When this template fits
This RAMS is for UK contractors and demolition teams carrying out mechanical soft strip — typically because a principal contractor or client has asked for a risk assessment and method statement before work can start. It covers the recognised demolition & strip-out 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
1
Scope of works
Mechanically assisted soft strip ahead of refurbishment — dust, plant and ACM risk.
2
Sequence of works
- 1Pre-start: Obtain and review the R&D asbestos survey report and building services drawings. Confirm all ACMs have been removed or made safe by a licensed contractor, and that all electrical, gas, and water services have been isolated, locked off, and proven dead by a competent person.
- 2Services isolation: Commission a competent electrician to isolate, lock off and prove dead all electrical supplies to the work area. Carry out CAT scan and mark up all identified gas, water and data services. Obtain written confirmation of isolation from the principal contractor before proceeding.
- 3Structural assessment: Brief all operatives on the structural engineer's approved strip sequence. Install any required temporary propping or shoring before soft strip commences. Inspect and sign off props as ready.
- 4Site set-up: Erect physical exclusion zones and Heras fencing to segregate plant operating areas from pedestrian routes. Position skips close to work areas to minimise manual carry distances. Establish and communicate emergency assembly point and stop-on-discovery ACM procedure.
- 5Toolbox talk and briefing: Deliver task-specific briefing to all operatives covering: asbestos stop-on-discovery procedure, plant exclusion zones, dust controls, service isolation confirmation, vibration trigger times and emergency procedures. Record attendance.
- 6Commence mechanical soft strip: Deploy plant (mini-excavator, grab or mechanically assisted tools) in accordance with the approved sequence. Banksman controls plant movements at all times. Activate water misting or on-tool LEV dust suppression before breaking out materials.
- 7Progressive debris clearance: Remove arisings continuously using mechanical plant where possible. Keep pedestrian routes clear. Segregate materials for reuse, recycling or licensed disposal (including any residual ACM-contaminated material to be disposed of as hazardous waste).
- 8Ongoing inspection: Site supervisor inspects work area at minimum each morning and after any significant disturbance. Check structural stability, prop integrity, exclusion zones, dust control effectiveness and condition of PPE. Record findings.
- 9End of shift: Ensure all debris cleared from access routes. Confirm plant is isolated and secured. Check exclusion zones are intact. Review any stop-on-discovery events and escalate to principal contractor if any suspect ACM was identified.
- 10Final clearance: On completion of soft strip, arrange a post-strip visual inspection by the structural engineer and, where required, a four-stage clearance air test by a UKAS-accredited analyst before the area is handed back for refurbishment trades.
3
Hazards, risk rating & controls
Risk = likelihood × severity (1–25). Initial is before controls; residual is with controls applied.
Asbestos-containing material disturbance
Initial20→Residual10
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Commission a full R&D asbestos survey by a UKAS-accredited surveyor before any mechanical work begins. Review the register and ensure all ACMs are identified, labelled and recorded.
- › All identified ACMs must be removed or made safe by a licensed (or notifiable non-licensed) contractor before mechanical soft strip commences, unless survey confirms no ACMs present in the work area.
- › Maintain a site asbestos management plan. Implement a stop-on-discovery protocol: if suspect ACM is found during works, all mechanical operations cease immediately, the area is vacated and the duty holder is notified.
- › Where residual ACM risk cannot be eliminated, operatives wear minimum FFP3 disposable masks or powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR) suitable for asbestos, with face-fit tested equipment.
Respirable dust inhalation
Initial12→Residual4
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Apply water misting or damping to materials immediately before and during mechanical break-out to suppress airborne dust at source.
- › Where mechanically assisted tools (breakers, grinders, sawing attachments) are used, fit H-class vacuum extraction at point of cutting/breaking to capture dust before it becomes airborne.
- › Complete a COSHH assessment for dust before works start. Conduct personal air sampling during high-dust phases to verify controls keep exposures below WEL (4 mg/m³ inhalable; 0.1 mg/m³ RCS).
- › Operatives wear FFP3 disposable masks or a half-face mask with P3 filter (face-fit tested) when dust suppression and LEV cannot reduce exposure below WEL.
Plant strike — pedestrian contact with mechanical plant
Initial12→Residual4
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Physically segregate plant operating areas from pedestrian routes using barrier systems (Heras fencing, barriers or banksman-controlled gates). Establish exclusion zones of at least the full swing radius plus 1 m.
- › A trained and competent banksman must be present to manage pedestrian access and direct plant movements in restricted or congested areas. Plant must not move without banksman control when pedestrians are in the vicinity.
- › Verify plant operators hold a valid CPCS or NPORS card appropriate to the category of plant. Maintain records on site.
Falling debris from mechanical operations
Initial12→Residual4
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Engineer-approved structural survey and soft strip sequence to ensure the building is not destabilised by premature removal of structural elements. Work top-down or in a planned sequence to prevent uncontrolled collapse.
- › Erect solid hoarding around the perimeter of works. Install covered scaffold protection fans or covered walkways where there is risk to public or adjacent workers below.
- › All personnel on site to wear EN 397 safety helmets and EN ISO 20345 safety boots with steel toecaps at all times within the works area.
Unidentified live services — electrical contact
Initial20→Residual10
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › All electrical circuits serving the work area must be isolated at the distribution board, locked off and proved dead using a calibrated voltage indicator (GS38 compliant) by a competent electrician before mechanical work begins.
- › Obtain as-built drawings; carry out cable avoidance tool (CAT) scan of walls, floors and ceilings prior to mechanical operations. Mark up locations of any identified services.
- › Issue a permit to work for any area where isolation cannot be confirmed. Designate exclusion zones around unconfirmed live circuits.
Manual handling of demolition arisings
Initial6→Residual3
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Use mechanical plant (mini-excavator grab, telehandler with skip, conveyor or chute) to move bulk arisings rather than manual carrying wherever practicable.
- › Break arisings into manageable sizes before bagging or loading. Use purpose-built debris bags or small skips positioned close to the work area to minimise carry distances.
- › Assess manual handling tasks before the task. Where items exceed individual capacity, use a two-person lift. Brief operatives on safe posture and technique at induction.
Slips, trips and falls on debris-strewn floors
Initial6→Residual3
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Implement a continuous or scheduled debris clearance regime during the shift — do not allow arisings to build up to unmanageable levels. Define clear pedestrian routes and keep them clear at all times.
- › Provide minimum 100 lux task lighting across all work areas, particularly where natural light is removed during strip-out. Use temporary lighting rigs on independent power supply.
- › All operatives to wear safety boots with SRC-rated anti-slip soles (EN ISO 20345).
Hand-arm vibration from power tools
Initial6→Residual3
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Where possible, specify low-vibration alternatives (e.g. battery-powered tools with anti-vibration handles) and prioritise mechanical plant (grab/excavator) over hand-held breakers to reduce HAV exposure.
- › Calculate daily vibration exposure (EAV 2.5 m/s² A(8); ELV 5 m/s²). Set operative trigger times and use a tool usage register. Rotate operatives to limit individual daily exposure.
- › Enrol operatives in a HAV health surveillance programme if regularly exposed above the EAV. Pre-placement and periodic checks by an occupational health professional.
Structural instability during strip-out
Initial12→Residual4
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › A competent structural engineer must assess the structure and produce a sequence of works prior to soft strip commencing. Any structural propping or temporary works required must be designed and inspected by the engineer.
- › Install engineer-designed temporary propping to maintain structural integrity where load-bearing walls, beams or floors are to be stripped or exposed. Do not remove props without engineering sign-off.
- › Limit access to areas immediately adjacent to structural strip phases. Only essential and briefed operatives present; no bystanders or adjacent working during critical sequences.
4
PPE
- ✓ Safety footwear (EN ISO 20345)
- ✓ Hi-vis clothing
- ✓ Safety gloves (task-appropriate)
- ✓ Hard hat (EN 397) where overhead risk or site rules require
- ✓ Disposable RPE (FFP3)
- ✓ Disposable coveralls (Type 5)
- ✓ RPE (FFP3 or as risk-assessed) with face-fit
- ✓ Insulated gloves where live work is unavoidable
- ✓ Hearing protection (to the assessed SNR)
5
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.
6
Plant & equipment
- › Hand strip tools and wrecking bars
- › Dust suppression equipment
- › Waste chutes and covered skips
- › Asbestos sample kits (analyst use only)
- › Temporary props where structure is affected
7
Permits & legislation
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH)PUWER 1998 — Provision and Use of Work Equipment RegulationsElectricity at Work Regulations 1989Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, reg 3 — risk assessmentControl of Noise at Work Regulations 2005
8
What principal contractors usually check
- ✓ Asbestos survey reviewed before any strip-out
- ✓ Structural stability checked before load-bearing removal
- ✓ Waste segregation and disposal route
- ✓ 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.
9
Frequently asked questions
Who should write a mechanical soft strip 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 mechanical soft strip, 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 mechanical soft strip?
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), PUWER 1998 — Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations are the main ones, alongside Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, reg 3 — risk assessment, 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 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.
This is a draft, not a finished RAMS. The content above is a starting point generated from recognised hazards and controls for this task. A competent person must review it and confirm it is suitable and sufficient for the specific site before use. It is not legal advice or a guarantee of acceptance.