When this template fits
This RAMS is for UK contractors and groundworks teams carrying out breaking out (concrete & road) — 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
- ✓ 9 task-specific hazards scored on a 5×5 matrix (initial → residual)
- ✓ Specific control measures for each hazard, in hierarchy-of-control order
- ✓ A 8-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 concrete and road surfaces with breakers — HAVS, dust and services.
Sequence of works
- 1PLANNING & PERMITS: Obtain utility records (LSBUD / Dial Before You Dig), review drawings, scan with CAT & Genny, mark services and issue a signed Permit to Break/Dig before mobilising any breaking equipment.
- 2TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT & EXCLUSION ZONES: Erect the approved Chapter 8 traffic management scheme, install pedestrian diversions, solid hoarding and debris netting, and establish the hearing protection and dust exclusion zones with appropriate signage.
- 3PLANT & TOOL SELECTION: Select the lowest-vibration, lowest-noise breaking method for the task (preference: plant-mounted hydraulic breaker > pedestrian robotic breaker > hand-held electric breaker). Inspect tooling for damage and confirm HAV trigger-time limits for the shift.
- 4PRE-START CHECKS: Brief all operatives on the RAMS, confirm PPE is worn and correctly fitted (including fit-tested RPE), confirm water-suppression or LEV is operational, and verify a banksman/marshal is in position.
- 5HAND-DIG TRIAL HOLES: Hand-excavate trial holes within the marked service corridor to confirm depth and position of all identified utilities before mechanical breaking begins in that area.
- 6BREAKING OPERATIONS: Commence breaking, maintaining wet suppression or LEV at all times. Operators rotate at intervals not exceeding 1 hour to manage HAV and WBV exposure. Banksman maintains exclusion zone integrity throughout.
- 7PROGRESSIVE CLEARANCE: Remove broken material to a designated skip or stockpile at regular intervals; keep access routes clear of rubble and rebar. Do not allow material to encroach on live traffic lanes or pedestrian diversions.
- 8END-OF-SHIFT MAKE SAFE: Barrier off all open break-out areas with hard barriers; install edge protection at any open excavation or drop. Isolate and secure plant. Reinstate or maintain traffic management signage for overnight.
Hazards, risk rating & controls
Risk = likelihood × severity (1–25). Initial is before controls; residual is with controls applied.
Hand-arm vibration
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Where residual risk remains, provide ISO 10819-compliant anti-vibration gloves; note these provide limited benefit and do not replace exposure reduction.
- › Select breakers with the lowest vibration emission value (m/s²) suitable for the task; consider hydraulic attachments on plant rather than hand-held breakers where feasible.
- › Calculate daily vibration exposure (EAV 2.5 m/s², ELV 5 m/s²) using manufacturer data and HAV ready-reckoner. Implement trigger-time controls and job rotation to keep exposure below ELV.
- › Enrol all operators in a formal HAVS health surveillance programme with baseline and periodic medical questionnaires administered by a competent occupational health provider.
Noise exposure
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Designate hearing protection zones around the excavator where noise levels exceed the upper exposure action value (85 dB(A)). Post mandatory hearing protection signage at zone boundaries.
- › Use excavator-mounted hydraulic breaker or robotic breaker to remove operator from the noise source wherever ground conditions allow.
- › Erect temporary acoustic hoarding or barrier panels around the work area to reduce noise propagation to adjacent workers and the public.
- › Provide SNR-rated ear defenders (minimum SNR 30 dB) or combined ear defender/hard hat for all persons entering the HPZ.
Silica dust inhalation
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Where wet cutting is not practicable, use angle grinders or grinders fitted with H-class vacuum LEV attachment to capture dust at point of generation.
- › Fit breaker with an integrated water-feed/misting attachment to wet the break point continuously and suppress dust at source.
- › Establish a minimum 3 m exclusion zone downwind of breaking activity; monitor wind direction and reposition or suspend work if dust drifts toward workers or the public.
- › Issue FFP3-rated disposable or half-mask respirator (fit-tested) as a last line of defence for the operator and anyone within the exclusion zone.
Underground services strike
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Obtain all utility records (LSBUD / Dial Before You Dig), review as-built drawings and scan the area with a calibrated cable avoidance tool (CAT) and signal generator before any breaking commences. Mark all identified services with paint or pins.
- › Excavate trial holes by hand within the service avoidance zone to confirm service position and depth before mechanical breaking.
- › Issue a formal written permit to break/dig, countersigned by the site supervisor, confirming services have been located and safe working distances established.
Flying debris and projectiles
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Erect rigid debris netting, hoarding or temporary Armco barriers to contain projectiles and prevent entry of unauthorised persons within a minimum 3 m radius of breaking.
- › Provide operator and any persons within the exclusion zone with EN 166-rated safety spectacles plus a full-face visor for the operator.
- › Check breaker chisels for mushroomed heads, cracks or wear before use; replace damaged tooling immediately to prevent unexpected fragmentation.
Manual handling — heavy breaker operation
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Eliminate hand-held manual handling risk entirely by using an excavator-mounted or remote-controlled hydraulic breaker wherever ground and site access conditions allow.
- › Use a wheeled or trolley-mounted electric breaker (e.g. Husqvarna DXR or equivalent floor saw/mounted unit) to reduce operator load and awkward postures on large flat areas.
- › Rotate operators at maximum 1-hour intervals on hand-held breakers and ensure mandatory rest periods are enforced; document rotation in the daily site diary.
Public interface — highway and pedestrian safety
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Implement a Chapter 8 (or equivalent) traffic management scheme designed by a competent person, including lane closures, signing, lighting and guarding appropriate to the road classification and speed limit.
- › Provide a safe, clearly signed pedestrian diversion route with dropped kerbs and tactile surfaces; erect solid hoarding to separate the public from the work area.
- › Deploy a trained and visible banksman or traffic marshal to manage vehicle and pedestrian movements at all times while breaking is in progress.
Whole-body vibration from plant
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Specify machines with manufacturer-stated low WBV emission values and fitted with suspension seats; verify seat maintenance records.
- › Calculate operator daily WBV exposure against the EAV (0.5 m/s² A(8)) and ELV (1.15 m/s² A(8)); rotate plant operators to keep exposure below ELV.
Slips, trips and falls on broken ground
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Clear broken material to a designated stockpile or skip at regular intervals during the work; do not allow rubble to accumulate across access routes.
- › Barrier off all open break-out areas with visible hard barriers and warning tape when unattended; install edge protection at any drop exceeding 2 m.
- › All workers in the break-out zone to wear safety boots rated to EN ISO 20345 with steel midsole (puncture resistance P) to protect against rebar and sharp aggregate.
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
- ✓ Insulated gloves where live work is unavoidable
Competence
- ✓ Excavation and plant 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
- › 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 breaking out (concrete & road) 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 (concrete & road), 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 (concrete & road)?
Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), HSE HSG47 — Avoiding danger from underground services are the main ones, alongside PUWER 1998 — Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations, Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, section 3, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, reg 3 — risk assessment. 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.