Pitched roof replacement RAMS example

Description of the work

Strip the concrete tiles, battens and felt from both slopes of the pitched roof of a 1950s mid-terrace house (fictional). Fit new breathable membrane, battens and concrete tiles, new dry ridge, and new lead flashings dressed cold (no hot work). The front of the house is on the pavement; the rear has a small yard. The family live in the house during the work.

Part 1: Risk assessment

1. Falls from the roof edge

   Who might be harmed and how

   Workers could fall from the eaves or the verges and be seriously injured or killed.

   Controls in place

   Scaffold with guard rails, toe boards and brick guards at the eaves on the front and the rear of the house, erected, altered and taken down only by the scaffolding contractor. The scaffold is inspected before first use, at least every 7 days and after anything that could affect it, such as high winds. Nobody goes on the roof until the scaffold has been handed over.

   Further action needed

   Scaffolding contractor to hand over the scaffold and the inspection record. (Scaffolding contractor, before first use)

2. Slipping on the roof slope

   Who might be harmed and how

   Workers could slip down the slope while stripping or tiling.

   Controls in place

   Work from the battens as they are fixed, or from a proper roof ladder hooked over the ridge. The scaffold edge protection at the eaves stops a slide off the roof. No roof work on wet, icy or frosty roofs, or in winds exceeding site wind-speed limits (typically 23 mph / 37 km/h).

   Further action needed

   Check the forecast each morning and stop work in the conditions above. (Site supervisor, each morning)

3. Fragile roof lights and the ceiling between the rafters

   Who might be harmed and how

   Workers could fall through a roof light or between the rafters into the loft.

   Controls in place

   Treat the roof as fragile until a competent person confirms it is not. The roof light on the rear slope is covered with a fixed, marked cover. Nobody stands between the rafters once the battens are off.

   Further action needed

   None.

4. Falling tiles, battens and tools

   Who might be harmed and how

   People on the pavement, the household and neighbours could be hit.

   Controls in place

   Brick guards and debris netting on the scaffold. Old tiles and battens go down an enclosed chute into a covered skip, never thrown. A protection fan or covered walkway keeps people on the pavement safe under the scaffold. In England and Wales, a scaffold over the highway, including the pavement, needs a licence from the local highway authority under section 169 of the Highways Act 1980. Protection fans and pavement gantries normally need a bespoke scaffold design.

   Further action needed

   Scaffolding contractor to get the highway licence and provide the design for the protection fan or walkway. (Scaffolding contractor, before the scaffold goes up)

5. Overloading the scaffold with tiles

   Who might be harmed and how

   Workers and people below could be hurt if the scaffold is overloaded.

   Controls in place

   Tiles are loaded out along the scaffold and the roof in small stacks, within the load the scaffolding contractor gives us. Tiles are raised with a hoist, not carried up ladders.

   Further action needed

   Get the safe working load from the scaffolding contractor. (Site supervisor, before loading out)

6. Asbestos hidden in the roof (for example in old felt, soffits or an old flue)

   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 roof, soffits and loft 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)

7. Lead flashings

   Who might be harmed and how

   Workers could swallow lead if they handle it and then eat or smoke.

   Controls in place

   Lead is dressed cold, with no heating. Gloves are worn when handling lead. Only eat and drink in designated areas that are free from lead contamination. Wash hands and face and scrub nails before eating, drinking or smoking, and wash before going home. Clear up and get rid of any lead waste at the end of the day.

   Further action needed

   None.

8. Dust from cutting tiles

   Who might be harmed and how

   Workers could breathe in silica dust, which can cause serious lung disease.

   Controls in place

   Where possible, tiles are cut with a less powerful tool, such as a hand tile cutter, to make less dust. Where a disc cutter is needed, it is used with water suppression. Workers wear FFP3 masks that have been face-fit tested when cutting.

   Further action needed

   None.

9. 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 family use the front door only through the covered walkway. The rear yard is closed while the chute is in use. 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

1. Step 1: Set up: skip, chute and pavement protection. Brief the team on this RAMS.

   Who: Site supervisor

   Plant, equipment and materials: Skip, chute

   Controls for this step: Check the asbestos survey is on site.

2. Step 2: Erect the scaffold at the front and the rear with edge protection at the eaves, a loading bay and a hoist.

   Who: Scaffolding contractor

   Plant, equipment and materials: Scaffold, hoist

   Controls for this step: Handover and inspection tag before anyone uses it.

3. Step 3: Cover the rear roof light.

   Who: Roofer

   Plant, equipment and materials: Fixed cover

   Controls for this step: Cover fixed and marked before stripping starts.

4. Step 4: Strip tiles, battens and felt one section at a time.

   Who: Roofers, labourer

   Plant, equipment and materials: Hand tools, chute

   Controls for this step: Waste down the chute. Stop if suspect material is found.

5. Step 5: Check and repair the rafters. Fit membrane and battens.

   Who: Roofers

   Plant, equipment and materials: Cordless tools

   Controls for this step: Work from the battens or a roof ladder. Keep the stripped area small.

6. Step 6: Load out and fix the new tiles. Fit the dry ridge.

   Who: Roofers, labourer

   Plant, equipment and materials: Hoist, tile cutter

   Controls for this step: Small stacks within the safe working load. Wet cutting.

7. Step 7: Fit the lead flashings, dressed cold.

   Who: Roofer

   Plant, equipment and materials: Lead dressing tools

   Controls for this step: Gloves. Wash before eating.

8. Step 8: Remove the roof light cover. Clear the gutters and scaffold.

   Who: Roofer, labourer

   Plant, equipment and materials: Hand tools

   Controls for this step: Nothing thrown from the scaffold.

9. Step 9: Strike the scaffold. Clean up and hand over.

   Who: Scaffolding contractor, site supervisor

   Plant, equipment and materials: Vacuum, brushes

   Controls for this step: Pavement protection stays until the scaffold is down.

People and competence

• Site supervisor (example), Supervisor and roofer. CSCS card. Site supervisor training. Emergency first aid at work. Asbestos awareness.
• Roofer (example), Roofer. CSCS card. Asbestos awareness.
• Labourer (example), Labourer. CSCS card. Asbestos awareness.
• Scaffolders (example subcontractor), Scaffolders. CISRS cards.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

• Safety boots with good grip and a hard hat: All steps
• Gloves: Steps 4, 6 and 7
• FFP3 mask (face-fit tested): Steps 4 and 6 (stripping and cutting)
• Eye protection and hearing protection: Step 6 (cutting)

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 opposite the house

How to raise the alarm

Shout to everyone on the scaffold and 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); Roofer (example); Labourer (example).

Approval

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