When this template fits
This RAMS is for UK contractors and cleaning teams carrying out pressure / jet washing — typically because a principal contractor or client has asked for a risk assessment and method statement before work can start. It covers the recognised site & general hazards for this task, with the controls a reviewer expects to see.
What this RAMS includes
- ✓ 8 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
Pressure and jet washing with chemical, electrical and slip risk.
Sequence of works
- 1Before work commences: review RAMS and COSHH assessments for all chemicals to be used. Ensure operatives are trained, competent, and briefed on injection injury risk and emergency procedures.
- 2Inspect the work area for hazards including overhead cables, drains, nearby electrical supplies, biological contamination, and proximity to the public. Establish and physically mark the exclusion zone.
- 3Carry out a pre-use inspection of all pressure washing equipment: check hoses for damage, verify RCD function (if mains-powered), confirm trigger safety lock operates correctly, and check nozzles are correctly rated and secure.
- 4Set up equipment in accordance with manufacturer instructions. Ensure electrical connections are IP-rated and off the ground. Route hoses and cables away from pedestrian routes and secure with cable management.
- 5Don all required PPE before starting the equipment: waterproof clothing, anti-slip footwear, chemical-resistant gloves, and full-face shield. Apply additional PPE (RPE, hearing protection) as required by COSHH assessment and noise evaluation.
- 6Commence pressure washing using appropriate nozzle and pressure settings for the surface type. Always direct the jet away from persons, animals, and electrical equipment. Maintain safe distance from the surface as per manufacturer guidance. Apply chemicals at low pressure via downstream injection only.
- 7Monitor run-off water to prevent chemical contamination entering surface drains without authorisation. Be alert to slipping hazards created by water pooling and warn others as necessary.
- 8Rotate operators periodically to manage noise and vibration exposure. Do not exceed recommended daily vibration and noise exposure limits.
- 9On completion, depressurise the system before disconnecting hoses or changing nozzles. Safely store or dispose of chemicals in accordance with COSHH assessment and SDS. Remove barriers only after the surface has been made safe.
- 10Report any near-misses, equipment defects, or incidents (including suspected injection injuries) to the site supervisor immediately. Complete equipment inspection records.
Hazards, risk rating & controls
Risk = likelihood × severity (1–25). Initial is before controls; residual is with controls applied.
Electric shock
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Substitute electric pressure washers with petrol or battery-powered alternatives to eliminate mains electrical hazard in wet conditions where practicable.
- › All mains-powered pressure washers must be connected via a residual current device (RCD) rated at 30mA or less. RCD to be tested before each use.
- › Operator to visually inspect cables, plugs, and body of pressure washer for damage before each use. Equipment with damage must be taken out of service. PAT testing current.
- › Ensure all electrical connections and extension leads are rated for outdoor/wet use (minimum IP44). Keep connectors off the ground using appropriate hooks or brackets.
Slip, trip and fall on wet surfaces
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Cordon off the work area and adjacent wet surfaces using barriers and wet floor warning signs to prevent workers and others from walking across wet areas.
- › Route hoses and cables away from pedestrian routes and secure with cable management clips or covers to prevent trip hazards.
- › Operators and all persons in the work area must wear safety footwear with anti-slip soles rated for wet surfaces.
Chemical exposure (detergents and cleaning agents)
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › A COSHH assessment must be completed for each chemical product used, referencing the Safety Data Sheet (SDS). Assess risk from inhalation, skin contact, and environmental exposure.
- › Where possible, use water-only cleaning or lower-hazard biodegradable detergents to reduce chemical risk to operatives and the environment.
- › Apply chemicals at low pressure via downstream injection rather than high-pressure aspiration to minimise aerosol generation and chemical mist.
- › Wear chemical-resistant gloves, eye protection (goggles or face shield), and waterproof clothing appropriate to the chemicals identified in the COSHH assessment.
Injection injury from high-pressure jet
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Only trained and competent operatives may operate pressure washing equipment. Training must include the hazard of injection injury and safe handling technique. Evidence of training to be held on site.
- › All lances must be fitted with a trigger gun incorporating a safety lock/deadman mechanism that stops flow when released, preventing accidental discharge.
- › Operatives must never point the jet at any person or animal. The jet must be directed away from the body when not in use. Minimum safe operating distances to be established per equipment manufacturer guidance.
- › Wear cut-resistant, high-pressure rated gloves and waterproof trousers or leggings when operating the lance to reduce injury severity if accidental contact occurs.
Noise exposure
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Where feasible, select electric pressure washers or low-noise-rated models to reduce noise at source compared to petrol-powered alternatives.
- › Assess daily noise exposure (LEP,d) for operators. If likely to exceed 80 dB(A) lower action value, provide information. Above 85 dB(A) upper action value, hearing protection zones must be established.
- › Rotate operators to reduce individual daily noise exposure duration where reasonably practicable.
- › Provide and enforce use of appropriate hearing protection (ear defenders or plugs with adequate SNR rating) in designated hearing protection zones where exposure exceeds 85 dB(A).
Hand-arm vibration
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Where residual risk remains, provide ISO 10819-compliant anti-vibration gloves; note these provide limited benefit and do not replace exposure reduction.
- › Choose pressure washers with anti-vibration handles or low vibration-rated equipment. Obtain and review manufacturer vibration data before selection.
- › Calculate daily vibration exposure (A(8)) using manufacturer data. Rotate operators to keep individual exposures below the Exposure Action Value (2.5 m/s²) and never exceed the Exposure Limit Value (5 m/s²).
Biological hazard from contaminated water
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Assess for the presence of biological hazards (e.g. Legionella, Leptospira, mould) before work commences, particularly when washing cooling towers, drainage channels, or areas contaminated with animal/human waste.
- › Use lower-pressure settings and flat fan nozzles to reduce the creation of fine aerosol mist. Avoid pressure washing known Legionella risk systems without specialist assessment.
- › Where biological aerosol risk is identified (e.g. sewage, animal waste, drainage), wear a minimum FFP2 or FFP3 half-mask respirator as specified by the COSHH assessment.
Third-party and public impact
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Establish and maintain a clearly marked exclusion zone around the pressure washing operation using barriers, cones, and appropriate signage. Size the zone to account for jet angle and overspray reach.
- › Notify the principal contractor or site manager before work begins. Confirm segregation arrangements and ensure adjacent trades and public access routes are appropriately managed.
- › Operator must wear a full-face shield or safety goggles to protect against rebounding water, debris, and chemical splash.
PPE
- ✓ Safety footwear (EN ISO 20345)
- ✓ Hi-vis clothing
- ✓ Safety gloves (task-appropriate)
- ✓ Hard hat (EN 397) where overhead risk or site rules require
- ✓ Insulated gloves where live work is unavoidable
- ✓ 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
- › Welfare units and signage
- › Barriers, cones and pedestrian segregation
- › First-aid kits and eye-wash
- › Spill kits
- › Communication (radios / lone-worker device)
Permits & legislation
What principal contractors usually check
- ✓ Welfare provision matching CDM 2015 Schedule 2
- ✓ Traffic management and pedestrian routes
- ✓ Lone-working check-in arrangements where relevant
- ✓ 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 pressure / jet washing 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 pressure / jet washing, 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 pressure / jet washing?
Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, reg 3 — risk assessment, COSHH 2002, reg 7 — prevention or control of exposure are the main ones, alongside PUWER 1998 — Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations, Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), 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 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.