When this template fits
This RAMS is for UK contractors and fencing teams carrying out fence post setting & concreting — 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 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
Bore or dig post holes, set posts and place concrete/postcrete — buried-service strike, cement and power-tool risk.
Sequence of works
- 1PLAN & SURVEY: Obtain utility records and conduct a CAT and Genny scan of the full fence line. Mark all service routes clearly on the ground with spray paint or flags. Brief all operatives on findings before work starts.
- 2ESTABLISH EXCLUSION ZONE: Erect physical barriers to segregate the working area from public access, other trades and site traffic. Display appropriate warning signage.
- 3SET OUT FENCE LINE: Mark post positions using string line, pegs and measuring tape. Confirm each marked position is clear of identified services before boring is approved — revisit with CAT if in doubt.
- 4BORE / DIG POST HOLES: Using the selected tool (machine auger preferred; handheld auger as two-person operation with trained operatives), bore to required depth. Within 500 mm of any service, hand-dig only. Deposit spoil at least 1 m behind the operative.
- 5CHECK HOLES AND GUARD OPEN EXCAVATIONS: Inspect each hole for ground stability, depth and diameter. Immediately cover or cone off any hole not being actively worked.
- 6PREPARE CONCRETE / POSTCRETE: Open bags at low level, minimise dust. Add water to hole before adding dry product where Postcrete method is used. Wear nitrile gloves, eye protection and FFP2 respirator. Do not allow wet cement contact with bare skin.
- 7SET POSTS: Use a post guide or alignment frame to position posts vertically (check with spirit level). Lower posts without inserting hands inside the hole. Ensure post is correctly aligned and braced before placing concrete.
- 8PLACE CONCRETE: Pour and tamp concrete / allow Postcrete to set per manufacturer guidance. Clean up any wet concrete spillage immediately to prevent slip hazard and skin-contact risk.
- 9CURE AND BACKFILL: Allow concrete to achieve adequate initial set before releasing post bracing (follow product data sheet). Backfill any excess void with excavated spoil and compact.
- 10CLEAR UP AND INSPECT: Remove all tools, barriers and waste. Inspect completed post line for vertical alignment and ground-level hazards. Dispose of cement bags as waste in line with site waste management plan.
Hazards, risk rating & controls
Risk = likelihood × severity (1–25). Initial is before controls; residual is with controls applied.
Underground services strike
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Obtain up-to-date utility drawings (CAT scan, GPR survey or dial-before-you-dig records) for the entire boundary line before any ground disturbance. Mark confirmed service routes on the ground.
- › Use a calibrated cable avoidance tool (CAT) with signal generator (Genny) along the full fence line immediately prior to boring or digging. Operator must be competent and trained.
- › Within 500 mm of any identified or suspected service, expose by careful hand excavation only — no mechanical augering or digging tools.
- › Operatives to wear insulating gloves and use insulated hand tools when working within the exclusion zone of a confirmed electrical service.
Cement dermatitis and chemical burns
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Complete a written COSHH assessment referencing the product SDS before use, identifying exposure routes and required controls.
- › Use long-handled tools (spades, mixing paddles on cordless drill) and purpose-made Postcrete-style bag-pour products to reduce direct handling of wet mix.
- › Apply barrier cream before work. Wear EN 374-rated nitrile or neoprene gloves (not thin latex). Change and inspect gloves regularly; remove immediately if cement enters the glove.
Cement dust inhalation
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Prefer pre-bagged rapid-set products (e.g. Postcrete) poured directly into the hole with minimal mixing, or ready-mixed concrete delivered by truck to reduce dry-mixing dust generation.
- › Open bags at low level, keep product in the bag as long as possible, and pour water into the hole before adding dry product to suppress dust cloud at point of generation.
- › Wear a minimum FFP2 (EN 149) disposable respirator when dust is unavoidable (e.g. in windy conditions or confined areas). Face-fit check required.
Power-tool vibration (HAVS)
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Select low-vibration machines for the task (e.g. tractor-mounted auger or machine-bored holes rather than handheld petrol auger where ground conditions and logistics allow).
- › Calculate daily vibration exposure (A(8)) using tool manufacturer trigger values. Rotate operatives to keep individual exposure below the 2.5 m/s² EAV; do not exceed the 5 m/s² ELV. Record exposures.
- › Where residual vibration exposure is significant, provide EN ISO 10819-rated anti-vibration gloves. Note: gloves are a supplementary measure only and do not replace exposure time control.
Manual handling — post and concrete bags
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Use a post-hole borer with integrated post-driving attachment, or a machine with forks/slings, to position heavy posts mechanically. For concrete bags, use a hand truck or sack barrow.
- › Specify 10–20 kg Postcrete bags rather than 25 kg bulk cement where practicable to reduce individual lift weight.
- › Brief all operatives on safe manual-handling technique (bent knees, straight back, close to body). Two-person or team lift for posts over 25 kg. Avoid twisting when placing posts.
Unstable open excavation / trench collapse
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Assess ground conditions prior to boring; identify made ground, soft spots or waterlogged areas. Adjust post-hole diameter and depth methods accordingly.
- › Do not leave post holes open and unattended. Where a hole must remain open temporarily, cover with a board, cone-off or use an edge guard plate to prevent foot/trip access.
- › Use post-placement guides or locating frames rather than inserting hands or feet into the hole to steady posts during concrete placement.
Slips, trips and falls on site
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Barrier off the active fence-line work zone with cones, bunting or Heras fencing to prevent unauthorised access by other trades and the public.
- › Deposit excavated spoil at least 1 m from hole edges and behind the operative. Remove excess concrete splashes promptly. Keep power-tool cables routed away from walking lines.
- › Wear steel-toe-capped, mid-sole-protection, slip-resistant safety boots (ISO 20345 S1P or S3 in wet/muddy conditions).
Power-tool kickback and entanglement — auger
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Where ground conditions allow, use a tractor-mounted or mini-digger-mounted auger rather than a handheld two-man auger to eliminate kickback injury risk to operatives.
- › Confirm no tree roots, large stones or reinforced ground in bore path before starting. Both operators must be trained in the specific machine, understand emergency stop position, and wear no loose clothing.
- › Wear close-fitting, anti-vibration grip gloves. No loose sleeves, cords or jewellery near rotating auger flight.
Public and third-party interface
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Erect barrier fencing, hoarding or cones and warning tape to create a minimum 2 m exclusion zone on the public side of the works before any ground disturbance.
- › Notify adjacent landowners and local authority (where applicable) of works. Display clear 'Construction Works — Keep Out' signage at all access points to the exclusion zone.
- › Appoint a trained banksman to manage plant movements and warn operatives when pedestrians or vehicles are in proximity, particularly during augering and post delivery.
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 accreditation for any work in or on the highway; CAT & Genny competence for buried-service detection (HSG47)
- ✓ 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 fence post setting & concreting 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 fence post setting & concreting, 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 fence post setting & concreting?
Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 are the main ones, alongside Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, HSE HSG47 — Avoiding danger from underground services, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, reg 3 — risk assessment, PUWER 1998 — Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations, 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.