When this template fits
This RAMS is for UK contractors and security systems teams carrying out access control installation — typically because a principal contractor or client has asked for a risk assessment and method statement before work can start. It covers the recognised building services & m&e hazards for this task, with the controls a reviewer expects to see.
What this RAMS includes
- ✓ 9 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
Install door access-control systems and electric locks.
Sequence of works
- 1Pre-start: obtain and review the asbestos register, building permits, fire evacuation plan and agreed programme of works with the facilities manager. Brief all operatives on site rules and emergency procedures.
- 2Establish work zones: erect barrier tape or cones around each door work area. Notify affected building users of door outages and confirm alternative access routes are available.
- 3Survey and mark up: use a CAT scanner to detect concealed services at all proposed drill and fixing locations. Mark safe drilling zones and highlight any ACM areas to avoid.
- 4Isolate electrical supplies: identify the relevant circuit(s), isolate at the distribution board, apply lockout/tagout, and prove dead with a GS38-compliant voltage indicator before any electrical work begins.
- 5Install cable routes and back-boxes: drill with on-tool dust extraction, keeping within confirmed safe zones. Where cables pass through fire-rated walls, leave the penetration accessible for immediate fire-stopping.
- 6Mount hardware: fit door closers, electric locks, readers and control panels. Use two-person lift for items over 20 kg. Use podium steps or a platform for any overhead work above 2 m.
- 7Reinstate fire stopping: immediately seal all cable penetrations through fire-rated construction with an approved intumescent product before moving to the next door location.
- 8Wiring and connections: complete low-voltage wiring first; then, with the mains supply isolated and proved dead, make final mains connections using insulated tools. Have connections checked by a competent electrician before re-energising.
- 9Commission and test: re-energise the system in a controlled manner, test all access, egress and fail-safe/fail-secure functions, and confirm manual override operates correctly. Verify fire doors release on activation of the fire alarm interface.
- 10Clear up and handover: remove all tools, waste cable and packaging, remove barriers, restore full door functionality and brief the facilities manager on system operation. Complete all documentation including electrical test certificates.
Hazards, risk rating & controls
Risk = likelihood × severity (1–25). Initial is before controls; residual is with controls applied.
Fall from height
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Redesign installation sequence or use extended fixing tools to reduce the need to work at height where practicable.
- › Substitute traditional stepladders with a podium step or mobile elevated work platform to provide a stable working platform with guardrails.
- › All access equipment (stepladders, podiums) must be inspected before use, set on firm level ground, and a second operative must foot or stabilise the equipment.
- › Wear slip-resistant safety footwear to reduce risk of slipping on rungs or platforms.
Electric shock from mains supply
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Identify the relevant circuit, isolate at the distribution board and apply a lockout/tagout device before commencing any electrical connections. Prove dead with an approved voltage indicator.
- › Where practicable, use Safety Extra Low Voltage (SELV, ≤50 V AC) power supplies for locks and readers to reduce shock risk at the device side.
- › Only operatives who are competent and, where required, appropriately qualified (e.g. Part P or equivalent commercial experience) shall make mains connections.
- › Use fully insulated tools and an approved voltage indicator (GS38-compliant test leads) when working near live circuits.
Contact with concealed services
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Use a cable and pipe detector (CAT scanner) to survey all drill locations before drilling. Mark confirmed safe zones on the surface.
- › Set drill depth stops to the minimum required to reduce the probability of penetrating concealed services.
- › Follow industry convention that cables run vertically from outlets and horizontally in defined zones; do not drill in these zones unless confirmed clear.
Slips and trips from cables and tools
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Cordon off the immediate work area using barrier tape or cones to keep building occupants away and contain tools and materials.
- › Route temporary trailing cables using cable ramps or secure to skirting with tape; remove waste and packaging to a designated skip or bin immediately.
- › Slip-resistant, toecap safety boots protect against trips and dropped tools.
Manual handling of heavy equipment
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › At procurement stage, consider lighter or modular alternatives to heavy magnetic locks and large enclosures to reduce manual handling risk.
- › Any item exceeding 20 kg or requiring an awkward posture must be handled by two operatives using co-ordinated lift technique.
- › All operatives must have received manual handling awareness training and follow safe lift technique.
Dust from drilling
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Use a drill fitted with an on-tool H-class or M-class vacuum extraction shroud to capture dust at source.
- › Where dust extraction is impractical, lightly dampen the surface to suppress airborne dust.
- › Wear a minimum FFP2 disposable mask when drilling generates residual airborne dust not fully controlled by extraction.
Asbestos contact during drilling
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Before commencing work, obtain and review the premises asbestos register or management survey. If none exists, the duty holder must arrange a refurbishment/demolition survey before intrusive work.
- › Redesign cable routes and mounting positions to avoid confirmed or suspected ACM locations entirely.
- › If material suspected of containing asbestos is encountered during drilling, immediately stop work, withdraw, restrict access and report to the site supervisor. Do not resume until a licensed asbestos surveyor has assessed the area.
Interface with building occupants
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Agree a programme of works with the facilities manager before starting. Notify affected staff/occupants of anticipated door outages and alternative access arrangements.
- › Never disable a fire exit door without a documented hot-works/door-outage permit and a designated marshal in place. Ensure manual override (fail-safe) is active.
- › Pre-assemble and pre-wire components off-door to minimise the period a door is non-functional.
Fire risk from drilling and cabling
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Any penetration through a fire-rated wall or floor must be fire-stopped with an approved intumescent product immediately after cable installation, before the work area is left unattended.
- › Select cables and fuses rated for the load. Avoid overloading existing circuits; provide a dedicated circuit for the access control system where required.
- › Operatives must be briefed on the building's fire evacuation procedures, muster points and the location of nearest fire extinguishers before starting work.
PPE
- ✓ Safety footwear (EN ISO 20345)
- ✓ Hi-vis clothing
- ✓ Safety gloves (task-appropriate)
- ✓ Hard hat (EN 397) where overhead risk or site rules require
- ✓ Safety harness and lanyard where fall arrest is the selected control
- ✓ Insulated gloves where live work is unavoidable
- ✓ RPE (FFP3 or as risk-assessed) with face-fit
- ✓ Disposable RPE (FFP3)
- ✓ Disposable coveralls (Type 5)
Competence
- ✓ Competent installer; electrical competence for mains connections (Part P where notifiable)
- ✓ 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
- › Isolation valves / pipe-freezing kit
- › Gas tightness test gauge (gas work)
- › Press tool or soldering/brazing set
- › MEWP or tower for high-level plant
- › LEV / extraction for brazing fume
Permits & legislation
What principal contractors usually check
- ✓ Named competence where required (Gas Safe / F-Gas / Part P)
- ✓ Service isolation and test-before-touch (gas tightness, electrical lock-off)
- ✓ Hot-works permit and fire watch for brazing/soldering near combustibles
- ✓ 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
Who should write a access control installation RAMS?
Someone competent to plan the work — usually the contractor doing the job or their supervisor. A template like this gives you the recognised hazards and controls for access control installation, but the person signing it off must review it as the competent person and confirm it matches the actual site and method.
How long is the RAMS valid for?
Until something changes — there's no fixed expiry in law. Review it if the method, site conditions, equipment or people change, after any incident or near miss, and at sensible intervals on longer jobs. Date the review and re-brief the team.
What regulations apply to access control installation?
Work at Height Regulations 2005, Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, reg 3 — risk assessment are the main ones, alongside Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, section 3, Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. 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.