RAMS by trade · UK
Steel erection RAMS
Create a site-specific steel erection RAMS online. Describe the job, review suggested risks and method steps, and download a professional PDF.
Typical scope
- Portal frame erection
- Multi-storey steel
- Deck and stud welding
- Bolt-up
- Temporary bracing
- MEWP access on steel
Temporary conditions during erection are where people get hurt. Stability and exclusion must be explicit for each phase.
Quick answer
A steel erection RAMS covers lifting operations, temporary stability, work at height on steel, exclusion zones below, and the interface with cranes/MEWPs on a named frame.
Primary topic: structural steel 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.
Exclusion zones vague
Below-hook areas need control of people and plant.
Temporary stability assumed
Bracing sequence before releasing crane.
Weather on exposed frames
Wind limits for lifts and work on steel.
Example
Portal frame for a warehouse shell
Built from one job description. You review and adjust every item before issuing it.
Job description
Erect portal frame steel for Unit 9 at Delta Park using a mobile crane and MEWPs. Temporary bracing per engineer's sequence, radio banksman, exclusion under the jib.
Activities identified
- General site work
- Working at height (MEWP)
- Manual handling
- Lifting operations
Method (9 steps)
- 1.Arrive and sign in. Arrive at Delta Park Unit 9, report to the Delta Park 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.Set up the MEWP. Check ground conditions, position the MEWP, deploy outriggers on spreader plates and complete pre-use checks.
- 5.Carry out the lift. Carry out lifts to the lift plan, with the exclusion zone in place and a trained slinger/signaller directing.
- 6.Disconnect and remove existing equipment. Disconnect and remove the existing equipment. Lower or carry it using mechanical aids or team lifts as planned.
- 7.Install new equipment. Position and fix the new equipment to the manufacturer's instructions.
- 8.Clear up and remove waste. Clear the work area, remove waste from site (including recovered refrigerant and hazardous waste) and leave the area safe.
- 9.Hand over and sign out. Hand over to the Delta Park Estates site contact, report anything outstanding and sign out.
Main risks (4 in total)
Fall from height (MEWP)
Residual MediumWho: Operatives, people below
- MEWP used instead of ladders for access to the work area
- Operator holds a valid IPAF (or equivalent) licence for the machine category
- Pre-use checks completed and recorded; thorough examination (LOLER) in date
- Ground conditions checked; outriggers on spreader plates where required
- Ground-level rescue plan in place and a trained person at ground level
- Full-body harness with short work-restraint lanyard clipped to the basket anchor (boom MEWPs)
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
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
Lifting operations
Residual MediumWho: Operatives, public, other trades
- Lift planned by a competent person; lift plan in place
- Lifting equipment and accessories have current LOLER thorough examination
- Exclusion zone below the lift; nobody under suspended loads
- Trained slinger/signaller directs the lift
- Lifts stopped in high winds
What to get right on this document
Lift plans
Appointed people and lift plan references.
Work at height
MEWP vs harness systems matched to the task.
Drop zones
Tool tethering and segregation below.
Quick answer
A steel erection RAMS covers lifting operations, temporary stability, work at height on steel, exclusion zones below, and the interface with cranes/MEWPs on a named frame.
What good looks like on a UK site
Temporary conditions during erection are where people get hurt. Stability and exclusion must be explicit for each phase. 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 structural steel 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
- Do I attach the lift plan?
- Yes — RAMS references it; the lift plan holds the detail.
- Hot works for stud welding?
- Include permit/fire controls where used.
- PC interface?
- Coordinate exclusion with the principal contractor's traffic plan.