face-fit tested.
Skin contact with hazardous substances
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Where possible choose products without known skin sensitisers (e.g., avoid isocyanate hardeners where water-based alternatives are viable).
- › Apply barrier cream before work, wash hands thoroughly before breaks and after work, use designated hand-washing facilities with mild soap, and never use solvents to clean skin.
- › Wear nitrile chemical-resistant gloves (EN 374) and, where splashing is likely, coveralls or apron. For isocyanate products, full body protection and face shield are required.
Dust inhalation during surface preparation
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Use electric sanders fitted with integral on-tool vacuum extraction (H-class vacuum where lead paint is suspected) to capture dust at source before it becomes airborne.
- › Where pre-1960s paintwork is present, carry out a lead paint test or obtain a survey from a competent person. If lead confirmed, follow HSE guidance for lead at work — additional controls and monitoring are required.
- › Where residual dust exposure remains above WEL after engineering controls, wear FFP3 disposable respirator (EN 149) for wood dust (WEL 1 mg/m³ hardwood, 5 mg/m³ softwood inhalable) or full-face APF20 where lead is suspected.
Slips and trips on contaminated floors
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Keep work area tidy; immediately clean up any paint spills, secure dust sheets to prevent bunching, and restrict access to the painting area with barriers or signage where practicable.
- › Route extension leads and vacuum hoses to the side of the workspace and use cable covers or clips to keep them off walkways.
- › Wear safety footwear with oil- and slip-resistant soles (EN ISO 20345 S1P minimum).
Fire and explosion from flammable materials
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Prioritise water-based paints and coatings to remove flammable vapour risk at source.
- › Prohibit naked flames, smoking, and hot works in or adjacent to painting areas. Ensure all electrical equipment is rated for use with flammable vapours if solvent-based products must be used in enclosed spaces. Ventilate thoroughly before and during work.
- › Store flammable liquids in a dedicated, ventilated, fire-resistant cabinet; keep only the minimum quantity needed on site. Dispose of solvent-soaked rags in a metal lidded bin to prevent spontaneous combustion.
Manual handling of materials and equipment
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Where possible, request paint supplied in smaller containers (max 5 litres per carry) and use roller trays or bucket decants rather than carrying full 20–25 litre tins.
- › Use sack trucks or platform trolleys to move multiple tins or heavy equipment. Position materials deliveries as close to the point of use as practicable.
- › Train operatives in safe manual handling techniques. Use two-person lifts for scaffold boards or heavy equipment. Avoid twisting and maintain a neutral spine.
Eye injury from splashing
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Use roller or brush application for overhead surfaces in preference to spray to reduce splash and drift risk.
- › Wear chemical splash goggles (EN 166 3B) for overhead work and spray application. Use safety spectacles (EN 166) as minimum for general painting. Full face shield required for two-pack isocyanate products.
- › Ensure a sterile eyewash station or portable eyewash bottle is available in the working area for immediate irrigation in the event of a chemical splash.
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
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
- › Brushes, rollers and trays
- › Airless/HVLP spray equipment with overspray control
- › Orbital sanders with dust extraction
- › Class 1 stepladders and stairwell platforms/podiums
- › Fire-rated solvent storage cabinet
- › HEPA vacuum for old-coating clean-down
Permits & legislation
What principal contractors usually check
- ✓ That spraying RPE is matched to the product — air-fed/correct-filter for isocyanates — not a generic dust mask
- ✓ That pre-1970s coatings are presumed leaded with wet/dustless sanding and HEPA clean-up, not dry sanding
- ✓ That flammable storage is fire-rated and away from ignition, with a soaked-rag disposal control
- ✓ 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
How do I know if old paint contains lead?
Treat paint in any building built or last decorated before about 1970 as containing lead unless a test proves otherwise. Lead-paint test kits or laboratory sampling can confirm it, but the safe default is to assume it is present and avoid dry sanding or heat-stripping, which generate lead dust and fume. Use wet or dustless sanding with extraction, contain the area and clean up with a HEPA vacuum, and follow the Control of Lead at Work Regulations. The RAMS should state this presumption clearly.
What mask do I need for spray painting?
It depends on the product. For solvent-based paints a half-mask with the correct organic-vapour filters may be adequate in a ventilated space, but for two-pack and polyurethane coatings containing isocyanates an air-fed mask is normally required because isocyanates cause occupational asthma at very low levels. Whatever RPE is chosen must be face-fit tested and matched to the COSHH assessment, and other people kept out of the spray zone. A standard FFP dust mask is not suitable for spraying solvents.
What regulations apply to painting & decorating?
Work at Height Regulations 2005, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, reg 3 — risk assessment are the main ones, alongside Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992. 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.