When this template fits
This RAMS is for UK contractors and landscaping & tree surgery teams carrying out hard landscaping — 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
Hard landscaping — bases, walls, paving and steps with excavation and plant.
Sequence of works
- 1Pre-start: obtain utility records and carry out a full CAT and genny scan of the work area. Mark all identified services on the ground. Issue permit to dig signed by a competent person.
- 2Site set-up: erect physical barriers and signage to segregate the work area from the public and any adjacent traffic. Establish separate plant routes and pedestrian routes. Brief all operatives, confirm PPE compliance and plant operator cards.
- 3Excavation: carry out machine excavation for bases, footings and drainage runs within the agreed limits. Hand dig within 500 mm of any marked services. A competent person must inspect excavation sides at the start of each shift; install shoring or batter sides for excavations exceeding 1.2 m depth.
- 4Subbase and compaction: place and compact subbase aggregate in suitable layers using a plate compactor or roller. Manage operative vibration exposure using rotation and exposure records. Keep non-essential personnel clear of operating compaction plant.
- 5Mortar and concrete mixing: mix cement-based products using a mechanical mixer wherever possible. Ensure COSHH assessment has been read by operatives. Ensure chemical-resistant gloves, eye protection and appropriate clothing are worn before any contact with wet materials.
- 6Masonry cutting: carry out all cutting of paving slabs, blocks and natural stone using wet cutting saw or LEV-equipped tools. Verify water supply or dust extraction is functioning before each cutting session. Operatives not directly involved must stand clear and be upwind.
- 7Laying and positioning: mechanically handle heavy units using lifting clamps or plant where practical. For manual handling, ensure two-person lifts for units over 20 kg using agreed safe technique. Place materials on mortar beds using tools rather than hands.
- 8Walling and pointing: build masonry walls in accordance with design. Point joints using mortar; ensure skin protection is maintained. Scaffolding or proprietary hop-up platforms must be used if working above knee height for extended periods — do not overreach from ground level.
- 9Reinstatement and end-of-day security: at the end of each shift clear all waste materials, offcuts and packaging. Cover or guard any open excavations. Remove plant keys, lock gates, and confirm no members of the public are within the fenced area before leaving site.
- 10Final inspection and handover: inspect all completed hard landscaping for stability, level, trip hazards and edge protection requirements. Confirm that all excavations have been backfilled, compacted and surfaces are safe for use before removing site barriers.
Hazards, risk rating & controls
Risk = likelihood × severity (1–25). Initial is before controls; residual is with controls applied.
Manual handling — heavy materials
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Use excavator buckets, pallet trucks, sack trucks or plate-laying clamps to move heavy materials mechanically wherever possible, avoiding manual lifting entirely.
- › Where mechanical handling is not practicable, split loads into smaller units and use two-person lifts for items over 25 kg. Brief team on technique before starting.
- › Ensure all operatives have received manual handling training covering safe posture, team lifts and recognition of fatigue.
- › Wear cut-resistant gloves to protect hands when handling rough stone or block edges; supportive steel-toe-capped boots to protect feet from dropped loads.
Plant collision — excavator and dumper
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Establish clearly defined plant exclusion zones with physical barriers (cones, Heras fencing). A trained banksman must be present whenever plant is reversing or working near pedestrians.
- › Plan and mark separate routes for plant and foot traffic before work begins. Briefing at start of each shift to reinforce routes.
- › Verify CPCS or equivalent card for all plant operators. Only authorised operatives may operate plant.
- › All personnel within the working area must wear EN ISO 20471 Class 2 minimum hi-visibility vests so they are visible to plant operators.
Striking buried services
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Obtain utility records (plans from utility owners) and use a calibrated CAT and genny scanner to locate buried services before any excavation. Mark findings on ground.
- › Within the safe distance of identified services (typically 500 mm), excavate only by hand tools to expose and confirm service position before using mechanical plant.
- › A competent person must review service drawings, CAT results and site conditions and sign off a permit to dig before excavation begins.
Excavation collapse
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › For excavations deeper than 1.2 m, batter sides to a safe angle or install timber shoring, trench boxes or proprietary support as designed by a competent person.
- › A competent person must inspect excavations at the start of each working shift, after any event (heavy rain, frost, nearby plant vibration) and record findings. Work must stop if conditions deteriorate.
- › Keep all non-essential workers away from excavation edges. Spoil and materials must not be stockpiled within 1 m of any excavation edge.
Silica dust inhalation
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Eliminate dry cutting entirely. Plan material layouts to minimise the number of cuts required.
- › Use water-suppression (wet cutting) or local exhaust ventilation (LEV) fitted directly to cutting equipment to capture dust at source before it becomes airborne.
- › Undertake a COSHH assessment for RCS prior to works. Ensure exposure remains below the WEL of 0.1 mg/m³ (8-hr TWA) for RCS. Rotate operatives to limit individual exposure duration.
- › Wear a tight-fitting FFP3 disposable or reusable P3 half-mask respirator when wet cutting or LEV cannot reduce exposure to below the WEL. Face-fit testing required.
Hand-arm vibration (HAV)
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Provide anti-vibration gloves (EN ISO 10819) as a supplementary measure where exposure cannot be reduced sufficiently by other means.
- › Select plant and tools with the lowest vibration magnitude that is capable of completing the task effectively. Check manufacturers' declared vibration data before procurement.
- › Calculate daily vibration exposure (HAV points or trigger time) and enforce rotation of operatives so no individual exceeds the Exposure Action Value (2.5 m/s² A(8)). Keep records.
- › Operatives regularly exposed above the EAV must be enrolled in a health surveillance programme including pre-employment baseline and annual review by an occupational health professional.
Cement and mortar skin burns
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Produce or review a COSHH assessment for cement, mortar mixes and concrete additives before work begins. Ensure SDS sheets are available on site.
- › Use tools (trowels, floats, screeds) rather than hands to handle wet cement and mortar. Avoid kneeling directly on wet concrete.
- › Wear nitrile or neoprene chemical-resistant gloves, long-sleeved clothing, waterproof knee pads if kneeling, and eye protection when mixing or placing cementitious materials.
- › Provide running water on site for immediate washing of skin. Where water supply is limited, provide adequate clean water containers. Train operatives to wash off cement promptly.
Slips, trips and falls on site
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › All open excavations and pits must be covered with suitable load-bearing covers or guarded with rigid barriers and adequate lighting when not being actively worked.
- › Maintain a clean and tidy work area throughout the shift. Remove offcuts, packaging, aggregate spillage and trailing cables promptly. Designate clear walkways.
- › Wear steel-toe-capped, mid-sole-protected safety boots with slip-resistant soles (S3 rated) at all times on site.
Public interface — uncontrolled access
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Erect suitable physical barriers (Heras fencing, hoarding or post-and-rail barriers) around the entire work area prior to mobilisation. Display appropriate warning signs.
- › At the end of each working day, secure all access points, cover or backfill open excavations, remove ignition keys from plant, and store hazardous materials securely.
- › Notify adjacent residents and land users before work starts. Brief all operatives on the public interface risk and the requirement to challenge unauthorised access politely but firmly.
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 (FFP3 or as risk-assessed) with face-fit
- ✓ Hearing protection (to the assessed SNR)
- ✓ RPE per the COSHH assessment
- ✓ Chemical-resistant gloves
Competence
- ✓ NPTC/City & Guilds chainsaw and tree-work certificates of competence (CS30/31/38 or equivalent units) for the specific operation
- ✓ 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 hard landscaping 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 hard landscaping, 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 hard landscaping?
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, PUWER 1998 — Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations, HSE HSG47 — Avoiding danger from underground services are the main ones, alongside Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, reg 3 — risk assessment, 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.