When this template fits
This RAMS is for UK contractors and scaffolding teams carrying out loading bay — typically because a principal contractor or client has asked for a risk assessment and method statement before work can start. It covers the recognised work at height 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 9-step method statement (sequence of works)
- ✓ PPE, plant/equipment, permits and competence requirements
- ✓ Emergency arrangements and operative briefing / sign-off section
Scope of works
Erect and load a scaffold loading bay with gates and loading controls.
Sequence of works
- 1Pre-start: Review and confirm the loading bay design drawing and SWL calculation with the appointed competent scaffolder. Obtain the principal contractor's permit to erect. Establish exclusion zones at ground level using barriers and signage before any work begins.
- 2Foundation: Prepare a firm, level base. Lay sole boards of adequate bearing area and fit base plates beneath all standards. Check ground conditions are suitable to carry the design load, including imposed materials loads.
- 3Lift erection: Erect scaffold lifts in accordance with the approved design and SG4:22 technique, ensuring advance guard rails or equivalent collective fall protection are installed before progressing to each new lift. Pass materials to height using a gin wheel, hoist or crane — minimise hand-passing of heavy items.
- 4Loading bay platform: Lay a fully close-boarded working platform at the designated loading level. Ensure boards are of adequate thickness, free from defects, correctly supported, and secured against uplift. Fit minimum 150 mm toe boards to all open edges.
- 5Guard rails and gates: Install double guard rails (top rail minimum 950 mm, intermediate rail) to all open sides of the loading bay. Fit self-closing, securing loading bay gates (inner and outer) at the landing opening. Display the SWL notice prominently at the gate.
- 6Debris protection: Attach brick guard or debris netting to the sides of the loading bay structure adjacent to public or operative traffic routes. Confirm the exclusion zone below the bay is maintained and clearly marked.
- 7Post-erection inspection: A competent scaffolder (SCA or CISRS card-holder at appropriate grade) must formally inspect the completed loading bay, record findings on a scaffold inspection register, and issue a scaffold tag (green) before the bay is handed over to the principal contractor.
- 8Handover and briefing: Issue the scaffold handover certificate to the site manager. Brief all relevant trades and the crane/hoist operator on the SWL, gate operation procedure, banksman protocol and actions if the scaffold is damaged or altered.
- 9Ongoing monitoring: Re-inspect the loading bay every seven days and after any event that may have affected its integrity (adverse weather, impact, alteration). Change the scaffold tag to red and suspend use immediately if any defect is identified, until repairs are inspected and signed off.
Hazards, risk rating & controls
Risk = likelihood × severity (1–25). Initial is before controls; residual is with controls applied.
Fall from height during erection
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Use an advance guard rail (AGR) system or SG4:22-compliant erection technique to ensure a leading guard rail is in place before the scaffolder moves up to the next lift, minimising unprotected edge exposure.
- › Physically barrier and sign off incomplete loading bay scaffold to prevent unauthorised access by other trades until the structure is inspected and handed over.
- › Where collective protection cannot be provided during a specific erection stage, operatives must wear a full-body harness with a short lanyard or SALA device attached to a suitable anchor point.
Overloading of loading bay platform
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Ensure the loading bay is designed by a competent person (e.g. to BS EN 12811 or a proprietary system design) with a clearly defined SWL. The SWL must be displayed on a permanent sign at the loading bay gate.
- › Post clear SWL notices at the loading bay access gate. Brief all users of the loading bay, including crane and hoist operators, on the maximum permitted load before use.
- › Carry out a formal scaffold inspection and complete a scaffold inspection register (TG20 or equivalent) after erection, after any modification and at least every seven days while in use.
Falling materials and objects
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Establish and enforce a clearly signed exclusion zone at ground level beneath and around the loading bay during erection and all loading/unloading operations. Use barrier tape and hard barriers.
- › Fit 150 mm minimum toe boards to all edges of the loading bay platform. Install brick guard or debris netting to the sides of the scaffold adjacent to the loading bay to contain dropped materials.
- › All persons working on and below the loading bay must wear safety helmets (EN 397) and high-visibility vests at all times.
Manual handling injury
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Use trolleys, sack trucks, pallet trucks, or mini-telehandlers to move heavy items where layout permits, avoiding manual lifting.
- › Where mechanical aids cannot be used, implement two-person lifts for tubes over 4 m or loads exceeding 25 kg. Operatives must be trained in safe manual handling techniques.
- › Provide suitable work gloves (EN 388) to protect hands from cuts, abrasion and vibration when handling tubes and couplers.
Crane or hoist strike during loading
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Install self-closing and, where practicable, interlocked loading bay gates so that the inner gate (protecting the scaffold access opening) cannot be opened until the outer (landing) gate is closed, preventing operatives stepping into the path of an incoming load.
- › A trained, appointed banksman must control all crane and hoist movements to the loading bay using agreed hand signals or radio. Operatives must stand clear of the landing zone while a load is approaching.
- › Operatives not directly involved in receiving the load must stand back behind the inner gate until the load has been landed and the crane hook is clear.
Structural collapse of loading bay
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › All loading bays must be erected to an approved design (proprietary manufacturer's design or bespoke engineer's drawing). A copy of the design and SWL calculations must be held on site.
- › Fit base plates and sole boards of sufficient size beneath all standards to distribute load and prevent sinking. Check ground-bearing capacity before erection.
- › Inspect the completed loading bay before first use, after any event likely to affect its integrity (e.g. high wind, impact by plant) and at minimum every seven days. Record all inspections.
Slips, trips and falls on loading platform
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Ensure the loading bay platform is fully close-boarded with no gaps greater than 25 mm, boards are adequately supported, not protruding, and secured against displacement or wind uplift.
- › Remove debris, packaging and excess materials from the loading platform after each delivery. In icy or wet conditions, apply anti-slip strips or grit. Suspend loading bay operations in extreme wind (check weather forecasts).
- › All operatives on the loading platform must wear safety boots with steel toecap, midsole and slip-resistant sole (EN ISO 20345 S3).
Unauthorised or uncontrolled access to loading bay
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Install self-closing gates with a securing mechanism (e.g. barrel bolt or clip) at both ends of the loading bay access to prevent uncontrolled entry and to keep gates closed when not in active use.
- › Display a scaffold tag (green – safe to use / red – do not use) at the base of the loading bay access and issue a formal scaffold handover certificate to the principal contractor before the bay is released for general use.
- › Erect physical barriers (Heras fencing or similar) around the ground-level perimeter of the loading bay with suitable warning signs during loading and unloading operations.
Noise from scaffold erection
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Carry out a site noise assessment. Restrict high-noise scaffold erection activities to agreed working hours to reduce exposure to other trades and neighbours. Consider ratchet or torque wrenches instead of hammers where practicable.
- › Provide and enforce the use of EN 352-compliant hearing protection (ear defenders or plugs rated to achieve below 85 dB at the ear) for scaffolders during intensive hammer use.
PPE
- ✓ Safety footwear (EN ISO 20345)
- ✓ Hi-vis clothing
- ✓ Safety gloves (task-appropriate)
- ✓ Hard hat (EN 397) where overhead risk or site rules require
- ✓ Safety harness and lanyard where fall arrest is the selected control
- ✓ Hearing protection (to the assessed SNR)
Competence
- ✓ CISRS-carded scaffolders and a competent scaffold supervisor
- ✓ 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
- › Scaffold / mobile tower / MEWP as selected
- › Podium steps or ladders for short-duration tasks
- › Tool lanyards and tethers
- › Edge protection components
- › Inspection tags
Permits & legislation
What principal contractors usually check
- ✓ A named access method (scaffold / tower / MEWP) with inspection regime
- ✓ A rescue plan that doesn't rely on calling 999
- ✓ Collective protection considered before harnesses
- ✓ 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 loading bay 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 loading bay, 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 loading bay?
Work at Height Regulations 2005, Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, LOLER 1998 — Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations are the main ones, alongside Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, reg 3 — risk assessment, Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, section 3, 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.