When this template fits
This RAMS is for UK contractors and groundworks teams carrying out slab pour & power float — typically because a principal contractor or client has asked for a risk assessment and method statement before work can start. It covers the recognised trades & finishing 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
Pour and power-float concrete slabs.
Sequence of works
- 1Pre-task briefing and COSHH / manual handling / HAV / noise toolbox talk: brief all operatives on hazards, controls, PPE requirements, exclusion zones, emergency procedures, and locations of eyewash and first aid.
- 2Inspect and set up site: confirm slab area is clear of tripping hazards and unauthorised persons; install barriers/exclusion zone signage; confirm adequate lighting; lay staging boards for access routes around the pour.
- 3Set up and inspect concrete pump: position pump on firm level ground; deploy outriggers with banksman supervision; inspect all pipework, couplings, and hoses; confirm trained operator and safe blockage procedure understood by crew.
- 4Commence concrete pour: operator controls pump rate to minimise splash; operatives using rakes and long-handled tools to spread and compact concrete; maintain exclusion zone; all operatives wearing full PPE including goggles and waterproof gloves.
- 5Level and tamp/screed: use screed rails and long-handled tamping beams to bring concrete to correct level; avoid prolonged kneeling on wet concrete; use waterproof knee pads if kneeling is unavoidable.
- 6First pass with power float (when surface has taken enough to support the machine): trained operator only; exclusion zone enforced; dead-man control and blade guards confirmed operational; pedestrian float operators to wear anti-vibration gloves; restrict daily exposure time to manage HAV and noise.
- 7Subsequent power float finishing passes: continue until specified surface finish is achieved; monitor operative exposure times for vibration and noise; rotate operators as required; maintain exclusion zone throughout.
- 8Post-pour clean-down: wash down tools, hoses, and pump with water before concrete sets; dispose of washings in accordance with site waste management plan (concrete washings are a pollutant); operatives to wash exposed skin with pH-neutral cleanser and inspect for chemical burns.
- 9Curing and protection: apply curing compound or polythene sheeting as specified; erect barriers around fresh slab to prevent pedestrian access until concrete reaches adequate strength; display 'wet concrete' warning signs.
- 10Post-task review: supervisor to check all PPE, plant, and tools returned or stored; record any near-misses, first aid treatments, or RIDDOR-reportable incidents; review task for continuous improvement.
Hazards, risk rating & controls
Risk = likelihood × severity (1–25). Initial is before controls; residual is with controls applied.
Skin contact with wet concrete (chemical burns)
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Plan pour sequence and tool use to minimise hand and skin contact with wet concrete. Use long-handled tools (rakes, floats, tampers) wherever practicable.
- › Conduct and brief workers on a COSHH assessment identifying hazards from wet concrete, including chromate dermatitis. Low-chromate cement should be used where available.
- › Workers to apply barrier cream before work; wear waterproof gloves (nitrile or rubber), waterproof boots, and knee pads (waterproof) when kneeling on wet concrete.
- › Provide running water, pH-neutral skin cleanser, and disposable paper towels. Operatives to wash exposed skin immediately after contact and at end of shift. Report any redness or irritation.
Inhalation of cement dust
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Specify and use ready-mixed (truck-delivered) concrete to eliminate on-site dry cement handling and mixing dust generation.
- › Identify whether aggregate or cement contains crystalline silica; ensure WEL for respirable crystalline silica (0.1 mg/m³ TWA) is not exceeded.
- › Where dust suppression is insufficient, provide and wear FFP3 disposable or half-mask respirator during dry cement handling or dusty surface grinding/finishing operations.
Manual handling injury
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Ensure all operatives have received manual handling training covering safe lifting technique, load assessment, and recognition of when mechanical aids must be used.
- › Use concrete pump, conveyor, or kibble to move concrete to the pour point. Deliver bagged materials close to point of use using telehandler or pallet truck.
- › Conduct manual handling assessment for all lifts above 10 kg. Use two-person lifts for bags and heavy hoses. Rotate tasks to limit cumulative exposure.
Contact with power float machinery
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Ensure power floats are fitted with effective blade guards and operational dead-man (auto-stop) handle switches before use. Inspect before each shift.
- › Establish a clearly marked exclusion zone around operating power floats. Only the trained operator is permitted within the zone. Barriers or banksman to be used for ride-on machines.
- › Only trained and competent operatives to operate power floats. Operators of ride-on machines should hold relevant CPCS/NPORS or equivalent card.
- › Operators must wear close-fitting clothing; no loose items. Steel-toecap boots with slip-resistant soles to be worn at all times.
Slips on wet/slippery concrete surface
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Lay staging boards or walkways at the pour perimeter to provide stable access. Define a single entry/exit point. Keep hoses and cables bundled and routed clear of walkways.
- › Remove surplus concrete, spillages, and trip hazards promptly. Ensure adequate lighting if working near dusk or in reduced visibility.
- › All operatives working on or around the pour to wear slip-resistant, waterproof safety boots with steel toecaps.
Noise exposure from power float
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Where practicable, specify battery-electric power floats in preference to petrol-engine equivalents to reduce noise at source.
- › Conduct noise risk assessment based on manufacturer's stated noise levels and expected daily exposure duration. Identify whether upper (85 dB) or lower (80 dB) action values are exceeded.
- › Provide and enforce use of hearing protection (minimum SNR 25 dB ear defenders or plugs) where 85 dB(A) action value is reached. Rotate operators to limit daily exposure duration.
Hand-arm vibration (power float)
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Substitute pedestrian power float with ride-on model for large slab areas to eliminate hand-arm vibration exposure for the operator.
- › Calculate daily vibration exposure using manufacturer's vibration data (m/s²). Ensure exposure action value (2.5 m/s² A(8)) is not regularly exceeded; do not exceed 5 m/s² ELV. Rotate tasks to limit exposure.
- › Provide anti-vibration gloves as a supplementary measure (not sole control). Enrol regular users in health surveillance programme for early detection of HAVS symptoms.
Concrete pump and hose pressure hazards
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Inspect pump, pipes, couplings, and hoses before each use. Check for wear, damage, and secure connections. Do not use defective equipment.
- › Only trained operators (CPCS/NPORS or equivalent) to operate concrete pumps. Banksman to supervise outrigger deployment and exclusion of others during set-up.
- › Written safe system of work for clearing blockages must be in place, including depressurising the line before any attempt to clear. Never direct hose end at persons.
Eye injury from concrete splash
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Control the rate of pour and pump speed to minimise splash. Use chutes or tremie pipes to direct concrete without free-fall where possible.
- › All operatives working within the pour and floating area to wear chemical splash-resistant safety goggles (not spectacles) during concrete pouring and finishing.
- › Sterile eyewash stations (minimum 500 ml sterile saline) to be sited immediately adjacent to the pour area. Location communicated in toolbox talk.
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
- ✓ RPE (FFP3 or as risk-assessed) with face-fit
- ✓ Hearing protection (to the assessed SNR)
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 and power tools appropriate to the trade
- › 110V or battery power supplies
- › Dust extraction for cutting and sanding
- › Mixing equipment with splash protection
- › Access steps or podiums
Permits & legislation
What principal contractors usually check
- ✓ Dust controls for cutting and sanding
- ✓ Coordination with other trades in the same area
- ✓ COSHH for adhesives, paints and solvents
- ✓ 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 slab pour & power float 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 slab pour & power float, 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 slab pour & power float?
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, PUWER 1998 — Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations are the main ones, alongside Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, reg 3 — risk assessment, Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005. 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.