When this template fits
This RAMS is for UK contractors and asbestos teams carrying out non-licensed asbestos removal — 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
Scope of works
Remove lower-risk non-licensed ACMs (e.g. asbestos cement, textured coatings) with controlled methods — NOT licensed work such as AIB or lagging.
Sequence of works
- 1Review the R&D asbestos survey report for the work area. Confirm all ACMs to be removed are classified as non-licensed. If any licensed materials (AIB, lagging, loose fill) are present, halt and refer to a licensed contractor.
- 2Complete the COSHH assessment and task-specific RAMS. Communicate the method, hazards and controls to all operatives in a pre-start toolbox talk. Confirm all workers are trained in non-licensed asbestos awareness (as a minimum).
- 3Set up the work area: erect warning signs, seal off openings with polythene sheeting and tape, establish an exclusion zone and confirm no other personnel are in the vicinity. Lay polythene sheeting on floors to catch debris.
- 4Don all required PPE including face-fit-tested FFP3 respirator, hooded Type 5/6 coveralls, nitrile gloves and safety footwear. Check respirator seal before entering the work area.
- 5Apply fine water mist or PVA solution to the ACM surface immediately before removal to dampen fibres. Maintain dampening throughout the operation. Avoid over-wetting that could cause structural runoff or create slip hazards.
- 6Remove ACMs using hand tools with gentle leverage, keeping materials as whole as possible. Avoid breaking, drilling, sanding or using power tools. Lower sheets to the floor carefully — do not drop.
- 7Place all removed ACM material, dust and debris into heavy-duty double polythene bags (minimum 1000-gauge) immediately. Seal with tape and affix the asbestos waste label. Remove bagged waste to a secure, labelled skip or container.
- 8After bulk removal, clean the work area thoroughly using an H-class (HEPA) vacuum and damp wipe all surfaces (walls, floors, ledges). Do not use compressed air or standard vacuum cleaners. Remove and bag the polythene sheeting as asbestos waste.
- 9Decontaminate before leaving: remove coveralls by rolling inward, bag as asbestos waste. Wash hands and face thoroughly at the hygiene station before eating, drinking or leaving site.
- 10Arrange collection and disposal of all asbestos waste via a registered waste carrier to a permitted facility. Retain waste consignment notes for at least three years. Confirm the area is safe for re-occupation with the responsible person.
Hazards, risk rating & controls
Risk = likelihood × severity (1–25). Initial is before controls; residual is with controls applied.
Asbestos fibre inhalation
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Review the asbestos survey report and confirm material type and condition. Ensure work is genuinely non-licensed (not notifiable or licensed); stop if AIB, lagging or loose asbestos is discovered.
- › Dampen ACMs with a fine water mist or PVA solution immediately before and during removal to suppress fibre release. Do not soak to the point of structural runoff.
- › Remove sheets, boards or coatings whole or in large sections where practicable. Avoid power tools, breaking, drilling or sanding. Use hand tools with gentle leverage.
- › Wear a close-fitting FFP3 disposable half-mask or reusable FFP3 respirator as the minimum respiratory protection. Face-fit test required for all wearers.
Asbestos fibre ingestion or skin contact
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Provide a suitable hygiene unit (or minimum: clean area, water, soap, disposable towels) so workers can wash hands and face before eating, drinking or leaving the work area.
- › Prohibit food, drink and tobacco products in any area where ACMs are being disturbed. Display clear signage.
- › Wear Type 5/6 disposable coveralls and nitrile gloves. Remove by rolling inward ('peeling off') to trap fibres. Dispose of as asbestos waste.
Asbestos waste contamination
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Place all ACM debris, used PPE and plastic sheeting into heavy-duty polythene bags (minimum 1000-gauge), seal with tape and label with the approved asbestos warning label before removal from site.
- › Arrange collection by a registered waste carrier and consign waste to a permitted landfill or transfer station licensed to accept asbestos waste. Retain consignment notes for three years.
Spreading asbestos dust beyond work area
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Seal doorways, vents and openings with polythene sheeting and tape before starting work. Erect warning notices at all entry points to the work zone.
- › Restrict access to the work area to operatives directly involved in removal. Post warning signs: 'Danger — Asbestos — Do Not Enter'. Confirm no other trades work in the zone simultaneously.
- › After bulk removal, use an H-class (HEPA) vacuum and damp wipe all surfaces before removing sheeting. Do not use compressed air or standard vacuums.
Dust and fume inhalation (general nuisance dust)
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Apply water mist continuously to keep all debris and surfaces damp throughout removal, reducing both asbestos and nuisance dust exposure.
- › Note that the control limit for asbestos (all types) is 1 f/cm³ (8-hour TWA). Where uncertainty exists about dust levels, arrange air monitoring by a competent person.
COSHH — exposure to hazardous material
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Complete a written COSHH assessment specific to the ACM type and task before work commences. The assessment must be reviewed by a competent person and communicated to all workers.
- › Follow COSHH Schedule 2A principles: minimise number of exposed persons, reduce exposure time, use lowest-release methods, combine controls in a hierarchy.
Unidentified or misidentified ACM
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Ensure a valid R&D (refurbishment and demolition) asbestos survey has been conducted by a UKAS-accredited analyst for the specific area. Do not rely solely on a management survey.
- › Implement a written stop-work instruction: if any material is encountered that was not identified in the survey, operatives must stop, re-sheet the area, and report immediately to the responsible person for re-survey and analysis.
Fall from height
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Use proprietary access platforms, mobile elevated work platforms or scaffolding rather than ladders for prolonged or two-handed work at height.
- › Where possible, sequence work so ACMs are removed from ground level. Consider whether pre-removal of surfaces at ground level eliminates the need to work at height.
- › Never stand on asbestos cement roof sheets — they are fragile. Erect edge protection and safety netting where operatives work on or near fragile surfaces.
Manual handling of ACM sheets and debris
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Use mechanical lifting aids, trolleys or sheet lifters for large asbestos cement sheets to reduce manual handling and risk of dropping and breaking the material.
- › Use two-person lifts for large sheets. Brief operatives on correct manual handling technique: keep load close to body, avoid twisting, lower to a stable surface.
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
- ✓ RPE per the COSHH assessment
- ✓ Chemical-resistant gloves
- ✓ Safety harness and lanyard where fall arrest is the selected control
Competence
- ✓ Non-licensed / NNLW asbestos work ONLY — licensed work (e.g. AIB, lagging, sprayed coatings) must be done by an HSE-licensed contractor. Operatives need task-specific non-licensed asbestos training (beyond awareness); NNLW also needs medical surveillance, health records and notification to the enforcing authority
- ✓ 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 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
Permits & legislation
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.
Frequently asked questions
Who should write a non-licensed asbestos removal 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 non-licensed asbestos removal, 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 non-licensed asbestos removal?
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), Work at Height Regulations 2005 are the main ones, alongside Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992. 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.