When this template fits
This RAMS is for UK contractors and workplace h&s teams carrying out slips, trips & falls 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 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
Assess and control slips, trips and falls on the level — floors, spillages, contamination, trailing cables and lighting.
Sequence of works
- 1Appoint a competent person to lead the slips, trips and falls risk assessment in accordance with reg 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
- 2Walk all pedestrian routes, work areas, entrances, stairwells and external paths systematically. Record the location, nature and extent of each identified hazard (wet surfaces, obstructions, cable runs, damaged flooring, poor lighting, blind corners).
- 3Evaluate the risk from each identified hazard by considering the likelihood of a slip/trip event occurring and the severity of injury that could result, taking into account the number of people exposed and any vulnerable groups (e.g. pregnant workers, older workers, new starters).
- 4Apply controls in hierarchy order — first attempt to eliminate the root cause of the hazard; where elimination is not practicable introduce engineering controls (anti-slip surfaces, drainage, cable covers, lighting upgrades, barriers); then administrative measures (procedures, signage, inspection schedules, training); and finally, where residual risk remains, specify appropriate PPE.
- 5Implement agreed control measures, assigning a responsible person and target completion date for each action. Prioritise high and very-high risk items for immediate action.
- 6Communicate findings and new procedures to all workers, contractors and relevant visitors through induction briefings, toolbox talks and displayed signage. Confirm understanding by workers.
- 7Establish documented inspection routines for floors, cables, lighting and housekeeping. Record inspections and any defects found; track corrective actions to closure.
- 8Operate and publicise the incident and near-miss reporting system. Collect and analyse data to identify recurring hazards or locations and feed findings back into the risk assessment.
- 9Review the risk assessment following any slip, trip or fall incident, near miss, significant change in workplace layout or occupancy, introduction of new work processes, or at a minimum annually — documenting all reviews and updates.
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
- › Identify and fix root cause of spillage or moisture ingress (e.g. repair leaking plant, re-route drainage) so the hazard is removed entirely.
- › Install anti-slip matting, apply anti-slip coating or replace smooth flooring with a higher-traction surface in high-risk areas.
- › Implement an immediate clean-up protocol with designated materials (absorbents, mops). Display wet floor warning signs during and after cleaning until surface is dry.
- › Provide and mandate footwear with slip-resistant soles appropriate to floor type and likely contaminants.
Trip on trailing cables or hoses
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Review power and data routing; use fixed or permanent supplies where available to remove temporary cables from pedestrian areas.
- › Route cables overhead using conduit or cable trays, or fix cables at skirting level out of the pedestrian path to remove trip hazard from walkways.
- › Use proprietary cable-crossing ramps or covers to protect cables that must cross walkways and provide a flush, visible crossing point.
- › Carry out regular checks to ensure cables remain secured, covers are in place and no new ad-hoc routing has created hazards. Brief all workers on cable management rules.
Trip on uneven or damaged floor surface
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Permanently repair damaged, lifted or uneven floor surfaces to remove the hazard. Prioritise by risk level found during inspection.
- › Where immediate repair is not possible, cordon off the defect with physical barriers and suitable signage to prevent access until repair is completed.
- › Establish a documented routine inspection programme for all floor surfaces. Ensure all workers can report defects and that a responsible person acts on reports within defined timeframes.
Trip on poor housekeeping and obstructions
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Provide clearly marked, adequate storage locations for materials, tools and personal items away from pedestrian routes to prevent informal floor storage.
- › Implement a written housekeeping policy requiring walkways and work areas to be kept clear. Include 'clean as you go' requirements and end-of-shift tidying. Induct all workers on the rules.
- › Supervisors carry out frequent unannounced checks of walkways and work areas; non-compliances addressed immediately and recorded.
Slip or trip due to inadequate lighting
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Ensure lighting levels in all pedestrian areas meet recommended lux levels for the task type (refer to HSE and CIBSE guidance). Replace failed luminaires promptly.
- › Install maintained or non-maintained emergency lighting on escape routes and in areas where sudden darkness creates additional risk (e.g. stairwells, plant rooms).
- › Formally inspect and test all luminaires and emergency lighting at defined intervals. Record results and action failed units within defined timescales.
Slip or trip during inclement weather (external areas)
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Use textured or anti-slip surface finishes on external pedestrian routes, steps and ramps at construction or refurbishment stage.
- › Implement a written winter weather plan with trigger temperatures, gritting routes, responsible persons, grit storage location and out-of-hours arrangements. Apply grit/salt before freezing occurs.
- › Install effective entrance matting systems to capture tracked-in moisture and debris. Regularly clean and replace mats to maintain effectiveness.
- › Require appropriate anti-slip footwear for workers regularly using external routes in adverse conditions.
Slip or trip during cleaning operations
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Plan cleaning tasks for times when pedestrian traffic is minimal (e.g. before building opens, during lunch breaks) to reduce exposure of other workers to wet floors.
- › Clean in sections, using barriers and signage to redirect pedestrians around wet zones. Maintain a dry passage at all times.
- › Where practicable, use dry or damp-mop methods, spray-and-buff or microfibre systems that leave less residual moisture than traditional wet mopping.
- › Deploy clearly visible, stable wet floor warning signs at all approaches to the wet area. Remove signs only when the surface is confirmed dry.
Injury from fall following collision with person or object
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Design traffic management plans that separate pedestrian flows, eliminate blind pinch points and use one-way routes where practicable.
- › Install glazed vision panels in swing doors and convex mirrors at blind corridor junctions to allow visibility around corners and through doors.
- › Introduce and enforce a policy prohibiting use of handheld mobile devices while walking in the workplace, particularly on stairs and in busy pedestrian areas.
Delayed assistance following slip or trip injury
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Implement a formal lone worker policy with defined check-in intervals and an escalation protocol so that failure to check in triggers a welfare check.
- › Ensure adequate numbers of trained first-aiders are present on site. Clearly communicate first-aid contact points and locations of first-aid boxes during induction.
- › Operate a simple, accessible system for reporting all slips, trips, falls and near misses. Review data to identify trends and take preventive action. Report RIDDOR-reportable incidents as required.
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 slips, trips & falls 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 slips, trips & falls 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 slips, trips & falls risk assessment?
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, reg 3 — risk assessment are the main ones. 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.