When this template fits
This RAMS is for UK contractors and retail teams carrying out retail risk assessment — 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
- ✓ 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
Shop and retail risk assessment — slips, manual handling, deliveries, the public and lone working.
Sequence of works
- 1Before opening, complete a daily pre-trading walkthrough inspection: check all aisles are clear, fire exits are unobstructed, floors are dry, shelving is stable, and access equipment is undamaged. Record findings in the site logbook.
- 2At the start of each shift, brief all staff on their specific responsibilities including housekeeping zones, fire warden duties, lone-working check-in schedule, and any known hazards.
- 3Manage deliveries: schedule arrivals before or after peak trading where possible. Deploy a banksman for all reversing vehicles near public areas. Staff receiving deliveries externally must wear high-visibility vests. Inspect delivery for damaged packaging before moving stock.
- 4Move stock using appropriate mechanical handling aids (sack trucks, roller cages). For manual lifts, apply assessed safe technique; use team lifts for items over the agreed individual weight limit. Keep walkways clear of unpacked stock at all times.
- 5Stock shelves using approved access equipment only. Inspect kick stools or steps before use. Observe safe stacking limits and ensure heaviest items are positioned at lower levels. Never obstruct customer aisles during replenishment without a warning cone.
- 6Monitor the trading floor continuously for spillages, trip hazards, and overcrowding. Respond to all spillages immediately: contain, clean, dry, and sign the area. Log every spillage response.
- 7Manage customer interactions professionally. If a customer becomes aggressive, staff should use de-escalation techniques, summon a colleague or manager, and activate the panic alarm if safety is threatened. Do not physically intervene. Record all incidents.
- 8For lone-working periods, activate the check-in system at the agreed intervals. If working alone at closing, secure the premises in line with the safe closing procedure before leaving. Ensure the lone-worker app or alarm device is charged and active.
- 9At the end of trading, conduct a closing inspection: clear all aisles, turn off non-essential electrical equipment, secure cash, check all fire exits are clear, set the alarm, and record the completed checks in the closing log.
- 10Review and update the risk assessment following any accident, near miss, significant change to premises, staff, or product lines. Ensure all staff are re-briefed on any changes.
Hazards, risk rating & controls
Risk = likelihood × severity (1–25). Initial is before controls; residual is with controls applied.
Slip on wet or contaminated floor
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Establish a documented procedure to immediately clean and dry any spillage. Assign responsibility to named staff at all times during trading hours.
- › Install anti-slip matting at all entrances and high-risk wet areas. Ensure mats are secured and do not themselves create a trip hazard.
- › Place highly visible wet floor warning signs immediately when floors are wet from cleaning or spillage. Remove only once surface is fully dry.
- › All staff to wear footwear with slip-resistant soles rated to SRC standard, particularly in stockrooms and kitchen/preparation areas.
Trip on trailing cables or obstructions
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Keep all customer and staff walkways clear of stock, packaging, and equipment at all times. Conduct timed housekeeping checks every two hours and log them.
- › Route all electrical cables through trunking, cable covers, or cable ties fixed to surfaces. Avoid crossing pedestrian routes with loose cables.
- › Maintain minimum recommended lux levels throughout the shop floor and stockroom. Replace failed lighting promptly using a fault-reporting log.
Manual handling of stock and deliveries
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Provide sack trucks, pallet trucks, or roller cages for moving heavy or bulky deliveries. Ensure equipment is maintained and available at the delivery point.
- › Conduct a specific manual handling assessment for routine tasks. Set maximum individual lift weights, specify team-lift requirements, and brief all staff.
- › Provide all staff with manual handling training covering safe lift technique, team lifting, and use of aids. Refresh annually or after injury.
- › Where risk assessment identifies benefit, provide and instruct staff in use of supportive back belts. These do not replace safe technique.
Falling objects from shelving and racking
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Set and enforce maximum shelf load limits. Train staff in correct stacking technique — heaviest items at lower levels, stable base, no overhanging items.
- › Inspect all shelving and racking weekly for damage, instability, or overloading. Remove damaged units from service immediately and tag for repair.
- › Staff working in stockrooms and conducting shelf replenishment to wear steel or composite toe-capped footwear to S1P standard.
Violence and aggression from members of the public
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Establish a written policy covering unacceptable customer behaviour, staff authority to withdraw from situations, and zero-tolerance reporting.
- › Install and maintain CCTV covering all customer-facing areas and a panic alarm or discreet alert system linked to management or external monitoring.
- › Train all customer-facing staff in de-escalation and conflict avoidance techniques. Provide refresher training following any incident.
- › All incidents of aggression to be recorded. Provide immediate managerial support and access to occupational health or counselling for affected staff.
Lone working
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Review shift patterns to ensure a minimum of two members of staff are on site wherever possible, especially during opening, closing, and cash-handling.
- › Implement a timed check-in procedure (telephone, app, or SMS) for lone workers. Define escalation steps if check-in is missed, including contacting emergency services.
- › Provide lone workers with a personal alarm device or a monitored lone-worker app with GPS and man-down functionality.
Fire and emergency evacuation with members of the public
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Commission and maintain a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment for the premises in accordance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
- › Ensure all fire exit routes and doors are clearly signed, unobstructed at all times, and checked at the start of every trading day.
- › Designate and train fire wardens. Conduct evacuation drills at least annually, including procedures for assisting customers with mobility needs.
Delivery vehicle movements in or near public areas
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Physically separate delivery vehicle routes from pedestrian access wherever practicable using barriers, signage, and designated crossing points.
- › Arrange deliveries to take place before or after peak customer trading periods to reduce the number of people in the vicinity.
- › Where vehicle reversal is required near pedestrian areas, a trained banksman must supervise all movements and halt traffic before reversing begins.
- › Staff supervising or receiving deliveries in external areas to wear high-visibility vests (EN ISO 20471 Class 2 minimum).
Use of steps and kick stools to access high shelving
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Review shelving layouts to keep frequently accessed stock within safe reach (between knee and shoulder height) to minimise the need for access equipment.
- › Where high-level access is unavoidable, provide purpose-made retail kick stools or step-stools with non-slip treads and a handrail. Prohibit use of improvised items such as boxes or chairs.
- › Staff to inspect kick stools and steps before each use. Tag and remove any defective equipment. Formal inspection register to be maintained.
PPE
- ✓ Safety footwear (EN ISO 20345)
- ✓ Hi-vis clothing
- ✓ Safety gloves (task-appropriate)
- ✓ Hard hat (EN 397) where overhead risk or site rules require
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 retail risk assessment 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 retail risk assessment, 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 retail risk assessment?
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, reg 3 — risk assessment, Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, section 3 are the main ones, alongside Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. 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.