When this template fits
This RAMS is for UK contractors and fencing teams carrying out fencing installation — typically because a principal contractor or client has asked for a risk assessment and method statement before work can start. It covers the recognised site & general 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 9-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 close-board, panel, chain-link and mesh fencing including handling and fixing materials.
Sequence of works
- 1PLAN AND SURVEY: Obtain utility plans and carry out a full CAT and Genny scan of the installation line. Mark all underground services. Identify any licences required (e.g. highway licence). Brief all operatives on the RAMS.
- 2SITE SET-UP: Erect temporary exclusion barriers to segregate public and third parties from the working zone. Establish a designated material lay-down area. Check plant and tools for defects; remove any defective items from use.
- 3MARK OUT FENCE LINE: Mark post positions using string line and stakes in accordance with approved drawings. Confirm all positions are clear of services by hand trial holes before mechanical boring or driving commences.
- 4INSTALL POSTS: Drive or bore post holes using appropriate plant (auger or post knocker). Ensure exclusion zone is maintained around plant and a banksman is present. Set posts to correct depth and alignment; pack with concrete or post-mix as specified. Allow concrete to cure before loading.
- 5FIX ARRIS RAILS, GRAVEL BOARDS OR STRETCHER BARS: Attach horizontal members using specified fixings. Use a stable platform or podium steps for any fixing above 1.8 m. Two-person lift for heavy rails. Cap or fold all cut wire ends immediately.
- 6FIX PANELS, CLOSE-BOARDS, OR TENSION CHAIN-LINK/MESH: Attach fencing material to posts and rails. For close-board, nail or screw boards in sequence. For chain-link, tension between straining posts using a tension bar and wire stretcher. Keep bystanders clear during tensioning.
- 7FIT CAPPING, FIXINGS AND GATES: Install post caps, trellis, gate ironmongery and any privacy screens. Check all fixings are secure and no sharp ends are exposed. Remove all temporary alignment aids.
- 8SITE CLEAR AND INSPECT: Collect all offcuts, waste wire, nails and timber; dispose of treated-timber waste in accordance with COSHH and site waste management requirements. Remove temporary exclusion fencing only after permanent fencing is confirmed stable.
- 9FINAL CHECK: Walk the completed fence line, verifying post alignment, fixing integrity, absence of sharp protrusions and correct gate operation. Record and report any near-misses or incidents to supervisor.
Hazards, risk rating & controls
Risk = likelihood × severity (1–25). Initial is before controls; residual is with controls applied.
Manual handling injury
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Ensure all operatives have received manual handling training covering safe lifting technique, load assessment, and recognition of when mechanical aids must be used.
- › Use sack trucks, pallet trucks, or mini-hoists to move bulk bags and materials to the work area rather than manual carrying.
- › Two-person lifts for panels and long posts; break deliveries into manageable loads and position materials close to work area to minimise carry distance.
- › Wear cut-resistant gloves when handling timber, mesh or sharp metal fixings to protect hands.
Underground services strike
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Obtain up-to-date utility plans (e.g. from LSBUD/utility owners) for the site before any post driving or boring commences. Mark all services on the ground.
- › Use a calibrated CAT scanner and signal generator to locate and trace buried services before every post position is excavated or driven.
- › Excavate trial holes by hand to confirm service positions before using mechanical plant.
- › A competent person familiar with services identification must supervise ground-breaking operations.
Fall from height
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Where possible, pre-assemble fence sections at ground level before lifting into position to minimise time spent working at height.
- › Where work at height cannot be avoided, use podium steps or a low-level working platform with integral guardrails in preference to unsupported ladders.
- › Ladders permitted only for short-duration work of low risk; must be footed or secured, placed at 75° angle and inspected before use.
Slips, trips and falls on the same level
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Keep the working area clear of offcuts, waste timber, coils of wire and fixings. Designate a material lay-down area away from the working corridor.
- › Spoil from post holes must be placed clear of the working route; use spoil boards or bags to prevent spread.
- › Wear steel toe-capped, midsole-protected safety boots with slip-resistant soles on all ground conditions.
Noise and hand-arm vibration
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Specify modern, well-maintained machinery with manufacturer-quoted vibration and noise data; favour auger over percussive post driving where ground allows.
- › Rotate operative tasks to limit continuous exposure to noisy or vibrating tools; keep daily vibration exposure below EAV (2.5 m/s²) and action level noise below 80 dB(A) where reasonably practicable.
- › Provide and wear EN 352-compliant ear defenders or plugs rated to reduce exposure below 80 dB(A) at the ear when using noisy plant.
- › Provide anti-vibration gloves to operatives using percussive or rotating plant; note gloves are supplementary and do not replace exposure time controls.
Struck by plant
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Establish a clearly marked exclusion zone equal to the plant's maximum reach plus 1 m. No persons other than the operator to be within this zone during operation.
- › Appoint a trained banksman with a clear sightline to guide plant movements, particularly in restricted areas or near the public boundary.
- › Plant to be inspected by the operator before use using a daily checklist; any defects reported to supervisor before operation begins.
Public and third-party interface
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Erect temporary Heras fencing or hoarding to segregate the working area from public access routes before work begins.
- › Advise neighbouring occupiers and any relevant authority (e.g. highways) before commencing boundary works; obtain any necessary licences (e.g. scaffolding licence for highway).
- › Secure all posts, panels and tools at end of day and during breaks to prevent public interference and injury.
Laceration and puncture from sharp materials
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Where possible, cut panels and chain-link to required dimensions in a controlled area with appropriate guarding rather than in the trench or at final fix position.
- › Bend or cap all cut mesh and chain-link wire ends immediately after cutting to eliminate protrusion hazard.
- › Wear EN 388-rated cut-resistant gloves (minimum level C) when handling mesh, chain-link, timber offcuts and fixings.
Dust and splinters from timber cutting
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Specify materials cut to length from supplier to minimise on-site cutting and associated dust generation.
- › Attach dust extraction bag or vacuum unit to circular saws and drills when cutting treated timber on site.
- › Wear a minimum FFP2 dust mask when cutting, drilling or sanding treated timber; FFP3 where CCA-treated or creosote-treated material is confirmed.
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
- ✓ Hearing protection (to the assessed SNR)
- ✓ RPE (FFP3 or as risk-assessed) with face-fit
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
- › Welfare units and signage
- › Barriers, cones and pedestrian segregation
- › First-aid kits and eye-wash
- › Spill kits
- › Communication (radios / lone-worker device)
Permits & legislation
What principal contractors usually check
- ✓ Welfare provision matching CDM 2015 Schedule 2
- ✓ Traffic management and pedestrian routes
- ✓ Lone-working check-in arrangements where relevant
- ✓ 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 fencing installation 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 fencing installation, 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 fencing installation?
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, Work at Height Regulations 2005 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, PUWER 1998 — Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations, Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, section 3, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH). The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and CDM 2015 apply to all construction work.
Does a RAMS 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.