RAMS & CPP for Joinery & Carpentry
What compliance documents you need for first fix, second fix, stud walls, and general carpentry — and how The Site Book handles it for you.
What compliance do you need?
Joinery and carpentry cover everything from first fix timber framing through to second fix kitchens and skirting. The hazards are real — wood dust is a carcinogen, power tools cause serious injuries, and working at height is common. CDM 2015 applies to all carpentry work on construction sites.
Do you need a CPP?
Yes. Every construction project needs a Construction Phase Plan under CDM 2015. If you're subcontracting on a larger site, the principal contractor produces the CPP, but you'll need your own RAMS. On standalone jobs, you take on the CDM duties yourself.
Do you need RAMS?
RAMS are recommended for all joinery and carpentry work. They're essential on commercial sites and expected by most principal contractors. Your RAMS should cover power tool use, dust control, working at height, and manual handling of heavy materials.
Common hazards
- Wood dust — hardwood dust is a known carcinogen
- Cuts and lacerations from power saws, routers, and chisels
- Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) from power tool use
- Noise-induced hearing loss from saws and nail guns
- Working at height — roof trusses, floor joists, staircase fitting
- Manual handling of heavy timber, sheet materials, and doors
- Fire risk from wood shavings and dust accumulation
- Slips and trips from timber offcuts and packaging
How The Site Book handles it
Describe your job — "first fix carpentry, new-build housing plot" — and The Site Book creates your RAMS and CPP automatically. It identifies carpentry-specific hazards including dust control for hardwood and MDF, power tool safety, and working at height provisions.
Frequently asked questions
- Do joiners and carpenters need RAMS?
- RAMS are recommended for joinery and carpentry work, especially on commercial sites and larger residential projects. They're particularly important when using power tools, working at height (roof trusses, floor joists, staircase installation), or when the work involves significant dust generation from cutting timber and MDF.
- What are the main health risks for carpenters?
- The main health risks include wood dust inhalation (hardwood dust is a known carcinogen), hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) from power tools, noise-induced hearing loss, cuts and lacerations from power saws and chisels, and musculoskeletal injuries from manual handling of heavy timber.
- Do I need a CPP for a carpentry job?
- Yes. Under CDM 2015, a Construction Phase Plan is required for all construction projects. If you're a subcontractor on a larger site, the principal contractor produces the CPP — but you'll need to provide your own RAMS. On standalone domestic jobs, you take on all CDM duties yourself.
- What dust extraction is required for joinery work?
- Under COSHH regulations, you must control wood dust exposure. Hardwood dust has a workplace exposure limit (WEL) of 3 mg/m³. Power tools should be fitted with dust extraction where practicable, and RPE (respiratory protective equipment) may be needed for tasks like sanding MDF. A dust assessment should be part of your RAMS.
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