When this template fits
This RAMS is for UK contractors and glazing teams carrying out glazing / 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 glazing units and curtain walling, including manual handling of glass.
Sequence of works
- 1Pre-start planning: Review drawings, RAMS, and COSHH assessments. Confirm curtain walling specification, glass unit weights, and lifting strategy. Obtain principal contractor permits. Identify and brief all operatives.
- 2Site preparation: Erect edge protection, barriers, hoarding, and exclusion zones below working areas. Confirm scaffold or MEWP is inspected, certificated, and suitable for the task. Clear and level storage area; position A-frames for glass delivery.
- 3Glass delivery and inspection: Receive glass units and curtain walling components. Inspect each unit for damage, cracks, or edge defects. Reject damaged units. Store vertically in A-frames with padded separators away from pedestrian routes.
- 4Frame installation: Fix curtain walling mullions and transoms to structure using approved fixings and torque settings. Verify plumb and level at each stage. Use power tools with HAV controls in place; maintain exclusion zone below.
- 5Mechanical glazing lift set-up: Inspect and test vacuum lifter or glazing crane before use. Confirm rated capacity exceeds unit weight. Establish banksman communication signals. Restrict area below lift.
- 6Glazing unit installation: Lift units using mechanical handling equipment to working level. Position units using suction handles; set on setting blocks per specification. Operatives at height to use collective fall protection; harness to be worn where required.
- 7Securing and seating: Install pressure plates, caps, and retention fixings to manufacturer's specification and torque requirements. Ensure each unit is fully secured before moving to adjacent panel.
- 8Sealant and weatherproofing application: Apply primers and structural/weatherseal silicone per COSHH assessment controls. Ensure ventilation is adequate. Apply masking tape to maintain clean sightlines; tool and finish sealant joints.
- 9Final inspection and clean-up: Inspect all units for secure fixing, correct alignment, and sealant integrity. Remove all glass offcuts, packaging, and waste to designated skip. Carry out post-installation check of edge protection before demobilising access equipment.
- 10Handover: Complete installation records and any required as-built documentation. Report any near misses or defects to the principal contractor. Ensure area is left safe with no residual fall risks or sharp material hazards.
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
- › Review design and method to determine whether the task can be completed from ground level, removing the need to work at height 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 scaffold with guardrails, toe boards, and intermediate rails, or use proprietary platform edge protection around all open edges before work begins at height. Collective protection takes priority over personal protection.
- › Inspect MEWP before each shift; establish an exclusion zone below and ensure operators are trained and familiarised with the specific model. Harness with short lanyard to anchor point in basket to be worn.
Dropped glazing unit
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Establish and maintain a clearly demarcated exclusion zone directly below all lifting and installation operations. Use barriers, signage, and a banksman to prevent unauthorised access.
- › Use rated vacuum lifters, glazing cranes, or suction cups with mechanical backup to handle and position glass, reducing risk of manual drop.
- › All tools and ancillary components used at height to be tethered with lanyards. No loose materials to be left on platforms. Use tool bags and debris netting beneath work area.
Manual handling — heavy glazing units
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Use glazing trolleys, vacuum lifters, suction cup carriers, pallet trucks, or lifting equipment to move large glass units wherever practicable, eliminating or significantly reducing manual effort.
- › Conduct a manual handling risk assessment for each unit type. Where mechanical aids cannot be used, use trained two-person team lifts with a designated coordinator. Brief team on grip, route, and communication signals before each lift.
- › Wear EN 388 rated cut-resistant gloves (minimum level C against cut) when manually handling glass edges.
Laceration from glass edges
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Inspect all glazing units on delivery for cracks or damage. Ensure factory-applied edge tape or protection strips are intact. Do not handle cracked or damaged units without specialist equipment.
- › Use proprietary glazing handling frames or suction cup tools to avoid direct contact with glass edges during positioning.
- › Wear EN 388 rated cut-resistant gloves (minimum level C) and long-sleeved PPE when handling glass edges or working with broken material.
Shattering glass — impact and fragmentation
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Where specification allows, use toughened (tempered) or laminated glass that breaks into less hazardous fragments, reducing injury risk on breakage.
- › Store glass vertically in purpose-made A-frames on level, stable ground. Use padded separators between panes. Keep glass away from pedestrian routes and work areas where impact is likely.
- › Wear safety spectacles (EN 166) or safety goggles at all times when handling, cutting, or installing glass and curtain walling components.
Public and third-party exposure
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Erect physical hoarding or solid barriers to segregate glazing work areas from occupied or public zones. Maintain throughout the installation programme.
- › Use a permit-to-work system for high-risk glazing operations (e.g., large panel lifts). Restrict public and other trade access during critical lifts. Agree activity times with principal contractor.
- › Deploy a trained banksman to control access and monitor the exclusion zone. Erect clear signage indicating overhead works and prohibited access.
Slip, trip, or fall on the same level
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Establish a designated waste area for glass offcuts and packaging. Clear waste at the end of each work period and after each major fitting operation. Never leave glass offcuts on the floor.
- › All operatives to wear safety boots with anti-slip soles (EN ISO 20345 S1P minimum) providing grip on potentially contaminated floor surfaces.
Silicone and sealant chemical exposure
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Conduct a COSHH assessment for all sealants and primers prior to use. Where possible, substitute with lower-hazard, low-VOC or solvent-free products.
- › Ensure adequate ventilation — natural or mechanical — when applying sealants in enclosed areas. Use LEV (local exhaust ventilation) if vapour concentrations could exceed WELs.
- › Wear nitrile or neoprene gloves and safety goggles when handling sealants and primers. Follow SDS guidance on PPE selection.
Noise and vibration from installation tools
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Where practicable, specify low-vibration rated power tools and use pre-drilled or pre-fabricated frame components to reduce drill time.
- › Monitor daily vibration exposure against EAV (2.5 m/s²) and ELV (5 m/s²) trigger times. Rotate operatives to limit individual exposure. Maintain HAV register and carry out health surveillance for regular users.
- › Provide and enforce use of SNR-rated ear defenders or plugs (EN 352) in noisy areas. Anti-vibration gloves to BS EN ISO 10819 may be used as a supplementary measure only.
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
- ✓ Hearing protection (to the assessed SNR)
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 glazing / 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 glazing / 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 glazing / curtain walling?
Work at Height Regulations 2005, Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, section 3 are the main ones, alongside Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, reg 3 — risk assessment, COSHH 2002, reg 7 — prevention or control of exposure, Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005. 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.