When this template fits
This RAMS is for UK contractors and warehousing teams carrying out warehouse 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
- ✓ 8 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
Warehouse operations — racking, FLT/pedestrian segregation, manual handling and loading.
Sequence of works
- 1Pre-task planning: Review this risk assessment and RAMS with all warehouse operatives. Confirm all relevant personnel hold current competency certificates (FLT licence, PASMA, manual handling training). Check PPE is available and serviceable.
- 2Site/warehouse inspection: Walk the warehouse before operations commence. Inspect racking for visible damage, check aisle clearances, verify pedestrian segregation barriers and markings are in place, confirm adequate lighting and emergency exit routes are unobstructed.
- 3FLT and plant checks: Carry out pre-use inspection of all FLTs and mechanical handling equipment using the manufacturer's checklist. Report and quarantine any defective equipment. Confirm vehicle restraints and dock levellers are functional at loading bays.
- 4Establish exclusion zones and traffic management: Confirm FLT routes and pedestrian routes are segregated. Brief all personnel on one-way systems, crossing points, exclusion zones around loading bays and emergency stop signals.
- 5Racking operations: Load and unload racking using FLT or approved platform only. Confirm load weights are within racking SWL. Do not exceed rated capacity of any bay. Apply exclusion zone beneath any overhead loading operation.
- 6Manual handling tasks: Use mechanical aids (pallet trucks, conveyors) wherever practicable. For residual manual handling tasks, apply TILE assessment principles, use team lifts for loads above individual capability and keep loads close to the body.
- 7Loading and unloading vehicles: Secure vehicle with wheel chocks or lorry restraint before deploying dock leveller. Inspect trailer floor before entry. Maintain exclusion zone at dock edge. Use red/green traffic light system.
- 8Ongoing housekeeping: Remove pallet debris, shrink wrap and waste promptly throughout the shift. Clean up spills immediately. Report any new racking damage, floor defects or near misses using the site reporting system.
- 9End-of-shift checks: Ensure all FLTs are parked and isolated in designated areas, LPG cylinders returned to external storage cage, battery chargers correctly connected in ventilated charging bay, and warehouse is left in a safe and tidy condition.
Hazards, risk rating & controls
Risk = likelihood × severity (1–25). Initial is before controls; residual is with controls applied.
Forklift truck collision with pedestrian
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Install physical barriers, painted demarcation lines and one-way systems to fully separate forklift truck travel routes from pedestrian walkways. Use Armco barriers or equivalent at aisle ends and corners.
- › Establish clearly marked and signed crossing points where pedestrian and FLT routes must intersect. Use audible/visual warning systems at blind corners.
- › All FLT operators to hold a current RTITB/ITSSAR licence. All warehouse staff to receive pedestrian safety induction covering exclusion zones, hi-vis requirements and crossing procedures.
- › All personnel in the warehouse to wear EN ISO 20471 Class 2 or 3 high-visibility clothing at all times to improve visibility to FLT operators.
Racking collapse
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Appoint a Rack Safety Inspector (SEMA-trained or equivalent) to conduct formal racking inspections at minimum annually. Implement weekly visual checks by a trained Person Responsible for Racking Safety (PRRS). Red/amber/green tagging system to be used to identify damaged sections.
- › Fit column guards and end-of-aisle protectors to all racking uprights exposed to FLT traffic to absorb impact and prevent structural damage.
- › Post Safe Working Load (SWL) notices on every racking bay. Ensure all pallet loads are within rated capacity. Damaged racking to be taken out of service immediately and cordoned off pending repair.
Fall from height — racking access and mezzanines
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Where reasonably practicable, store heaviest or most frequently picked items at ground level to eliminate the need for working at height.
- › All mezzanine edges, loading bay edges and open floor voids to be fitted with double-rail guardrails and toe boards meeting minimum 950 mm height. Gates at staircase openings to be self-closing.
- › Where height access is necessary, use MEWP or podium steps with integral guardrails in preference to ladders. Operators to be trained and competent. Pre-use inspection to be completed.
- › Wear EN 397 safety helmet and EN ISO 20345 safety footwear when working at height or in areas with overhead racking operations.
Manual handling — heavy or awkward loads
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Provide pallet trucks, hand trucks, conveyor systems or FLTs to mechanise the movement of loads exceeding safe manual handling limits, eliminating manual lifting wherever practicable.
- › Carry out task-specific manual handling assessments (TILE: Task, Individual, Load, Environment) for all significant manual handling operations. Implement job rotation and rest breaks to reduce cumulative loading.
- › All operatives to receive training in safe manual handling techniques including correct posture, team lifting co-ordination and use of mechanical aids before starting work.
- › Where residual manual handling risk remains after engineering controls, provide suitable back support if recommended by occupational health and EN 388 gloves for load handling.
Slip, trip and fall — floor-level hazards
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Implement a documented housekeeping schedule. Aisles to be kept clear at all times; spillages to be cleaned up immediately; pallet debris, shrink wrap and strapping to be removed and disposed of promptly.
- › Maintain warehouse floor surfaces in a clean, anti-slip condition. Ensure minimum lux levels suitable for the task in all working and transit areas. Mark floor hazards with high-visibility paint.
- › All operatives to wear EN ISO 20345 S1P or S3 rated safety footwear with slip-resistant soles.
Falling objects from racking
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Establish and enforce exclusion zones beneath and around active racking loading operations. Banksmen or barriers to prevent pedestrian entry until loading is complete.
- › Install pallet support bars, mesh back-stop panels or anti-fall nets on racking above pedestrian areas to catch dislodged items.
- › Wear EN 397 safety helmet in all areas where overhead racking loading operations are taking place.
Loading bay edge fall
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Fit powered dock levellers with vehicle restraints (wheel chocks or lorry restraints) to prevent trailer drive-off during loading. Dock leveller must bridge the gap between dock and trailer at all times during loading operations.
- › Fit retractable or removable safety barriers or chains across open dock doors when no vehicle is present. Install red/green traffic light system to indicate when dock is safe to enter.
- › Documented procedure for dock operations including vehicle securement, leveller deployment, trailer floor inspection and pedestrian exclusion. All operatives trained in the procedure.
Fire and emergency evacuation
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Maintain a current documented fire risk assessment. Segregate and manage combustible waste. LPG cylinders to be stored outside in a secured cage. Battery charging to be in a dedicated ventilated area.
- › Emergency exit routes, fire doors and assembly points to be kept clear of racking, pallets and waste at all times. Inspected at start of every shift.
- › Conduct fire drills at least annually. All staff to be briefed on fire alarm, assembly point locations and evacuation procedure at induction.
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
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 warehouse 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 warehouse 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 warehouse risk assessment?
PUWER 1998 — Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations, Work at Height Regulations 2005, Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 are the main ones, alongside Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, reg 3 — risk assessment, 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.