When this template fits
This RAMS is for UK contractors and landscaping & tree surgery teams carrying out wood chipper & stump grinding — 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
Operate wood chippers and stump grinders with entanglement and projectile risk.
Sequence of works
- 1Pre-task briefing: Brief all operatives on the RAMS, exclusion zones, emergency procedures, and emergency stop locations on all machines before work begins.
- 2Site setup and segregation: Erect physical barriers and signage to exclude public and non-essential workers. Confirm exclusion zones (minimum 15 m from discharge, 3 m from infeed).
- 3Plant pre-use inspection: Inspect chipper and stump grinder for serviceability — check all guards are fitted, blades are secure, emergency stops are functional, and no visible defects. Record inspection.
- 4Machine positioning: Position chipper on level, stable ground with discharge directed safely away from personnel and the public. Secure machine brakes or chocks. Set up stump grinder on firm footing adjacent to stump.
- 5PPE donning: All operatives don full PPE — helmet with visor, ear defenders, RPE (where required), close-fitting gloves, high-vis, and safety boots before starting machines.
- 6Chipping operations: Feed material from the side of the infeed chute using safe feeding technique. Release material before the roller engages. Never reach into the infeed. Only one operator feeds at a time.
- 7Stump grinding operations: Clear the stump area of debris and stones to reduce projectile risk. Operate grinder controls from the designated operator position. Work progressively across the stump; do not force the cutting wheel.
- 8Ongoing housekeeping: Regularly clear wood chip accumulations from walkways and working areas. Monitor exclusion zones continuously. Halt operations if unauthorised persons approach.
- 9Machine shutdown and isolation: At breaks, task completion, or to clear blockages, shut down machines fully and wait for all moving parts to stop before approaching the infeed, cutting wheel, or discharge area.
- 10Post-task checks and site reinstatement: Confirm all material is chipped or ground as required. Remove barriers, check for hazards left on site, and ensure machines are safely isolated and secured before leaving.
Hazards, risk rating & controls
Risk = likelihood × severity (1–25). Initial is before controls; residual is with controls applied.
Entanglement in rotating machinery
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Ensure all manufacturer-fitted guards, infeed chutes, and anti-kickback devices are fitted and functional before operation. Never bypass or remove guards.
- › Establish a minimum 3-metre exclusion zone around the infeed and discharge areas. Only the operator feeds material; no other persons within the zone.
- › Feed material from the side of the infeed chute, never from directly behind. Release material before the roller grips it; do not push material in by hand.
- › Operators must wear close-fitting, snag-free clothing. No scarves, loose sleeves, or jewellery. Cut-resistant gloves to EN 388 where handling snagging material.
Projectile ejection
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Position and lock the chipper discharge chute away from personnel, vehicles, and public areas before operation. Check direction before each use.
- › Establish a minimum 15-metre exclusion zone in the discharge direction. Use physical barriers or high-visibility fencing to prevent bystander entry.
- › Operator and any persons within risk distance must wear a full-face visor (EN 166) or safety spectacles combined with a hard hat with brim.
Noise-induced hearing loss
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Provide minimum SNR 30 dB ear defenders or combined ear defenders/plugs adequate to reduce exposure below 85 dB(A) at the ear.
- › Where practicable, select low-noise-rated machinery to reduce noise at source.
- › Conduct noise assessment to establish exposure levels. Implement hearing protection zones where levels exceed 85 dB(A). Limit operator exposure time where levels approach 87 dB(A) upper exposure action value.
Hand-arm vibration
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Implement job rotation and planned rest breaks to keep daily vibration exposure (EAV) below 2.5 m/s² A(8); use a HAV calculator to plan trigger times.
- › Select machines with manufacturer-declared vibration values as low as reasonably practicable. Check manufacturer data sheets before hire or purchase.
- › Provide anti-vibration gloves where residual risk remains. Enrol regular operators in a HAVS health surveillance programme.
Manual handling injury
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Plan strip-out sequence to minimise carry distances and drops. Use team lifts (two or more persons) for large or heavy items. Break down materials into manageable loads before bagging.
- › Ensure all operatives have received manual handling training covering safe lifting technique, load assessment, and recognition of when mechanical aids must be used.
- › Use sack trucks, pallet trucks, or mini-hoists to move bulk bags and materials to the work area rather than manual carrying.
Wood dust inhalation
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Where engineering controls cannot adequately suppress dust, wear a FFP3-rated disposable or half-mask respirator. RPE is the last line of defence and must be fit-tested.
- › Direct discharge chute and dust output away from operator breathing zone. Position operator upwind of discharge.
- › Complete a COSHH assessment identifying wood species present. Hardwood dust WEL is 3 mg/m³ (8h TWA). Monitor exposure where hardwoods are predominant.
Struck by falling or rolling timber
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Stack and secure material on level ground before feeding. Use chocks or barriers to prevent rolling. Do not leave large material unsupported on slopes.
- › Establish clear procedures for moving large timber. Maintain a tidy working area free from trip hazards. Position operatives clear of potential roll paths.
- › Operatives to wear steel toecap/midsole boots (EN ISO 20345) and safety helmet (EN 397) at all times on site.
Public interface and third-party injury
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Erect physical barriers and high-visibility fencing to exclude public and non-essential personnel from the working area. Position signage warning of tree surgery operations.
- › Where operations are adjacent to roads, implement a traffic management plan including banksmen, cones, and coordination with relevant highways authority.
- › Appoint a lookout to monitor the exclusion zone and halt operations immediately if unauthorised persons approach.
Slips, trips and falls on site
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site, Members of the public
- › Clear wood chip accumulations, trailing cables, and branch debris from walkways regularly. Maintain clear access and egress routes throughout the task.
- › Survey ground conditions before positioning equipment. Avoid setup on slopes where machines could shift or where operatives are at greater fall risk.
- › Operatives to wear steel toecap boots with anti-slip soles (EN ISO 20345 SRC rated) suitable for outdoor terrain.
PPE
- ✓ Safety footwear (EN ISO 20345)
- ✓ Hi-vis clothing
- ✓ Safety gloves (task-appropriate)
- ✓ Hard hat (EN 397) where overhead risk or site rules require
- ✓ Hearing protection (to the assessed SNR)
- ✓ RPE (FFP3 or as risk-assessed) with face-fit
Competence
- ✓ NPTC/City & Guilds chainsaw and tree-work certificates of competence (CS30/31/38 or equivalent units) for the specific operation
- ✓ 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 wood chipper & stump grinding 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 wood chipper & stump grinding, 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 wood chipper & stump grinding?
PUWER 1998 — Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations, Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 are the main ones, alongside Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, section 3, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, reg 3 — risk assessment. 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.