When this template fits
Contractors carrying out refurbishment, fit-out or maintenance in a building that stays open need this RAMS to show how they will keep occupants, staff and the public safe alongside the works. Hospitals, schools, care homes, offices and retail units cannot simply be cleared, so the client and PC will expect a method statement that proves segregation, fire-escape protection and nuisance control before they let you start. Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act makes your duty to those non-employees a legal one, not a courtesy.
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 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
Carry out works in occupied buildings alongside the public/occupants.
Sequence of works
- 1Pre-start liaison: Meet with building manager or responsible person to agree scope, working hours, restricted zones, emergency procedures and communication plan before any works commence.
- 2Risk assessment and COSHH review: Brief all operatives on the site-specific RAMS, COSHH assessments and emergency procedures. Confirm all workers understand their responsibilities and the locations of first aid and fire equipment.
- 3Establish work zone: Erect physical barriers, hoarding or temporary partitions to segregate the work area from occupied areas. Install access-control signage and confirm escape routes remain unobstructed.
- 4Set up welfare and material storage: Position materials, plant and waste containers within the designated work zone only. Confirm adequate lighting and ventilation is available.
- 5Implement dust and noise controls: Fit on-tool extraction or water suppression before commencing any cutting, drilling or breaking. Seal penetrations with dust sheets. Confirm noisy works are within agreed time windows.
- 6Carry out works: Conduct works in accordance with the agreed method. Maintain segregation, housekeeping and cable management throughout. Supervisors to monitor compliance with controls at regular intervals.
- 7Chemical and hot works management: Apply COSHH controls and hot work permit requirements when using hazardous substances or undertaking hot works. Verify ventilation and fire-watch arrangements are in place.
- 8Ongoing communication: Provide daily updates to building management on programme and any changes to working areas or controls. Report near-misses or incidents immediately to the supervisor and building responsible person.
- 9End-of-shift checks: Conduct housekeeping to remove all waste and debris. Confirm all escape routes, fire exits and common areas are clear. Secure work zone to prevent unauthorised access overnight.
- 10Completion and handover: On completion of works, remove all barriers and temporary installations, reinstate affected areas, and formally confirm with building management that the area is safe to return to normal use.
Hazards, risk rating & controls
Risk = likelihood × severity (1–25). Initial is before controls; residual is with controls applied.
Injury to members of public
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Establish clearly defined, physically segregated work zones using hoarding, barriers or temporary partitions to prevent unauthorised access. Ensure barriers are robust and clearly marked.
- › Implement a formal access control procedure so only authorised workers enter the work zone. Signage to direct occupants away from works.
- › Brief building manager and occupants before works start. Agree working hours, routes and emergency procedures. Provide regular updates on programme changes.
Slips and trips — pedestrian routes
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Implement daily housekeeping regime. Remove debris and waste immediately. Store materials and equipment within the designated work zone only.
- › Route cables and hoses overhead or through cable ramps/covers where they cross pedestrian routes. Secure all trailing cables.
- › Provide temporary lighting to maintain safe illumination levels in all work and shared access areas where natural light is obstructed.
Dust inhalation — occupants and workers
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Where possible, pre-cut materials off-site or in a dedicated unoccupied area to avoid dust generation near occupants.
- › Use tools fitted with on-tool extraction (H-class vacuum) and water suppression where appropriate. Seal openings with dust sheets or temporary partitions to contain dust spread.
- › Carry out a COSHH assessment identifying dust type (e.g. silica, wood, general). Set exposure limits and control strategies accordingly. Review if work scope changes.
- › Workers to wear minimum FFP2 (FFP3 for silica/hardwood dust) tight-fitting disposable masks. Face-fit testing required for tight-fitting RPE.
Noise disturbance and hearing damage
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Agree restricted hours for high-noise activities with building management. Schedule the noisiest tasks when fewest occupants are present.
- › Substitute impact tools with quieter alternatives where feasible (e.g. diamond blade cutting instead of breaking). Select low-vibration equipment.
- › Provide and enforce use of suitable hearing protection (EN352) when noise levels exceed 85 dB(A) or when requested by workers above 80 dB(A) action level.
Chemical/COSHH exposure to occupants
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Substitute high-solvent products with low-VOC or water-based equivalents where technically feasible to reduce airborne chemical hazard.
- › Ensure adequate ventilation (natural or mechanical) when using chemical substances. Isolate HVAC systems if recirculation risk present, to prevent migration to occupied zones.
- › Obtain and review Safety Data Sheets for all products. Complete COSHH assessment before use. Communicate controls to all operatives.
- › Workers to wear appropriate chemical-resistant gloves and RPE (as specified by the SDS) when handling or applying hazardous substances.
Fire risk from hot works near occupied areas
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Use cold-work alternatives (press-fit, mechanical fixings, cold bonding) in preference to hot works in occupied buildings.
- › Issue a formal hot work permit for every hot work operation. Include pre-work checks, firewatch during and minimum 60-minute post-work firewatch. Notify building management.
- › Ensure fire extinguishers are positioned at the work area. Confirm building alarm and evacuation routes are understood by all workers. Notify occupants of temporary fire precaution arrangements.
Disruption to emergency egress
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Never store materials, equipment or waste in or across designated escape routes or in front of fire exit doors. Maintain a minimum clear width at all times.
- › If works unavoidably affect an escape route, agree and sign-post a suitable alternative route before works start. Obtain written consent from building manager or fire responsible person.
- › Supervisor to inspect all escape routes at the start and end of each shift to confirm they are clear and all emergency lighting is functioning.
Manual handling injuries
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Break large or heavy deliveries into smaller loads for distribution within the building. Pre-position materials as close as possible to the point of use.
- › Use sack trucks, pallet trucks, or hoists to move heavy loads within the building. Identify suitable routes in advance with building management.
- › Ensure all operatives have received manual handling training. Brief workers on safe lifting technique and team lifting requirements relevant to the task.
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 (FFP3 or as risk-assessed) with face-fit
- ✓ Hearing protection (to the assessed SNR)
- ✓ RPE per the COSHH assessment
- ✓ Chemical-resistant gloves
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
- › Dust-proof temporary screens and zip-door partition systems
- › On-tool dust extraction (H/M-class vacuums)
- › Air movers and negative-pressure units where required
- › Temporary fire-route signage and escape lighting checks
- › Floor and surface protection for occupant circulation routes
- › Acoustic blankets for noise screening
Permits & legislation
What principal contractors usually check
- ✓ That fire-escape routes serving occupants are named and protected, with an agreed alternative if any route is affected — not a blanket 'keep exits clear'
- ✓ That dust and noise controls are tied to agreed quiet periods and the occupier's operations, with named liaison arrangements
- ✓ That safeguarding and DBS requirements for the specific setting are stated where children or vulnerable adults are present
- ✓ 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
Can we keep a building open while we work in it?
Yes, but only if you can physically and acoustically separate the works from occupants and keep their fire-escape routes clear at all times. Your duty under Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act is to ensure those non-employees are not exposed to risk, which HSG151 expands on for the public. That means agreed exclusion zones, dust and noise control, and a written liaison arrangement with the occupier. If escape routes cannot be protected, the area should be closed or the works rephased.
Do operatives need DBS checks to work in an occupied school?
Where the work brings operatives into contact with children, or unsupervised access to areas children use, enhanced DBS checks are normally required and the school will ask to see them. If operatives are kept fully within a segregated, supervised zone with no contact, checks may not be needed, but you must agree this with the school in advance. The safe default is to confirm the safeguarding requirement during occupier liaison before mobilising. Working out of hours when pupils are absent can reduce, but does not always remove, the requirement.
What regulations apply to work in occupied premises?
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, section 3, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, reg 3 — risk assessment, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) are the main ones, alongside Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, 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.