Kitchen Refit RAMS Example (Completed)

This is an example for a fictional job. The company, people, address and phone number are made up. Do not copy it for real work: write your own RAMS for the actual job, site and team, and have a competent person check it.

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Company name: Example Building Co. Ltd (fictional)
Client: Ms Example, homeowner (fictional)
Job and site address: Kitchen refit, 4 Example Close, Exampletown ZZ1 1ZZ (fictional)
Start date and expected duration: On the agreed start date. About 2 weeks.
Prepared by: Site supervisor, Example Building Co.
Date: Before work starts
Principal contractor (if there is one): Example Building Co. Ltd (us)
Date of next review: If the work, the team or the site conditions change

Description of the work

Strip out and refit the kitchen of a 1980s terraced house (fictional). Remove the old units, worktops, wall tiles and the gas hob. Fit new base and wall units, laminate worktops, a new gas hob, an electric oven and splashback tiles. Our subcontract Gas Safe registered engineer disconnects and reconnects the hob. Our subcontract electrician adds sockets and a cooker circuit. The homeowner lives in the house and uses a temporary kitchen in the dining room.

Part 1: Risk assessment

Asbestos hidden in the kitchen (for example in old floor tiles, a textured ceiling or panels behind units)
Who might be harmed and how
Workers and the household could breathe in fibres if material containing asbestos is disturbed.
Controls in place
The client's refurbishment asbestos survey of the kitchen found no asbestos in the areas to be worked on (example). Everyone on the job has asbestos awareness training. If anyone finds or suspects asbestos, they stop work on it, keep people away and tell the site supervisor. Work does not restart until it has been assessed and controlled.
Further action needed
Check the survey covers every area to be opened up. (Site supervisor, before work starts)
Gas escape or fire from disconnecting and reconnecting the gas hob
Who might be harmed and how
Workers and the household could be hurt by fire, explosion or carbon monoxide.
Controls in place
Only the Gas Safe registered engineer, whose ID card shows they are competent for cooking appliances, disconnects, caps, reconnects and tests the gas supply. Our own workers do not touch the gas pipework. If anyone smells gas, they stop work, call the gas emergency number (0800 111 999), open doors and windows and turn off the gas at the meter if they know where the valve is. Nobody touches the hob until the engineer has checked it.
Further action needed
Straight after reconnecting, the engineer examines the hob's supply of combustion air, its operating pressure or heat input, and its operation, and tells the homeowner about any defect. (Gas Safe registered engineer, at reconnection)
Electric shock from existing kitchen circuits
Who might be harmed and how
Workers could get an electric shock when removing units or drilling near hidden cables.
Controls in place
Treat all cables as live until the electrician has proved them dead. The electrician isolates the kitchen circuits, locks them off and tests them dead before strip-out. Only the electrician works on the wiring.
Further action needed
Electrician to confirm isolation each morning before work starts. (Electrician, each day of strip-out)
Electric shock from power tools and leads
Who might be harmed and how
Workers could get an electric shock from damaged tools or leads.
Controls in place
Cordless tools, or tools run from a 110V centre-tapped to earth (CTE) transformer. Tools and leads are checked before use and taken out of use if damaged. Leads are run where they will not be damaged or trip anyone.
Further action needed
None.
Dust from cutting worktops and removing tiles
Who might be harmed and how
Workers and the household could breathe in wood dust and silica dust.
Controls in place
Worktops and panels are cut outside with a saw fitted with on-tool extraction to an M-class or H-class vacuum. Workers wear FFP3 masks that have been face-fit tested when cutting or removing tiles. Clean up with the vacuum or damp down, never by dry sweeping.
Further action needed
None.
Lifting and carrying units, worktops and appliances
Who might be harmed and how
Workers could hurt their backs or trap fingers.
Controls in place
Plan the route from the van to the kitchen and clear it first. Long worktops and tall units are carried by two people. Appliances are moved on a sack truck. Wall units are lifted into place by two people and held until fixed.
Further action needed
None.
Cuts from saws, blades and broken tiles
Who might be harmed and how
Workers could cut their hands.
Controls in place
Tools are used with their guards in place. Blades are changed with the tool unplugged or the battery removed. Gloves are worn when handling broken tiles and old units.
Further action needed
None.
Adhesives, sealants and tile grout
Who might be harmed and how
Workers could get skin irritation or dermatitis, or breathe in vapour in a closed room.
Controls in place
Read the safety data sheet for each product. Wear gloves. Keep windows open while using sealants and adhesives. Wash hands after use.
Further action needed
None.
Household and visitors near the work
Who might be harmed and how
The homeowners, children and visitors could be hurt by tools, materials, dust or falling objects.
Controls in place
The kitchen door is kept shut while we work. The homeowner uses the temporary kitchen in the dining room. Tools and materials are not left out where children can reach them. The work area is left safe and tidy at the end of each day.
Further action needed
Agree with the homeowners which rooms and routes they will use. (Site supervisor, before work starts)

Part 2: Method statement

Sequence of work

Step 1: Arrive and set up. Protect floors and the route from the front door. Brief the team on this RAMS.
Who: Site supervisor
Plant, equipment and materials: Floor protection, dust sheets
Controls for this step: Check the asbestos survey before any strip-out.
Step 2: Gas engineer disconnects and caps the hob. Electrician isolates and proves dead the kitchen circuits.
Who: Gas Safe registered engineer, electrician
Plant, equipment and materials: Lock-off kit, voltage tester
Controls for this step: No strip-out until both are confirmed.
Step 3: Strip out appliances, units, worktops and tiles. Bag the waste.
Who: Fitter, labourer
Plant, equipment and materials: Hand tools, sack truck
Controls for this step: Two-person lifts. Gloves. FFP3 masks for tile removal.
Step 4: First fix: new sockets and cooker circuit.
Who: Electrician
Plant, equipment and materials: Cordless drill
Controls for this step: On-tool extraction when chasing walls.
Step 5: Fit the base and wall units.
Who: Fitter
Plant, equipment and materials: Cordless drill, levels
Controls for this step: Two people to lift and hold wall units until fixed.
Step 6: Cut and fit the worktops.
Who: Fitter
Plant, equipment and materials: Saw with on-tool extraction, M-class or H-class vacuum
Controls for this step: Cut outside. FFP3 mask. Two-person carry.
Step 7: Fit the oven and hob. Electrician connects and tests. Gas engineer reconnects and tests the hob.
Who: Fitter, electrician, Gas Safe registered engineer
Plant, equipment and materials: Test equipment
Controls for this step: Only the engineer works on gas. Electrician's own safe isolation procedure.
Step 8: Tile the splashback. Seal round the worktops.
Who: Fitter
Plant, equipment and materials: Tile cutter, sealant gun
Controls for this step: Gloves. Ventilate the room.
Step 9: Clean up, remove protection and hand over.
Who: Site supervisor
Plant, equipment and materials: Vacuum
Controls for this step: Leave no waste or tools behind.

People and competence

Site supervisor (example), Supervisor. CSCS card. Site supervisor training. Emergency first aid at work. Asbestos awareness.
Kitchen fitter (example), Fitter. CSCS card. Asbestos awareness.
Labourer (example), Labourer. CSCS card. Asbestos awareness.
Electrician (example subcontractor), Electrician. Qualified electrician. Asbestos awareness.
Gas engineer (example subcontractor), Gas engineer. Gas Safe registered for cooking appliances.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Safety boots: All steps
FFP3 mask (face-fit tested): Steps 3, 4 and 6 (dusty work)
Gloves: Steps 3, 6 and 8
Eye protection: Steps 3, 4 and 6

Emergencies

Record the arrangements for any foreseeable emergency, including how to evacuate the site.

First aider: Site supervisor (example)
First aid kit location: In the van outside the house
Nearest A&E (name and address): [Before work starts, find and write in the nearest A&E department and its address]
Assembly point: Pavement outside the front door
How to raise the alarm: Shout to everyone in the house. Call 999.
Site contact and phone number: Site supervisor: 01632 960123 (fictional number)

If there is serious and imminent danger, workers should stop work immediately, report it and go to a place of safety.

Who workers report danger to: Site supervisor (example)

Briefing record

Brief everyone doing the work on this RAMS before the work begins. Each person signs to confirm.

In the PDF, each person below signs and dates the briefing record: Site supervisor (example); Kitchen fitter (example); Labourer (example); Electrician (example); Gas engineer (example).

Approval

Prepared by Site supervisor (example). Approved by Director, Example Building Co. (example).

Based on

HSE's five steps to managing risk; CDM 2015, regulations 15 and 30; the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, regulations 3 and 26; HSE guidance on domestic gas, asbestos, construction dust, electricity and manual handling.

Kitchen refit RAMS example

Description of the work

Part 1: Risk assessment

Asbestos hidden in the kitchen (for example in old floor tiles, a textured ceiling or panels behind units)

Gas escape or fire from disconnecting and reconnecting the gas hob

Electric shock from existing kitchen circuits

Electric shock from power tools and leads

Dust from cutting worktops and removing tiles

Lifting and carrying units, worktops and appliances

Cuts from saws, blades and broken tiles

Adhesives, sealants and tile grout

Household and visitors near the work