RAMS by trade · UK
Plastering and drylining RAMS
Create a site-specific plastering or drylining RAMS online. Describe the job, review suggested risks and method steps, and download a professional PDF.
Typical scope
- Dot and dab
- Skimming
- Drylining shafts
- MF ceilings
- Sanding
- External render (overview)
Sanding dust and board handling drive most ill-health and strain issues in this package.
Quick answer
A plastering/drylining RAMS covers board handling, dust from sanding/cutting, working platforms, and protecting other trades in shared spaces.
Primary topic: drylining method statement. 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.
Sanding without extraction
Airborne dust controls needed.
Boards above shoulder height
Handling aids/team lifts.
Shared corridors
Housekeeping and exclusion while drying.
Example
Dryline and skim a retail shell
Built from one job description. You review and adjust every item before issuing it.
Job description
Dryline perimeter walls and skim in Unit 12, Riverside Retail. Board lifts with panel trolley, on-tool extraction for cuts, podiums for high work.
Activities identified
- General site work
- Ladders or stepladders
- Manual handling
- Occupied premises or public areas
Method (8 steps)
- 1.Arrive and sign in. Arrive at Unit 12 Riverside Retail, report to the Riverside Retail Asset Co 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 the work area. Set up barriers and signage around the work area and keep it clear of other people.
- 4.Set up access equipment. Inspect and set up the podium or stepladder on firm, level ground in the work area.
- 5.Disconnect and remove existing equipment. Disconnect and remove the existing equipment. Lower or carry it using mechanical aids or team lifts as planned.
- 6.Install new equipment. Position and fix the new equipment to the manufacturer's instructions.
- 7.Clear up and remove waste. Clear the work area, remove waste from site (including recovered refrigerant and hazardous waste) and leave the area safe.
- 8.Hand over and sign out. Hand over to the Riverside Retail Asset Co site contact, report anything outstanding and sign out.
Main risks (3 in total)
Fall from ladders or stepladders
Residual MediumWho: Operatives
- Use a podium or mobile tower instead of a ladder where the task allows
- Ladders only for short-duration (under 30 minutes), light work with three points of contact
- Ladder inspected before use; industrial-grade (EN 131 professional) only
- Ladder set on firm, level ground and footed or secured
- No overreaching — move the ladder instead
Manual handling
Residual MediumWho: Operatives
- Use mechanical aids (trolleys, sack trucks, hoists) for heavy items
- Team lifts for items too heavy or awkward for one person
- Route planned and cleared before moving items
- Operatives trained in safe lifting techniques
- Gloves with good grip and safety footwear
Members of the public and building occupants
Residual LowWho: Public, customers, staff, residents
- Work area segregated with barriers and clear signage
- Work timed for quieter periods where possible, agreed with the site
- Tools and materials never left unattended in public areas
- Site contact informed of work areas and any disruption
What to get right on this document
Dust hierarchy
Prefer safer methods, then extraction, then RPE.
Access
Podiums for high walls/ceilings.
Housekeeping
Clear as you go to prevent slips.
Quick answer
A plastering/drylining RAMS covers board handling, dust from sanding/cutting, working platforms, and protecting other trades in shared spaces.
What good looks like on a UK site
Sanding dust and board handling drive most ill-health and strain issues in this package. 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 drylining method statement 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
- GuidesWhat is a RAMS?RAMS means risk assessment and method statement — usually one site-specific pack for a construction or maintenance job. Practical UK guidance for contractors — with links to free tools.
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Questions
- Is render included?
- External render needs weather and access extras — say so if in scope.
- Asbestos in old plaster?
- Survey before aggressive strip in older buildings.
- Other trades cleaning behind you?
- Coordinate sequencing in the method.