RAMS & CPP for Painting & Decorating
What compliance documents you need for internal and external painting and decorating — and how The Site Book handles it for you.
What compliance do you need?
Painting and decorating might seem low-risk, but there are real hazards — particularly working at height, exposure to solvents and lead paint, and respiratory risks from sanding. CDM 2015 applies to all painting and decorating work on construction sites.
Do you need a CPP?
Yes. A Construction Phase Plan is required for all construction projects under CDM 2015. For painting work, your CPP should cover working at height arrangements, COSHH management for paints and solvents, and procedures for dealing with lead paint in older buildings.
Do you need RAMS?
RAMS are recommended, and often required on commercial sites and larger projects. External painting at height always needs proper risk assessment. If you're working in occupied buildings, you also need to consider the impact of fumes and dust on occupants.
Common hazards
- Working at height — ladders, scaffolding, tower scaffolds, cherry pickers
- Lead paint in pre-1960s properties (dust and fume inhalation)
- Solvent exposure from paints, varnishes, and strippers
- Respiratory issues from dust when sanding and preparing surfaces
- Dermatitis from paints, solvents, and cleaning products
- Slips and falls from wet paint, dust sheets, and spillages
- Manual handling of paint, equipment, and access platforms
How The Site Book handles it
Describe your job — "external repaint, 3-storey Victorian terrace" — and The Site Book creates your RAMS and CPP automatically. It identifies painting-specific hazards including lead paint risk, COSHH requirements for solvents, and working at height provisions.
Frequently asked questions
- Do painters and decorators need RAMS?
- RAMS are recommended for painting and decorating work, especially on commercial sites, when working at height externally, or when dealing with lead paint in older properties. Most principal contractors on larger sites will require RAMS from painting subcontractors before they can start work.
- What are the COSHH requirements for painters?
- Painters must assess the risks from substances they use — paints, solvents, strippers, fillers, and dust from sanding. COSHH assessments should cover the health effects of each product, control measures (ventilation, PPE, skin protection), and storage requirements. Safety data sheets must be available on site for all products used.
- Do I need a CPP for a painting job?
- Yes. CDM 2015 requires a Construction Phase Plan for all construction projects, including painting and decorating. Your CPP should cover working at height arrangements, COSHH management, and how you'll deal with lead paint or other hazardous materials in older buildings.
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