When this template fits
This RAMS is for UK contractors and glazing teams carrying out curtain walling — typically because a principal contractor or client has asked for a risk assessment and method statement before work can start. It covers the recognised fit-out & interiors 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
Install curtain walling and structural glazing at height.
Sequence of works
- 1Pre-start: Carry out a site-specific RAMS briefing with all operatives. Confirm access equipment (scaffold/MEWP) has been inspected, LOLER/PUWER checks are current, and exclusion zones are in place. Review services survey drawings and CAT scan results for all drilling locations.
- 2Establish and maintain segregation: Erect hoarding or barriers to separate the works area from occupied building areas and public routes. Position signage and appoint a banksman/safety watcher during lifting operations.
- 3Access equipment setup: Erect or position access platform (scaffold, MEWP or suspended access platform) as per the access plan. Confirm guardrails, toe boards and debris netting are fitted. Check MEWP operator IPAF certification.
- 4Install curtain wall anchors and brackets: Using CAT-scanned and confirmed clear drilling locations, drill and fix anchor brackets to structural slab or facade. Use 110V or battery tools. Apply permit to work if electrical isolation is required.
- 5Lift and position frame sections: Execute the formal lift plan. Appointed Person supervises all crane or vacuum-lifter operations. Exclusion zone maintained throughout. Frame sections rigged, lifted and temporarily secured to anchor brackets.
- 6Fix and align aluminium framing system: Operatives on access platform align and permanently fix frame sections to tolerance. Use tool lanyards for all hand tools. Ensure no unsecured components are left on the platform.
- 7Install glazing units: Using vacuum lifting equipment or a team lift (as per manual handling assessment), position glass units into the curtain wall frame. Operatives wear cut-resistant gloves and eye protection throughout. Do not use damaged glass units.
- 8Apply structural sealants and weather seals: Complete COSHH assessment before use. Ensure adequate ventilation. Apply silicone or polyurethane sealant per manufacturer instructions wearing appropriate chemical-resistant gloves and RPE.
- 9Inspect and clean up: Inspect completed installation for defects, unseated gaskets or sealant voids. Clear all waste, offcuts and packaging from platforms and floor areas. Remove temporary protection and document completion.
- 10Final sign-off and scaffold/MEWP stand-down: Confirm all glazing units are permanently secured before removing access equipment. Scaffold inspection record to be updated. Exclusion zones removed only once works area is made safe.
Hazards, risk rating & controls
Risk = likelihood × severity (1–25). Initial is before controls; residual is with controls applied.
Fall from height
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Consider whether the task can be completed from ground level using tools with extended reaches, eliminating the need for a ladder entirely.
- › Where collective protection cannot be provided (e.g. during initial erection or final strike phase), operatives must use a full-body harness with energy-absorbing lanyard attached to a suitable anchor point.
- › Erect and maintain scaffold with double guardrails (top rail min 950mm, mid rail, toe boards) or use fully boarded MEWP platforms as the primary means of collective fall protection for all work at height operations.
- › Select appropriate access equipment (scaffold, MEWP, suspended access platform) via a formal selection process. Inspect before each use. Ensure MEWP operators hold relevant IPAF licence (3a/3b).
Falling objects
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Install toe boards (min 150 mm high) at all platform edges and fit debris/safety netting below the working area to arrest falling objects before they reach lower levels.
- › Establish and maintain a clearly signed and physical-barrier exclusion zone beneath the curtain walling installation area. Size zone based on drop height and arc of fall.
- › All hand tools to be fitted with tool lanyards or stored in secured tool bags. Panels and frames must be secured or properly rested before operative releases grip.
Manual handling — glass panels and frames
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Use vacuum lifting equipment, glass trolleys, telehandlers or purpose-designed glazing cranes to move and position large glass units and frame sections, eliminating manual carrying where feasible.
- › Carry out a specific manual handling risk assessment for each handling task. Use team lifts for items that cannot be mechanically handled. Provide operative training in safe handling techniques for glass.
- › Operatives must wear cut-resistant gloves (EN 388) when manually handling glass units or sharp aluminium extrusions.
Crane and lifting operations — panel installation
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Prepare a written lift plan for all crane lifts involving curtain wall panels. Appoint a competent Appointed Person (AP) to plan and supervise lifts. All lifting accessories (slings, vacuum pads) must be thoroughly examined and within thorough examination date.
- › Establish a no-go zone around the lift path and landing area. Banksman to control access. Communicate lift schedule to all site personnel.
- › Ensure all plant (crane, telehandler, MEWP) holds current LOLER thorough examination certificate. Operators must hold relevant CPCS or IPAF cards. Lifting accessories to be inspected before each use.
Glass breakage and laceration
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Specify toughened or laminated safety glass in accordance with design requirements; this reduces the severity of breakage injuries compared to annealed glass.
- › Store glass panels on purpose-made A-frames at controlled angles. Transport in padded cradles. Inspect for damage before installation. Do not use cracked or chipped units.
- › Operatives to wear safety glasses or goggles (EN 166) and cut-resistant gloves (EN 388 Level C minimum) whenever handling, cutting or installing glazing.
Structural glazing sealant — COSHH exposure
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Where technically suitable, specify sealants with lower VOC content and no isocyanate components to reduce health risk.
- › Ensure natural or mechanical ventilation in the work area during application of sealants and primers. Monitor air quality if working in enclosed or semi-enclosed areas.
- › Complete a COSHH assessment for each product used. Review manufacturer Safety Data Sheets. Brief operatives on hazards before use.
- › Wear nitrile or chemically resistant gloves and, where ventilation is insufficient, appropriate RPE (half-face mask with A2P3 filter minimum) when applying sealants or primers.
Slips, trips and falls at same level
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Maintain designated areas for offcuts and packaging. Clear waste from working platforms and floor areas at regular intervals throughout the day. Do not allow materials to accumulate in access routes.
- › Ensure scaffold boards are close-boarded, clean and free from contamination. Use anti-slip matting in wet or highly contaminated areas.
- › All operatives to wear safety boots with steel toecap and midsole (S3 rated) with slip-resistant soles.
Contact with electrical services
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Obtain structural and services drawings before commencing any drilling or fixing. Use a cable avoidance tool (CAT) to scan for concealed electrical cables before drilling anchor points.
- › Where electrical services cannot be confirmed absent or re-routed, obtain a formal permit to work and arrange isolation of identified circuits by a competent electrician before drilling commences.
- › Use 110V centre-tapped-to-earth or battery-powered drills and tools to reduce electrocution severity if contact with a live cable occurs.
Public interface — falling material and access
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Erect hoarding, barriers or demarcation to fully segregate the glazing installation area from occupied building areas and public thoroughfares before work commences.
- › Schedule crane lifts and the installation of large glazing panels outside of building occupancy or peak pedestrian hours where the risk to the public cannot be eliminated by segregation alone.
- › Provide clear signage at all access points to the exclusion zone. Notify building management and occupants of work programme, noisy activities and restrictions on access.
PPE
- ✓ Safety footwear (EN ISO 20345)
- ✓ Hi-vis clothing
- ✓ Safety gloves (task-appropriate)
- ✓ Hard hat (EN 397) where overhead risk or site rules require
- ✓ Safety harness and lanyard where fall arrest is the selected control
- ✓ RPE per the COSHH assessment
- ✓ Chemical-resistant gloves
- ✓ 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
- › Track/stud and board-lifting aids
- › Cutting station with on-tool (M-class) extraction
- › Laser level and access podiums
- › Glass suckers / manual-handling aids
- › Dust sheeting and segregation screens
Permits & legislation
What principal contractors usually check
- ✓ Dust control (on-tool extraction) for cutting board and tiles
- ✓ Manual-handling controls for boards, glass and units
- ✓ Coordination with M&E and other trades sharing the area
- ✓ 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 curtain walling 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 curtain walling, 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 curtain walling?
Work at Height Regulations 2005, Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, LOLER 1998 — Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations are the main ones, alongside Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, reg 3 — risk assessment, Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, 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 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.