When this template fits
This RAMS is for UK contractors and flooring teams carrying out floor screeding — 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 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
Mix and lay floor screeds including liquid/anhydrite screeds.
Sequence of works
- 1Pre-task: Review COSHH assessments and SDS for all screed materials. Confirm RAMS are current and communicated to all operatives via toolbox talk. Verify that ventilation, electrical supply type (110 V CTE) and exclusion barriers are in place.
- 2Area preparation: Clear and clean the substrate. Check that all drainage, service conduits and movement joints are installed and protected. Install edge screeding rails and bay dividers. Erect exclusion barriers around the work zone with 'Wet Screed — No Access' signage.
- 3Equipment inspection: Carry out pre-use inspection of all plant (mixer, pump, vibrating beam, power float). Check PAT labels, cable integrity and hose connections. Position cable runs off the ground away from the pour area.
- 4Material delivery and mixing: For bulk/pump delivery, confirm pump is electrically powered (internal use). For bag materials, use mechanical handling aids; do not exceed 25 kg single-person lift. Mix according to manufacturer specification — do not add excess water. Operatives wear full PPE (gloves, goggles, RPE, waterproof trousers) during mixing.
- 5Laying/pouring: Apply or pump screed to bays in a continuous operation. For liquid anhydrite, maintain manufacturer-specified flow rate. For sand/cement, compact and rule off to datum rails. Avoid walking on freshly laid screed without walkboards. Maintain forced ventilation throughout pour.
- 6Levelling and finishing: Use vibrating beam or dapple float as required. Operatives using vibrating tools must remain within their calculated HAV exposure action value. Rotate operatives to manage exposure time. Wear hearing protection in noise zones.
- 7Curing and protection: Apply manufacturer-specified curing compound or polythene sheet immediately after laying. Maintain exclusion barriers for the full curing period. Post moisture content testing requirements before subsequent floor finishes are applied.
- 8Clean-up: Remove screed residues using wet methods (damp mop/vacuum with H-class filter) — no dry sweeping. Clean pump and mixing equipment in a controlled area; contain washings and dispose of as construction waste in line with site waste management plan.
- 9Post-task inspection: Competent person checks screed level, surface finish and any cracking. Record batch numbers, mix ratios and environmental conditions (temperature, humidity) in the site quality log. Remove exclusion barriers only when screed can safely bear foot traffic.
Hazards, risk rating & controls
Risk = likelihood × severity (1–25). Initial is before controls; residual is with controls applied.
Skin and eye contact with cement/screed
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Where practicable, use pre-batched or pump-applied screed to reduce hand-mixing and direct contact with wet material.
- › Operatives must not kneel directly on wet screed; use knee boards. Change wet clothing immediately. Wash hands and exposed skin thoroughly before breaks and after work.
- › Wear waterproof gloves (nitrile or rubber), impermeable knee pads/waterproof trousers, and indirect-vent chemical splash goggles when mixing or placing wet screed.
- › Apply barrier cream to hands and exposed skin before work begins; use after-work skin conditioning cream to maintain skin integrity.
Inhalation of cement and silica dust
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Use wet mixing methods and pre-batched materials to suppress dust generation at source. Avoid dry sweeping of screed residues; use damp mopping or vacuum.
- › Fit on-tool dust extraction (H-class vacuum with minimum 99.995% filter efficiency) to any grinder, mixer or cutting tool used on hardened screed.
- › Ensure adequate general ventilation in the screed area. Where natural ventilation is insufficient, provide mechanical ventilation or air movers to dilute airborne dust below WEL.
- › Where dust cannot be adequately controlled by engineering means, wear RPE to at least FFP3 standard (assigned protection factor 20). RPE must be face-fit tested.
Anhydrite/calcium sulphate screed fumes and irritants
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Obtain and review manufacturer SDS for the specific anhydrite product. Complete a site-specific COSHH assessment before use.
- › Provide continuous forced ventilation during pumping and for the manufacturer-specified curing period to dilute any off-gases below harmful concentrations.
- › Position drip trays under pump head and hose connections. Inspect hoses before use and maintain correct pump pressure per manufacturer guidance to prevent blowouts.
Manual handling — bags and mixing equipment
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Use bulk-delivered pre-batched screed delivered by pump to the laying area, eliminating manual bag handling and reducing the need for hand-mixing.
- › Specify bags no heavier than 25 kg. Use pallet trucks, sack barrows or powered hoists to move materials to the work area. Never carry bags up stairs without mechanical assistance.
- › Ensure all operatives are trained in safe manual handling. Implement a two-person lift for bags over 25 kg. Rotate tasks to limit cumulative loading on individuals.
Slips on wet screed surface
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Erect physical barriers (timber edge boards, hoarding or barrier tape with stanchions) around all freshly laid screed areas. Post clear 'Wet Screed — No Access' signage.
- › Plan and mark pedestrian routes that avoid wet screed zones. Where access over screed is necessary use approved walkboards to spread load and maintain footing.
- › All operatives working in the screed area must wear safety boots with slip-resistant, waterproof soles (SRA or SRB rated).
Noise from mixing equipment and pumps
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Where equivalent output can be achieved, specify lower-noise pump and mixing units. Check manufacturer noise data before procurement.
- › Assess noise levels at the start of the task. Establish hearing protection zones (>85 dB(A)) with signage. Rotate operatives to limit daily noise dose.
- › Provide and mandate appropriate hearing protection (SNR adequate to reduce exposure below 80 dB(A) at the ear) within noise zones.
Hand-arm vibration from screed finishing tools
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Select vibrating screed beams and power floats with manufacturer-confirmed low vibration magnitudes. Check HAV data before use.
- › Calculate daily vibration exposure using HSE HAV calculator. Ensure no operative exceeds EAV (2.5 m/s²) without additional controls or the ELV (5 m/s²) under any circumstances. Rotate operatives on vibrating tools.
- › Where specified by risk assessment, provide anti-vibration gloves. Note: these provide limited attenuation and do not replace exposure time management.
Electrical contact from pump and mixing plant
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › All portable electrical equipment must operate on 110 V centre-tapped-to-earth (CTE) supply. Where 230 V is unavoidable, use a 30 mA RCD. Do not use domestic extension leads.
- › Inspect cables, plugs and casings before each use. Verify current portable appliance test (PAT) label. Remove defective equipment from service immediately.
- › Route cables off the ground using cable stands or overhead runs to prevent immersion in screed or water. Keep connections clear of the screed pour area.
Fire risk from anhydrite screed pump and associated materials
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Specify electrically powered screed pumps for internal use to eliminate combustion products and reduce ignition risk from fuel. Petrol/diesel pumps should only be used externally with adequate exhaust ventilation.
- › Store flammable admixtures in original containers in a designated, ventilated, locked flammable materials store away from ignition sources. Quantities on site limited to one day's use.
- › Maintain a suitable fire extinguisher (CO2 for electrical, dry powder for flammable liquids) within the work area. Ensure operatives know its location and use.
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)
- ✓ 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 floor screeding 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 floor screeding, 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 floor screeding?
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, reg 3 — risk assessment are the main ones, alongside Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 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.