When this template fits
This RAMS is for UK contractors and paving & surfacing teams carrying out block paving & flag laying — typically because a principal contractor or client has asked for a risk assessment and method statement before work can start. It covers the recognised groundworks & excavation hazards for this task, with the controls a reviewer expects to see.
What this RAMS includes
- ✓ 8 task-specific hazards scored on a 5×5 matrix (initial → residual)
- ✓ Specific control measures for each hazard, in hierarchy-of-control order
- ✓ A 9-step method statement (sequence of works)
- ✓ PPE, plant/equipment, permits and competence requirements
- ✓ Emergency arrangements and operative briefing / sign-off section
Scope of works
Lay block paving and flags with cutting, plant and manual handling.
Sequence of works
- 1Pre-task: Review RAMS with all operatives. Confirm COSHH assessments for cement/mortar products are in place, SDS available, and check HAV/noise tool data. Inspect all plant and tools (pre-start checks recorded). Erect site barriers, exclusion zones and public signage before any materials are delivered.
- 2Set out and sub-base preparation: Excavate to required depth using excavator where applicable, maintaining plant exclusion zones with banksman. Lay and compact granular sub-base using plate compactor — enforce HAV time limits and rotate operatives. Confirm levels with string line or laser.
- 3Cutting operations: Minimise cuts by planning layout and ordering cut units from supplier. Where on-site cutting is required, use wet-cutting saw with continuous water suppression. Operatives wear FFP3 respirator, eye protection and hearing protection. Restrict access to cutting zone. Dispose of slurry and waste correctly.
- 4Bedding preparation: Mix or prepare sharp sand bed (or mortar bed for flags) in a controlled area. Handle cement/mortar with chemical-resistant gloves and barrier cream. Brief operatives on dermatitis risk. Lay bedding to correct depth and screed level.
- 5Flag and block laying: Use mechanical lifting aids (vacuum lifters, slab grab) for flags over 25 kg. For two-person lifts, coordinate lifts with a lead handler. Lay blocks/flags to pattern, use rubber mallet for seating. Keep working area clear of offcuts.
- 6Compaction and jointing: Compact laid blocks/flags using plate compactor fitted with rubber sole plate. Apply and brush in kiln-dried sand or jointing compound. Enforce HAV rotation schedule and hearing protection use during compaction. Prevent public and non-essential personnel from entering compaction zone.
- 7Edge restraints and kerbing: Install edge restraints and kerb units using telehandler/mini-excavator with banksman. Compact haunching mortar. Follow cement skin contact controls throughout.
- 8End-of-shift: Remove waste, offcuts and packaging. Protect exposed edges and any level changes with barriers. Secure tools and plant. Clean any cement/mortar from skin. Record HAV tool exposure times and compare to daily limits.
- 9Final inspection and handover: Check levels, falls and alignment against specification. Remove all temporary barriers and reinstate access routes. Complete quality and safety records. Ensure public access is safe before removing site barriers.
Hazards, risk rating & controls
Risk = likelihood × severity (1–25). Initial is before controls; residual is with controls applied.
Manual handling — flags and blocks
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Use vacuum/suction lifting devices or slab grabs attached to mini-excavator or telehandler to handle large flags and kerb units mechanically instead of by hand.
- › Split loads to manageable sizes; use two-person lifts for flags 25–50 kg. Designate a lead handler to co-ordinate movement.
- › Ensure all operatives have received manual handling training covering correct technique, team lifts and use of handling aids. Brief on specific loads at task start.
- › Provide knee pads to reduce compressive load during kneeling work and safety boots with ankle support to protect during carrying.
Silica dust inhalation — cutting
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Pre-order materials in required sizes and plan the layout to reduce the number of cuts needed on site.
- › Use disc cutters or masonry saws fitted with continuous water suppression to suppress dust at source. Confirm water flow before each cut.
- › Where wet cutting is impractical, use angle grinder or saw fitted with dust extraction connected to H-class vacuum unit to capture residual dust.
- › Operatives must wear close-fitting FFP3 respirator during cutting and when in the dust zone. Fit-check before each use; face-fit testing required.
Noise — disc cutters and plate compactors
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Specify electrically powered or battery-operated saws and compactors where available, as these typically emit lower noise levels than petrol equivalents.
- › Rotate operatives on cutting and compaction tasks to keep individual daily noise dose below 85 dB(A) LEP,d where practicable. Schedule high-noise tasks to avoid simultaneous operation near others.
- › Designate hearing protection zones around cutting and compaction areas. Display mandatory hearing protection signage. Exclude non-essential personnel.
- › Provide and enforce use of SNR-rated ear defenders or moulded/disposable ear plugs providing adequate attenuation. Minimum SNR 25 dB.
Hand-arm vibration (HAVS) — plate compactors and disc cutters
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Specify remote-controlled or ride-on compaction equipment where the work volume justifies it, to eliminate hand-arm transmission entirely.
- › Obtain manufacturer vibration data for all HAV tools. Calculate daily exposure (A(8)) and implement trigger/action time limits per tool. Display daily exposure limits in site toolbox.
- › Rotate operatives between high-vibration and low-vibration tasks. Enforce regular breaks to keep exposure below ELV (5.0 m/s²). Record actual tool use times.
- › Provide anti-vibration gloves where residual risk remains. Enrol operatives in HAV health surveillance programme with baseline and periodic checks.
Plant strike — excavators, telehandlers and dumpers
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Establish and mark clearly defined exclusion zones around operating plant using barriers or cones. Ensure no pedestrian enters the swing/travel radius of excavators or telehandlers.
- › Deploy a trained and appointed banksman with continuous line-of-sight to the operator when plant is travelling or lifting near operatives. Use agreed signal codes.
- › All plant operators must hold relevant CPCS/NPORS card for their machine. Daily pre-start inspection recorded. Operators briefed on site-specific hazards.
- › All personnel in the vicinity of operating plant must wear minimum class 2 hi-vis vests or jackets at all times.
Slips, trips and falls — uneven surfaces
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Maintain clear pedestrian access routes around the work area. Remove offcuts, packaging and debris regularly. Stage materials to minimise clutter in the working zone.
- › At end of each shift, protect exposed edges of laid paving and any level changes with temporary boards, barriers or cones to warn of trip hazards for site traffic.
- › All operatives to wear safety boots with steel toecap, midsole protection and slip-resistant sole rated SRC.
Cement and mortar skin contact
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Specify and procure cement products with reduced chromate content (≤2 ppm soluble Cr(VI)) to reduce dermatitis risk at source.
- › Obtain and review Safety Data Sheets for all cement and mortar products. Complete site COSHH assessment prior to use. Brief operatives on hazards and controls.
- › Apply barrier cream before work. Wear nitrile or neoprene chemical-resistant gloves rated for alkaline substances. Wash hands and exposed skin with pH-neutral soap and water before breaks and after work. Avoid prolonged kneeling in wet mortar.
Public interface — pedestrians and vehicles
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Erect physical barriers (Heras fencing, pedestrian barriers or cones) around the entire working area to exclude the public. Install clearly visible warning signage.
- › Where public footway is obstructed, provide and sign a safe, level alternative route clear of the works. Inspect at start and end of each shift.
- › Where works adjoin a carriageway or access road, implement a suitable traffic management scheme (stop/go boards, cones, signing) in accordance with Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual. Obtain any required licences.
PPE
- ✓ Safety footwear (EN ISO 20345)
- ✓ Hi-vis clothing
- ✓ Safety gloves (task-appropriate)
- ✓ Hard hat (EN 397) where overhead risk or site rules require
- ✓ RPE per the COSHH assessment
- ✓ Chemical-resistant gloves
- ✓ Hearing protection (to the assessed SNR)
Competence
- ✓ NRSWA operative and supervisor accreditation for any work in or on the highway
- ✓ 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
- › Excavator and dumper as specified
- › Trench support system (boxes, sheets, props)
- › CAT and Genny (service avoidance)
- › Ladder access for excavations
- › Gas detector for confined areas
Permits & legislation
What principal contractors usually check
- ✓ Service avoidance: drawings reviewed, CAT/Genny sweep, permit to dig
- ✓ Excavation support method and inspection regime
- ✓ Plant/pedestrian segregation around the dig
- ✓ 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 block paving & flag laying 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 block paving & flag laying, 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 block paving & flag laying?
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 are the main ones, alongside PUWER 1998 — Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, reg 3 — risk assessment, Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, section 3. 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.