When this template fits
This RAMS is for UK contractors and asbestos teams carrying out asbestos risk assessment — typically because a principal contractor or client has asked for a risk assessment and method statement before work can start. It covers the recognised demolition & strip-out 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
Assess the risk from asbestos-containing materials before refurbishment/maintenance — survey review, identify ACMs, decide licensed vs non-licensed/NNLW, and stop-and-report if unsure.
Sequence of works
- 1STEP 1 — PRE-SURVEY PREPARATION: Obtain and review all existing asbestos management surveys, registers, management plans, and any previous sampling or analytical results. Identify known ACMs, gaps in records, and areas not previously surveyed. Confirm scope of proposed refurbishment/maintenance works.
- 2STEP 2 — SURVEY TYPE SELECTION: Determine the appropriate survey type required. For refurbishment or demolition works, commission a CAR 2012-compliant refurbishment and demolition (R&D) survey from a UKAS-accredited organisation. For routine maintenance, confirm whether an existing management survey is sufficient or requires updating.
- 3STEP 3 — AREA PREPARATION AND ACCESS CONTROL: Inform the duty holder and building occupants. Establish exclusion zones around areas to be inspected or sampled. Isolate relevant HVAC systems. Carry out pre-entry safety check of survey areas (lighting, floor condition, stability). Confirm lone working procedure if applicable.
- 4STEP 4 — VISUAL INSPECTION: Conduct a thorough visual inspection of all accessible areas within the survey scope, systematically recording the location, type, extent, and condition of all suspected ACMs. Use photographic records. Do not disturb materials unless sampling is required.
- 5STEP 5 — PHYSICAL SAMPLING (WHERE REQUIRED): Where visual inspection cannot confirm or rule out ACM presence, collect physical samples using minimum-disturbance techniques. Wet the area before sampling, take the minimum viable sample, immediately seal in a labelled airtight container, re-seal the surface. Use appropriate PPE throughout. Send samples to a UKAS-accredited analytical laboratory.
- 6STEP 6 — STOP-AND-REPORT IF UNSURE: If any unknown or unexpected material is encountered that cannot be confidently assessed, stop all activities in the area immediately, cordon off the area, and report to the duty holder and principal contractor. Do not resume work until the material has been assessed and appropriate controls implemented.
- 7STEP 7 — RISK ASSESSMENT AND WORK CATEGORISATION: Using survey findings and laboratory results, assess the risk from each identified ACM. Apply CAR 2012 criteria to categorise any planned remediation or maintenance as licensed, NNLW, or non-licensed non-notifiable work. Document the rationale for each categorisation decision.
- 8STEP 8 — REPORT PRODUCTION AND REGISTER UPDATE: Produce a written assessment report identifying all ACMs, their location, type, condition, priority rating, and recommended actions including work category. Update the duty holder's asbestos register and management plan with all findings.
- 9STEP 9 — COMMUNICATION OF FINDINGS: Distribute the assessment report to the duty holder, principal contractor, and site manager. Conduct a toolbox talk with all relevant trades, briefing them on ACM locations, restrictions, and the stop-and-report procedure before any works commence.
- 10STEP 10 — ONGOING MONITORING AND REVIEW: Ensure the asbestos management plan includes a review schedule. If conditions change during works (e.g. previously unknown ACMs found), re-assess the risk immediately and update records and controls accordingly.
Hazards, risk rating & controls
Risk = likelihood × severity (1–25). Initial is before controls; residual is with controls applied.
Asbestos fibre inhalation
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Where possible, carry out a visual-only assessment without touching or disturbing suspected ACMs. Do not break, drill, or probe materials unless absolutely necessary for sampling.
- › Only use a surveyor trained and competent to CAR 2012 requirements. For refurbishment/demolition surveys, ensure the surveyor holds appropriate accreditation (e.g. UKAS-accredited body). Do not conduct surveys without demonstrated competence.
- › Where physical sampling is required, use the minimum-disturbance method: wet wipe the area, take the smallest viable sample, immediately seal in a labelled airtight container, and re-seal the disturbed surface with specialist tape or filler.
- › Wear a minimum FFP3 disposable half-mask or reusable half-mask with P3 filter during any physical sampling of suspected ACMs. Full-face APF 20 respirator required if material condition is poor or friable.
Failure to identify ACMs
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Before commencing any work, review the duty holder's asbestos register, management plan, and any previous survey reports. Identify gaps and areas not previously surveyed.
- › Where a management survey is insufficient for the scope of work (e.g. any intrusive refurbishment), commission a full refurbishment and demolition survey by a UKAS-accredited surveyor prior to works starting.
- › Brief all workers that if any unknown material is encountered that could be an ACM, work must stop immediately, the area cordoned off, and the asbestos coordinator or surveyor informed before work resumes.
Incorrect work categorisation (licensed vs non-licensed)
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Assess each ACM against the CAR 2012 criteria: fibre type, material condition, likely disturbance level, and work duration. Use HSE guidance to determine if work is licensed, NNLW, or non-licensed non-notifiable. Seek specialist advice where uncertain.
- › Where there is any uncertainty about whether work is licensable, treat it as licensed work until confirmed otherwise by a competent person. Never downgrade work category without documented justification.
- › Record the rationale for all licensing decisions in writing, including the ACM type, condition, proposed work activity, and category assigned. Share findings with the principal contractor and duty holder.
Asbestos dust and fibre release during sampling
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Where possible, sample in ventilated areas. Avoid sampling in confined, enclosed spaces. Ensure any HVAC serving the area is isolated to prevent fibre spread before sampling commences.
- › Dampen the sampling point with water or specialist surfactant before and during sampling to suppress airborne dust generation.
- › Wear Type 5/6 disposable coveralls during sampling. Remove and bag coveralls in the work area before leaving; do not shake. Wipe down with damp cloth before removal.
Inadequate COSHH assessment for ACM work
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Before sampling or any work near ACMs, complete a COSHH assessment that identifies the substance (asbestos type if known), route of exposure, level of risk, and required controls. Review prior to each new work activity.
- › Control measures must follow the hierarchy: eliminate > substitute > engineering controls > administrative controls > PPE. PPE alone is not sufficient as the primary control for asbestos exposure.
Third-party and bystander exposure
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Establish a clearly defined exclusion zone around any areas where physical sampling is taking place. Use barrier tape, signage, and physical barriers. No unauthorised persons to enter.
- › Notify the duty holder and relevant building occupants before survey/sampling commences. Confirm which areas will be restricted and for how long.
Slips, trips and falls during survey access
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Before entering any confined, elevated, or restricted area, conduct a visual check for trip hazards, unstable flooring, open voids, and poor lighting. Do not proceed if conditions are unsafe.
- › Wear sturdy, non-slip safety footwear. Carry a suitable torch or head torch when accessing dark voids, roof spaces, or plant rooms.
Working at height during survey
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Use binoculars, telescopic inspection tools, or cameras on extendable poles to inspect high-level materials without the need to work at height. Only access elevated positions when essential.
- › Where working at height is unavoidable, use a podium step or low-level platform in preference to a stepladder. Ensure equipment is in good condition, on stable ground, and that the surveyor is trained in its use.
- › Ensure surveyor does not work alone in high-risk areas at height. Where lone working is unavoidable, implement a check-in/check-out procedure with a designated contact.
Inadequate records and communication of findings
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Produce a comprehensive written report identifying all known, suspected, and presumed ACMs, their location, condition, priority rating, and recommended actions. Distribute to the duty holder, principal contractor, and site manager before works commence.
- › Ensure the duty holder's asbestos register and management plan are updated with findings from the assessment. Records must be kept and made available to anyone who may disturb ACMs.
- › Brief all relevant trades and the principal contractor on the assessment findings before work begins. Include locations of ACMs, restrictions, and the stop-and-report procedure.
PPE
- ✓ Safety footwear (EN ISO 20345)
- ✓ Hi-vis clothing
- ✓ Safety gloves (task-appropriate)
- ✓ Hard hat (EN 397) where overhead risk or site rules require
- ✓ Disposable RPE (FFP3)
- ✓ Disposable coveralls (Type 5)
- ✓ RPE (FFP3 or as risk-assessed) with face-fit
- ✓ RPE per the COSHH assessment
- ✓ Chemical-resistant gloves
- ✓ Safety harness and lanyard where fall arrest is the selected control
Competence
- ✓ Non-licensed / NNLW asbestos work ONLY — licensed work (e.g. AIB, lagging, sprayed coatings) must be done by an HSE-licensed contractor. Operatives need task-specific non-licensed asbestos training (beyond awareness); NNLW also needs medical surveillance, health records and notification to the enforcing authority
- ✓ 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
- › Hand strip tools and wrecking bars
- › Dust suppression equipment
- › Waste chutes and covered skips
- › Asbestos sample kits (analyst use only)
- › Temporary props where structure is affected
Permits & legislation
What principal contractors usually check
- ✓ Asbestos survey reviewed before any strip-out
- ✓ Structural stability checked before load-bearing removal
- ✓ Waste segregation and disposal route
- ✓ 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 asbestos risk assessment 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 asbestos risk assessment, 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 asbestos risk assessment?
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, section 3 are the main ones, alongside Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, reg 3 — risk assessment, Work at Height Regulations 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.