When this template fits
This RAMS is for UK contractors and landscaping & tree surgery teams carrying out pesticide & weed control — typically because a principal contractor or client has asked for a risk assessment and method statement before work can start. It covers the recognised coshh & substances 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
Apply pesticides/herbicides under COSHH with public and environmental controls.
Sequence of works
- 1Pre-task planning: Review COSHH assessments and SDS for all plaster and render products to be used. Confirm access equipment requirements, identify overhead working areas, and check that adequate ventilation is available.
- 2Site survey: Walk the treatment area to identify watercourses, drains, sensitive habitats, and public access points; mark buffer zones and exclusion areas with stakes or barrier tape.
- 3Stakeholder notification and access control: Erect warning signs and barrier tape around the treatment zone; notify site manager, client and any nearby stakeholders of application timing and re-entry intervals.
- 4Chemical preparation: Don full PPE before handling concentrates; mix or dilute product in a bunded area away from drains using calibrated measuring equipment; prepare only the volume required for the treatment area.
- 5Equipment check: Inspect spray equipment for leaks, blockages, and correct nozzle type; calibrate sprayer to deliver the label-specified application rate; confirm emergency eyewash and spill kit are accessible.
- 6Application: Apply pesticide/herbicide strictly in accordance with the product label, maintaining the required buffer zones from watercourses and sensitive areas; use targeted application technique (spot treatment, weed wiper) where near ecological receptors; monitor wind speed and direction throughout.
- 7Post-application: Record product used, batch number, application rate, area treated, date/time, operative name and weather conditions in the site application log; display re-entry interval on all access signage.
- 8Equipment decontamination: Triple-rinse sprayer and nozzles; collect and dispose of rinsate as chemical waste in accordance with the product label and site waste management plan; clean all PPE or dispose if single-use.
- 9Chemical storage and waste disposal: Return unused concentrate to locked store in original sealed containers; place empty containers in designated pesticide waste for licensed disposal; update chemical inventory.
- 10Operative hygiene and debrief: Operatives wash hands and exposed skin thoroughly before removing RPE; report any incidents, near-misses or signs of ill health to the supervisor; retain application records for audit purposes.
Hazards, risk rating & controls
Risk = likelihood × severity (1–25). Initial is before controls; residual is with controls applied.
Chemical skin and eye contact
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Select the least hazardous effective product (e.g. lowest toxicity rating, ready-to-use formulation where practical) to reduce exposure potential.
- › Complete a COSHH assessment using the product Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before use; identify specific hazards, exposure routes and required controls.
- › Wear chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile minimum), face shield or goggles, and chemical-resistant apron during mixing concentrates and during spraying operations.
Inhalation of pesticide vapour or spray drift
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Use coarse droplet nozzles or knapsack sprayers calibrated to minimise airborne mist and spray drift, reducing inhalation risk at source.
- › Do not spray when wind speed exceeds the product label limit (typically >5 m/s). Check forecast before starting; suspend operations if conditions deteriorate.
- › Wear RPE specified on the SDS (minimum FFP2/P2 dust mask for solid formulations; half-mask with A2P2 filter cartridge for volatile liquids or where label requires it).
Environmental contamination — watercourse and soil
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Survey the site before application to identify watercourses, drains, planted beds and sensitive habitats; establish and mark exclusion/buffer zones as specified on the product label.
- › Use spot treatment, weed wiper, or gel application systems where appropriate to eliminate broadcast spray near sensitive areas.
- › Mix and load chemicals in a bunded or drip-tray area away from drains; use no more chemical than required for the area to be treated.
Public and third-party exposure to pesticides
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Cordon off the treatment area with barrier tape and erect clear warning signs stating 'Pesticide Treatment in Progress — Keep Out' with re-entry time displayed.
- › Plan application outside peak public use hours (e.g. early morning in public parks, school holidays) to reduce the number of people in the area.
- › Inform site managers, client, and any co-located businesses or residents in advance of application dates, products used, and re-entry intervals.
Pesticide ingestion
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Prohibit eating, drinking, and smoking during application. Wash hands and face thoroughly with soap and water before eating, drinking or using toilet facilities.
- › Wear nitrile or neoprene gloves at all times when handling concentrates or contaminated equipment to prevent dermal and secondary ingestion routes.
Slips, trips and falls on treated surfaces
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Keep all persons off treated hard surfaces until the product has dried or the re-entry period has elapsed; use cones and barrier tape.
- › Wear safety boots with anti-slip soles (SRC rated) to minimise slip risk for the operative when walking on wet or chemically treated surfaces.
Manual handling of chemical containers and equipment
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Source chemicals in smaller, manageable containers (max 5 litre concentrates) to reduce individual lift weights.
- › Use trolleys or pump-fed bulk tank systems to move large quantities of liquid rather than manual carrying where volumes permit.
- › Train operatives in correct lifting technique; limit continuous knapsack sprayer use to 45-minute intervals with rotation of operatives on extended operations.
Chemical storage and transportation hazard
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Store pesticides in a dedicated locked, bunded and ventilated store away from food, seeds, and non-compatible materials, complying with product label storage requirements.
- › Transport chemicals only in original, sealed, labelled containers secured upright in a vehicle with spill-absorbent material and an emergency spill kit.
Operator health surveillance and certification
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Ensure all operatives hold a current, valid pesticide application certificate (minimum PA1 + relevant PA module, e.g. PA6 for handheld/knapsack) before undertaking any application work.
- › Enrol regular pesticide users in a health surveillance programme to monitor for early signs of adverse health effects; maintain records as required by COSHH.
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
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
- › Safety data sheets for every substance on site
- › On-tool extraction (M-class vacuum)
- › Water suppression for cutting
- › Sealed waste containers
- › Washing facilities
Permits & legislation
What principal contractors usually check
- ✓ A COSHH assessment per substance, not one generic line
- ✓ Exposure controls in the hierarchy order (eliminate, extract, then RPE)
- ✓ Health surveillance where exposure is regular
- ✓ 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 pesticide & weed control 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 pesticide & weed control, 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 pesticide & weed control?
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, section 3, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, reg 3 — risk assessment 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 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.