When this template fits
This RAMS is for UK contractors and bricklaying teams carrying out breaking out brickwork — 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
- ✓ 8 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
Break out brick/blockwork with breakers — HAVS, dust and falling material.
Sequence of works
- 1Pre-task: Obtain and review the R&D asbestos survey report. Confirm all identified ACMs have been removed or encapsulated by a licensed contractor before proceeding.
- 2Services isolation: Locate all electrical cables, gas and water services using CAT/genny and drawings. Obtain signed isolation certificates confirming all services in the work area are made safe and dead.
- 3Structural assessment: A competent person reviews the wall or structure for load-bearing capacity. Install propping or shoring as required. Agree the sequence of break-out to maintain structural stability throughout.
- 4Set up exclusion zones: Erect physical barriers and signage below and around the break-out area. Designate the Hearing Protection Zone and dust exclusion area. Brief all site personnel on restricted access.
- 5Tool and dust suppression check: Inspect breakers for condition; confirm HAV data and vibration exposure plan. Set up on-tool LEV extraction or water suppression lance before starting. Check H-class vacuum is serviceable.
- 6Toolbox talk: Brief all operatives on hazards (HAVS, silica dust, falling debris, hidden services, asbestos stop-work procedure), daily vibration exposure limits, job rotation plan, and emergency arrangements.
- 7Break-out operations: Commence breaking with dust/vibration controls fully active. Rotate operatives per the HAV exposure plan. Supervisor monitors dust controls, noise levels and structural condition throughout.
- 8Debris management: Remove rubble continuously using barrows, skips or conveyors. Keep working area clear. Do not overload skips or floor areas. Dampen debris before moving to suppress residual dust.
- 9End-of-shift checks: Stop breaking, damp down residual dust, remove and bag debris to waste skip. Inspect exposed structure for signs of unexpected movement or ACM-like materials. Report any concerns before leaving site.
- 10Post-task decontamination: Operatives must remove and clean PPE, wash hands and face before eating or leaving site. Contaminated disposable RPE to be bagged and disposed of as controlled waste if silica/dust contaminated.
Hazards, risk rating & controls
Risk = likelihood × severity (1–25). Initial is before controls; residual is with controls applied.
Hand-arm vibration (HAV)
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Plan work to keep tool usage within the HSE Exposure Action Value (EAV: 2.5 m/s² A(8)) using a HAV exposure calculator. Rotate operatives to spread exposure.
- › Provide anti-vibration gloves (EN ISO 10819) as a supplementary measure where exposure cannot be reduced sufficiently by other means.
- › Select breakers with the lowest published vibration magnitude that is still effective for the task (e.g. anti-vibration handle designs). Compare manufacturer HAV data before specifying equipment.
- › Implement structured job rotation so no operative exceeds EAV without further controls. Maintain a daily HAV exposure log.
Noise-induced hearing loss
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Erect acoustic screens or carry out noisy cutting operations in a designated cutting area away from other trades to reduce noise spread.
- › Carry out a noise assessment prior to work. Designate a Hearing Protection Zone where noise exceeds 85 dB(A) LEP,d and erect mandatory signage.
- › Rotate operatives and schedule noisy work to limit individual daily noise exposure. Avoid simultaneous noisy operations in confined areas.
- › Provide suitable hearing protection with adequate SNR to bring exposure below 85 dB(A) at the ear. Ensure correct fit and enforce use within the HPZ.
Silica dust inhalation
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Where dust suppression and extraction cannot reduce exposure below the WEL for RCS (0.1 mg/m³ 8h TWA per EH40), wear a tight-fitting FFP3 disposable or half-mask respirator with P3 filter. RPE must be face-fit tested.
- › Apply water to tile surfaces before and during removal to suppress dust at source. Use wet-method tools where practicable.
- › Attach H-class vacuum extraction (LEV) directly to the breaker or use a shrouded chisel to capture dust at the point of generation.
- › Erect dust exclusion screens and restrict access to the break-out zone to minimise the number of workers exposed to airborne dust.
Falling masonry and debris
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › A competent person (e.g. structural engineer or experienced demolition supervisor) must assess whether the wall or structure is load-bearing before any breaking commences. Propping or shoring to be installed where required.
- › Establish a clearly barricaded exclusion zone below and to the sides of the work area to prevent persons being struck by falling debris.
- › Remove debris in manageable quantities using appropriate lifting aids or skips. Do not allow debris to accumulate to a depth that could collapse or cause trips.
- › All persons in the break-out area must wear a hard hat (EN 397) and steel-toecap boots with midsole protection (S3 minimum) at all times.
Manual handling — heavy debris
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Use skips, barrows, pallet trucks or mini-conveyor chutes to move debris mechanically rather than by manual lifting wherever site layout permits.
- › Break masonry to pieces no heavier than 25 kg before manual handling. Use team lifts for irregular or heavier items.
- › Ensure all operatives have received manual handling training. Brief correct lifting technique at toolbox talk before task commences.
- › Provide appropriate gloves with grip and cut resistance (EN 388) to protect hands during debris handling. Anti-fatigue matting in sorting areas where operatives stand for prolonged periods.
Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs)
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › A Refurbishment and Demolition (R&D) asbestos survey by a UKAS-accredited surveyor must be completed before any break-out begins. Do not proceed until survey results are reviewed.
- › Where ACMs are identified, engage a licensed asbestos removal contractor (HSE licensed) to remove or encapsulate prior to general break-out work.
- › All operatives must be briefed to stop work immediately and report to the supervisor if unexpected material resembling ACMs is encountered during break-out.
Contact with buried or concealed services
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Obtain and review as-built drawings. Use a cable avoidance tool (CAT) and genny to locate services. Isolate, cap off and confirm dead all services within the work area before break-out.
- › Issue a formal isolation certificate confirming electrical, gas and water services are made safe. Keep on site during works.
- › Where residual risk of live services cannot be fully excluded, operatives must use insulated gloves and tools rated for the voltage present.
Slips and trips on debris
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Designate a debris clearance operative to remove rubble regularly throughout the task. Do not allow debris to accumulate to more than ankle height in the working area.
- › Mark and keep clear pedestrian walkways through the work area with barriers and lighting. Segregate plant movement routes from foot traffic.
- › Operatives must wear safety boots (S3 minimum, EN ISO 20345) with ankle support and slip-resistant soles suitable for rubble-strewn surfaces.
PPE
- ✓ Safety footwear (EN ISO 20345)
- ✓ Hi-vis clothing
- ✓ Safety gloves (task-appropriate)
- ✓ Hard hat (EN 397) where overhead risk or site rules require
- ✓ Hearing protection (to the assessed SNR)
- ✓ RPE (FFP3 or as risk-assessed) with face-fit
- ✓ Disposable RPE (FFP3)
- ✓ Disposable coveralls (Type 5)
- ✓ Insulated gloves where live work is unavoidable
Competence
- ✓ 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 breaking out brickwork 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 breaking out brickwork, 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 breaking out brickwork?
Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), 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 Asbestos Regulations 2012, Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and CDM 2015 apply to all construction work.
Does a method statement 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.