RAMS by trade · UK
Roofing RAMS
Create a site-specific roofing RAMS online. Describe the job, review suggested risks and method steps, and download a professional PDF.
Typical scope
- Flat roof replacement
- Pitched roof repairs
- Gutter and fascia replacement
- Rooflight replacement
- Torch-on felt
- Industrial roof sheeting
Falls from height are the most serious risk in roofing, and the controls depend on the roof: edges, fragile sheets, rooflights, access and weather.
Quick answer
A roofing RAMS sets out how falls from edges and through fragile surfaces will be prevented on a named roof, plus falling materials, hot works (if torch-on), access and weather stop-rules.
Primary topic: roofing rams. UK contractors — review every document before you issue it. SafeForJob does not replace competent judgement or HSE guidance.
What usually goes wrong
These are the operational gaps that make generic Word RAMS fail on the next site.
Fragile sheets treated as 'the roof'
Falls through rooflights need different controls from edge falls.
Weather left vague
High-wind stop criteria should be written, not assumed.
Access method mismatch
Scaffold, MEWP or crawler boards must match the actual roof.
Example
Flat roof repair on a commercial unit
Built from one job description. You review and adjust every item before issuing it.
Job description
Strip and replace a section of flat roof at Unit 7, Thames Valley Business Park. Access by scaffold with edge protection, torch-on felt, two fragile rooflights nearby. Materials lifted by hoist.
Activities identified
- General site work
- Roof work
- Mobile tower or scaffold
- Hot works
- Manual handling
- Lifting operations
Method (12 steps)
- 1.Arrive and sign in. Arrive at Unit 7, Thames Valley Business Park, report to the Thames Valley Estates site contact, sign in and complete any site induction.
- 2.Brief the team. Brief all operatives on this RAMS, the COSHH assessments and the emergency arrangements. Record attendance.
- 3.Set up exclusion zone below. Establish an exclusion zone below the work area with barriers and signage before any work at height starts.
- 4.Obtain hot works permit. Obtain a hot works permit from the site. Remove or protect combustibles and place an extinguisher at the point of work.
- 5.Erect the tower. PASMA-trained operatives erect the mobile tower to the manufacturer's guide and inspect it before use.
- 6.Access the roof. Access the roof via the agreed route. Confirm edge protection is in place and identify any fragile areas before moving onto the roof.
- 7.Carry out the lift. Carry out lifts to the lift plan, with the exclusion zone in place and a trained slinger/signaller directing.
- 8.Disconnect and remove existing equipment. Disconnect and remove the existing equipment. Lower or carry it using mechanical aids or team lifts as planned.
- 9.Install new equipment. Position and fix the new equipment to the manufacturer's instructions.
- 10.Braze joints. Braze joints under the hot works permit with nitrogen purge. Maintain the fire watch during and after the work.
- 11.Clear up and remove waste. Clear the work area, remove waste from site (including recovered refrigerant and hazardous waste) and leave the area safe.
- 12.Hand over and sign out. Hand over to the Thames Valley Estates site contact, report anything outstanding and sign out.
Main risks (9 in total)
Fall from roof edge
Residual MediumWho: Operatives
- Plan work to be done from below or from a MEWP where possible
- Edge protection (guard rails) or parapet of adequate height in place before work starts
- Safe access route to the roof agreed with the site; roof hatch secured open
- Where collective protection isn't possible, use a fall-restraint system with suitable anchors
- Work stops in high winds, ice or heavy rain
Fall through fragile roof or rooflight
Residual MediumWho: Operatives
- Treat all roof sheets and rooflights as fragile unless confirmed otherwise by the site
- Rooflights covered or protected with suitable mesh or barriers
- Staging or crawling boards used; no walking directly on sheets
- Safety netting or fall arrest below where required
Falling objects
Residual LowWho: People below, other trades, public
- Exclusion zone set up below the work area with barriers and signage
- Tools tethered when working at height; materials kept away from edges
- Banksman or second person controls the area during lifts and removals
- Hard hats worn in the exclusion zone
Adverse weather
Residual LowWho: Operatives
- Forecast checked before work; work at height stopped in high winds
- Breaks, water and shade in hot weather; warm clothing in cold
- Sun protection on exposed work in summer
+ 5 more risks in the full RAMS.
What to get right on this document
Edges and fragile surfaces, separately
Suggest both when the description mentions them.
Torch-on means hot works
Triggers fire risk, permit and fire watch.
Weather
Outdoor roof work brings adverse-weather stop rules.
Quick answer
A roofing RAMS sets out how falls from edges and through fragile surfaces will be prevented on a named roof, plus falling materials, hot works (if torch-on), access and weather stop-rules.
What good looks like on a UK site
Falls from height are the most serious risk in roofing, and the controls depend on the roof: edges, fragile sheets, rooflights, access and weather. Name the site, the people at risk, and the sequence that keeps them safe. Generic paragraphs that could apply anywhere are the first thing a principal contractor rejects.
How SafeForJob helps
- Describe the job in plain English and get suggested activities, risks and method steps
- Edit every line before you download or issue
- Reuse a previous RAMS and catch old client or site names
- Attach or create COSHH assessments where hazardous substances appear
What this page is not
This page is not HSE approval, legal advice or a substitute for competent judgement. It helps you draft a clearer roofing rams document for a named job. You remain responsible for reviewing and issuing it.
Related reading
See what a RAMS is, the free RAMS generator, and HSE guidance on managing risks.
Related pages
- RAMS by jobFlat roof replacement RAMSCreate a flat roof replacement rams for a named UK site. Suggested risks and method steps you review before download or issue.
- Method statementsRoofing method statementWrite a roofing method statement for a named UK site. Clear sequence, interfaces and controls — review before issue.
- GuidesWorking at height in RAMSHow to describe access equipment, fragile surfaces and rescue thinking inside a RAMS. Practical UK guidance for contractors — with links to free tools.
- RAMS by tradeElectrical RAMSCreate a site-specific electrical RAMS online. Describe the job, review suggested risks like safe isolation and work at height, and download a professional PDF.
- RAMS by tradeHVAC RAMSCreate HVAC and refrigeration RAMS online: rooftop units, split systems, refrigerant recovery and brazing. Suggested risks and method steps you review before issue.
- RAMS by tradePlumbing RAMSCreate plumbing and heating RAMS online: boiler swaps, pipework, unvented cylinders and drain-downs. Suggested risks and method steps, reviewed by you.
- RAMS by tradeGroundworks RAMSCreate a groundworks or excavation RAMS online: buried services, trench collapse, plant movement and public interface. Review every suggestion before issue.
- RAMS by tradeFit-out RAMSCreate a fit-out or shopfitting RAMS online: partitions, ceilings, dust, occupied premises and out-of-hours work. Reviewed by you before issue.
- RAMS by tradeFire & security RAMSCreate RAMS for fire alarm, CCTV and access control installation: system isolations, ceiling work, occupied buildings. Review every suggestion before issue.
Questions
- What controls does HSE expect for roof work?
- Planning, preventing falls from edges and through fragile surfaces, competent people — applied to this roof.
- Can I include my scaffolder's details?
- Yes — add them to the method or controls.
- Does it work on a phone?
- Yes; authoring is easier on a laptop.