When this template fits
This RAMS is for UK contractors and tiling teams carrying out floor tiling — 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
Cut and lay floor tiles including adhesives and grout.
Sequence of works
- 1Pre-start checks: Review RAMS and COSHH assessments for all adhesives, grouts and primers. Confirm services survey (CAT scan) has been completed. Check all power tools have current PAT inspection, guards are fitted and RCD protection is in place. Brief all operatives on hazards and controls via toolbox talk.
- 2Prepare the work area: Erect barriers to exclude other trades from the tiling zone. Establish a safe pedestrian route through or around the area. Ensure adequate natural or mechanical ventilation, particularly if solvent-based products are to be used.
- 3Substrate preparation: Check subfloor for levels, contamination and structural soundness. Apply primer if specified, using appropriate PPE (nitrile gloves, RPE if solvent-based). Allow primer to cure per manufacturer's instructions before proceeding.
- 4Set out and dry lay: Establish tile layout using chalk lines or laser level. Carry out a dry lay to confirm pattern and minimise waste cuts. Use mechanical aids (trolleys, vacuum lifters) to move bulk tiles. Wear cut-resistant gloves when handling tiles.
- 5Mix adhesive: Use pre-mixed adhesive where possible to avoid dust. Where dry-mix powder is unavoidable, mix in a ventilated area using LEV or on-tool extraction and wear FFP3 respirator and nitrile gloves. Follow manufacturer's mix ratios.
- 6Lay tiles: Apply adhesive to the subfloor using a notched trowel, working in manageable sections. Lay tiles firmly into adhesive using a rubber mallet, checking levels and spacing. Wear knee pads throughout. Keep the working area tidy and free of tile off-cuts to prevent trips.
- 7Cut tiles: Use the wet tile saw (with water suppression running) for all cuts. Wear eye protection, hearing protection and FFP3 respirator. Ensure blade guards are in place. Keep electrical connections away from water. Handle cut tiles with cut-resistant gloves.
- 8Allow adhesive to cure: Cordon off freshly laid tiles with barrier tape and signage. Do not allow foot traffic onto new tiles until the adhesive has achieved minimum initial cure as specified by the manufacturer. Maintain exclusion zone.
- 9Grout joints: Mix grout in a ventilated area wearing FFP3 respirator and nitrile gloves. Apply grout using a rubber float. Wash off excess grout with clean water, collecting wash water appropriately — do not discharge cement slurry to drainage. Wear knee pads and chemical-resistant gloves throughout.
- 10Clean up and inspection: Remove tile waste and off-cuts into designated waste containers. Dispose of adhesive and grout residues in accordance with site waste management plan. Inspect finished tiles for level, adhesion and grout integrity. Remove barriers only when tiles are fully cured and safe for foot traffic. Complete work records.
Hazards, risk rating & controls
Risk = likelihood × severity (1–25). Initial is before controls; residual is with controls applied.
Cement and adhesive skin contact
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Select tile adhesives and cements with reduced chromate VI content (≤2 ppm) wherever technically feasible to reduce sensitisation risk.
- › Complete a COSHH assessment for all adhesives, grouts and primers used, including review of Safety Data Sheets. Identify hazardous constituents and set control measures before work begins.
- › Wear nitrile or equivalent chemical-resistant gloves rated for alkaline substances. Apply pre-work barrier cream to exposed skin. Change gloves if torn or contaminated.
Inhalation of cement and grout dust
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Use pre-mixed adhesive and grout products where possible to eliminate dry mixing and associated dust generation.
- › Use LEV or on-tool extraction when mixing dry powder grout or adhesive. Ensure adequate general ventilation in the workspace by opening windows and doors.
- › Use a wet-cut tile saw with integral water suppression to eliminate airborne dust at source during tile cutting.
- › Where dust cannot be adequately controlled by engineering measures, wear a close-fitting FFP3 or P2 half-mask respirator. Ensure face-fit tested and stored correctly.
Noise from tile cutting equipment
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Select wet tile saws over angle grinders where practical, as they typically generate lower noise levels. Review manufacturer noise emission data when procuring equipment.
- › Limit individual exposure by rotating workers on cutting tasks to keep daily noise dose below action values where engineering controls alone are insufficient.
- › Provide and enforce the wearing of SNR-rated ear defenders or plugs rated to reduce exposure below 80 dB(A) at the ear when using power cutting equipment.
Manual handling of tiles and materials
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Use tile trolleys, pallet trucks or vacuum lifting devices to move bulk tile deliveries and large-format tiles (≥600×600 mm) rather than manual carrying.
- › Ensure all operatives have received manual handling training covering correct lifting, team lifts for heavy tiles, and ergonomic working postures for floor-level tasks.
- › Provide gel or foam knee pads for sustained kneeling work. Implement regular rest breaks to reduce cumulative strain to knees, back and wrists.
Slips on wet or newly tiled surfaces
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Erect physical barriers (e.g. cones, barrier tape or temporary fencing) to prevent other trades and site personnel entering wet-adhesive or freshly laid tile areas.
- › Plan tile installation to maintain a dry, clear pedestrian route through the work area at all times. Sequence work so exit routes remain unobstructed.
- › Operatives to wear safety footwear with anti-slip, oil-resistant soles (SRC rated) suitable for wet surfaces.
Contact with solvent-based adhesive or cleaning agents
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Substitute solvent-based adhesives and primers with water-based equivalents where technical performance allows, to eliminate solvent inhalation and flammability risk.
- › Ensure mechanical or natural ventilation is maximised during application of solvent-based products to dilute vapour concentrations below WELs. Do not work in enclosed spaces without confirmed air changes.
- › Obtain and review Safety Data Sheets for all specialist adhesives and primers. Complete COSHH assessment and communicate control measures via toolbox talk before first use.
- › Wear solvent-resistant gloves (butyl rubber or equivalent) and chemical splash goggles when applying solvent-based products.
Hand-arm vibration from grinding and cutting tools
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Select tile cutting and grinding tools with manufacturer-declared low vibration emissions. Prefer wet tile saws and score-and-snap cutters over grinders for straight cuts.
- › Calculate daily vibration exposure (A(8)) using tool manufacturer's declared vibration values and actual trigger times. Implement job rotation and work breaks to keep exposure below EAV (2.5 m/s²) where possible.
- › Provide and wear anti-vibration gloves as a supplementary measure where vibration exposure cannot be fully controlled by tool selection or time limitation.
Cuts and lacerations from tile handling and cutting
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Use purpose-designed wet tile saws or manual score-and-snap cutters with guards in place, rather than angle grinders, to reduce laceration and ejection risk.
- › Ensure all blade guards are in place before use. Keep bystanders clear of the cutting zone. Inspect blades for cracks or damage before each use.
- › Wear EN388-rated cut-resistant gloves (minimum level C/3) when handling cut tiles, transporting off-cuts and cleaning up tile debris.
Electrical contact from power tools and subfloor services
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Carry out a cable avoidance tool (CAT) scan of the floor before any drilling, chasing or substrate preparation to identify buried electrical services.
- › All 230V power tools must be protected by a 30mA RCD. Prefer 110V centre-tapped-to-earth (CTE) supply via transformer on site. Inspect leads and plugs before use.
- › Ensure water used for wet cutting does not reach power supply leads, sockets or connection points. Route cables away from the wet cutting area and elevate them where possible.
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
- › 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 floor tiling 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 tiling, 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 tiling?
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 are the main ones, alongside Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, reg 3 — risk assessment, PUWER 1998 — Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations, Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. 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.