Drylining RAMS example

HSE 5-STEP · CDM 2015

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Install metal-stud partitions and plasterboard, then tape and joint, in a commercial fit-out. The floor is unoccupied and handed over as a bare shell for the fit-out works.

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Installation of metal-stud partitions and plasterboard linings, followed by taping and jointing, to the second floor of Kingsworth House, 40 Cavendish Street, Sheffield S3 7R**, as part of a commercial fit-out for Kingsworth Fit-Out Contractors. The floor is handed over as an unoccupied bare shell. Works include setting out and fixing floor and ceiling track, erecting metal studs, installing acoustic insulation, boarding both faces, and taping, jointing and sanding ready for decoration. Access at height is by mobile access towers.

Generated for an example job to show the format. Make your own site-specific version and have a competent person review it.

Document details
Contractor	Meridian Interiors Ltd
Author	T. Osei, Drylining Supervisor (CSCS Gold, SSSTS)
Client / Principal Contractor	Kingsworth Fit-Out Contractors
Site	Second Floor, Kingsworth House, Kingsworth House, 40 Cavendish Street, Sheffield S3 7R**
Project reference	MI-4471
Start / duration	Tue 23 Jun 2026 / 10 days

1. Scope of works

2. Sequence of works

Method statement, safe system of work

Operatives report to the Principal Contractor, sign in, attend the site induction and confirm this RAMS, the fit-out drawings and the partition setting-out.
Confirm the floor is handed over unoccupied and as a bare shell, with no live services in the work area, and check the permit and access arrangements.
Take delivery of materials to a designated loading point using the building lift, checking floor loading limits with the Principal Contractor before stacking plasterboard.
Distribute plasterboard and metal stud in manageable quantities to each work area, avoiding long carries and overloading any single floor bay.
Set out partition lines to the drawings using laser and chalk lines, marking door openings and service penetrations.
Cut floor and ceiling track to length using the chop saw at a designated cutting station with extraction and guarding in place.
Fix floor and ceiling track to the structure with appropriate fixings, wearing eye protection and using the screwgun correctly.
Inspect, erect and stabilise the mobile access towers to the manufacturer's instructions and PASMA method, fitting guardrails and toe boards before use.
Cut and install metal studs at design centres, working from the tower platform where the work is above safe reach from the floor.
Install acoustic insulation between studs, wearing gloves, eye protection and a mask to control mineral-fibre irritation.
Board the first face of each partition with plasterboard, lifting large sheets as a two-person operation and fixing with cordless screwguns.
Run first-fix services penetrations and firestopping by others where required before closing up the second face; coordinate with the Principal Contractor.
Board the second face of each partition, again lifting sheets two-person and fixing to the studs.
Cut plasterboard using a drywall saw or scored-and-snapped by hand rather than power cutting where practicable, to limit dust and noise.
Tape and apply jointing compound to all board joints, internal and external angles, and screw heads, in successive coats.
Sand the dried joints using orbital sanders fitted with on-tool (M-class) dust extraction, wearing FFP3 respiratory protection.
Clean down each area progressively with an M-class vacuum, never dry sweeping fine joint dust.
Dismantle and relocate mobile towers between areas following PASMA method, and inspect before each re-use.
Segregate and remove plasterboard offcuts (as a separate waste stream), packaging and general waste to the Principal Contractor's designated skips.
Carry out a final inspection with the Principal Contractor, confirm the partitions are complete and ready for decoration, and sign out.

3. Risk assessment

HSE 5-STEP · MHSWR 1999 REG 3 · HIERARCHY OF CONTROL

Risk assessment: hazards, who may be harmed, controls and residual risk
Hazard	Who / how	Existing controls	L×S	Additional controls	Residual
Fall from height while working from mobile access towers to install studs and board at high level.	Operatives. A fall from a tower platform can cause serious injury or fatality.	PASMA-trained operatives. Mobile towers erected to the manufacturer's instructions with guardrails and toe boards. Bare, unoccupied floor with clear access.	2×5=10	Work to the Work at Height Regulations 2005: use a fully assembled tower with double guardrails and toe boards, erected and inspected by a PASMA-trained operative and tagged before use. Access via the internal ladder only, with the trap hatch closed when working. Never move a tower while a person or materials are on it, and check for and keep clear of the tower footprint. Do not overreach; reposition the tower instead. Re-inspect after any move and record inspections.	Low
Manual handling of large, heavy plasterboard sheets and metal stud.	Operatives. Musculoskeletal injuries to the back, shoulders and hands, and struck-by injury if a sheet is dropped.	Manual handling trained operatives. Materials distributed close to work areas. Awareness that large boards are a two-person lift.	3×3=9	Follow the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992: handle full-size plasterboard sheets as a planned two-person lift, and use a board trolley or panel lifter for repeated moves and for boarding at height. Store boards flat and stable, not leaned where they can topple. Break deliveries into manageable loads and avoid carrying boards up tower ladders, raising them by a safe method instead. Use good technique, keep loads close and avoid twisting.	Low
Respirable crystalline silica and gypsum dust from sanding joints and cutting plasterboard.	Operatives. Airborne dust can cause respiratory irritation; silica-bearing joint products carry a long-term risk of lung damage.	COSHH assessment for jointing and sanding. General ventilation on the open floor. Awareness of dust hazards.	3×4=12	Control dust at source under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002: sand joints with orbital sanders fitted with on-tool M-class extraction, and cut plasterboard by scoring and snapping or with a hand saw rather than power cutting where practicable. Provide FFP3 respiratory protection, face-fit tested, for sanding. Clean up with an M-class vacuum, never dry sweeping or compressed air. Isolate dusty tasks from other trades by area and timing where possible.	Low
Contact with rotating and cutting power tools (cordless screwguns, chop saw, drywall saw, sander).	Operatives. Cuts, lacerations, puncture wounds, entanglement or eye injury from ejected material.	Trained operatives. Tools maintained and inspected (PAT / battery tool checks). Guards fitted to the chop saw.	2×3=6	Use tools only for their intended purpose with guards in place and set up the chop saw at a stable, designated cutting station. Inspect tools and blades before use and remove damaged equipment from service. Wear eye protection for all cutting and fixing. Keep hands clear of blades and screw points, and let tools stop before setting them down. Cut-resistant gloves when handling cut metal stud edges. Battery tools de-energised (battery out) when changing bits or blades.	Low
Noise from cutting metal track/stud, fixing and power sanding in an enclosed shell.	Operatives and other trades nearby. Prolonged exposure can cause noise-induced hearing loss; the hard-surfaced shell reflects and raises noise levels.	Awareness of noisy tasks. Ear protection available. Cutting concentrated at a designated station.	3×2=6	Follow the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005: reduce noise at source by using scored-and-snapped cutting and cordless tools where practicable, and site the chop saw away from other work areas. Provide and enforce hearing protection during cutting and extended sanding, and designate hearing-protection zones by task. Rotate operatives to limit individual exposure time. Coordinate noisy work with the Principal Contractor to limit the number of people exposed.	Low
Hand-arm vibration (HAVS) from prolonged use of screwguns, sanders and the chop saw.	Operatives. Regular, prolonged exposure can cause hand-arm vibration syndrome, with numbness, loss of grip and circulation damage.	Low-vibration cordless tools selected. Awareness of trigger-time limits. Tools maintained.	2×3=6	Follow the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005: select low-vibration tools, keep them maintained and blades/bits sharp so tasks take less trigger time, and manage daily trigger-time exposure against the tools' vibration data. Rotate high-vibration tasks between operatives and take regular breaks. Keep hands warm and dry to maintain circulation. Report early symptoms (tingling, numbness) under health surveillance.	Low
Slips, trips and falls on the level from offcuts, board debris, trailing leads and materials on the shell floor.	Operatives and other trades. Sprains, fractures and struck-by injury, and heightened consequence around tower access points.	General housekeeping. Materials distributed to designated areas. Clear, unoccupied floor.	3×2=6	Maintain good housekeeping throughout: clear offcuts and packaging progressively into designated waste points rather than at the end of the day. Route battery tools to avoid trailing leads and keep charging leads out of walkways. Keep the tower footprint and access routes clear. Stack boards flat and stable so they cannot slide. Provide adequate task lighting on the shell floor. Wear appropriate footwear with good grip.	Low

4. Plant & equipment

Mobile access towers (PASMA, to BS EN 1004)
Cordless drywall screwguns
Chop saw for metal track and stud (guarded, at a fixed cutting station)
Drywall saw / plasterboard cutter (hand tools)
Orbital sander with on-tool (M-class) dust extraction
M-class vacuum for clean-down
Plasterboard panel lifter / board trolley
Laser level and setting-out tools
Taping and jointing hand tools

5. Materials / COSHH

The principal COSHH substances are joint compound and the dust generated by sanding it, plasterboard cutting dust, and mineral-fibre acoustic insulation. A COSHH assessment and Safety Data Sheet is held for each product and briefed to operatives. Dust is controlled at source by on-tool M-class extraction on sanders, scored-and-snapped board cutting where practicable, and M-class vacuum clean-down; FFP3 respiratory protection is worn for sanding. Acoustic insulation is handled with gloves, eye protection and a mask to limit fibre irritation. Ready-mixed joint compound is used where practicable to reduce airborne powder. Waste is disposed of per the Safety Data Sheet and waste regulations, with plasterboard kept as a separate waste stream.

6. PPE

Safety helmet (EN 397)
Safety footwear (steel toe and midsole)
High-visibility clothing
FFP3 respirator (face-fit tested) for sanding, cutting and insulation handling
Eye protection (goggles) for cutting, fixing and sanding
Cut-resistant gloves for handling metal stud and board edges
Hearing protection during cutting and extended sanding

7. Competence & training

All operatives hold valid CSCS cards for drylining and are trained in manual handling, COSHH and safe use of the power tools in use. Mobile access tower erection and use is carried out only by PASMA-trained operatives, and towers are inspected and tagged before use. T. Osei (Author) holds SSSTS and supervises the works, including the tower inspection regime and coordination with the Principal Contractor. RPE wearers are face-fit tested, and operatives using vibrating tools are under HAVS health surveillance.

8. Permits

Mobile access tower handover/inspection record (completed before first use and re-inspected after each move and at least every 7 days).
Permit to load / confirmation of floor loading limits from the Principal Contractor before stacking plasterboard.

9. Access & egress

Access to the second floor is via the building lift and the protected stair core, as agreed with the Principal Contractor. Within the floor plate, access at height is by mobile access tower with internal ladder access and the trap hatch closed when working. Routes between work areas and to the stair core are kept clear of materials, offcuts and trailing leads, and emergency escape routes to the protected stair are maintained unobstructed at all times.

10. Welfare

Welfare is provided by the Principal Contractor: toilets, hand-washing and rest/drying facilities within the site establishment, which operatives use for breaks away from the dusty work areas. Drinking water is available on site. Hand-washing is used before eating given cement/jointing product contact.

11. First aid

First aid is provided under the Principal Contractor's site arrangements; the location of first aid facilities and the names of site first aiders are confirmed at induction. A stocked first aid kit is also carried by the company. For serious injury call 999 immediately, do not move a casualty who may have fallen unless in further danger, and follow the site emergency plan. The site address is available for the emergency services.

12. Emergency procedures

In an emergency, follow the Principal Contractor's site emergency plan and evacuation procedure: on the alarm, stop work, make tools safe, leave via the protected stair core and report to the muster point. Do not use the lift in a fire. In the event of a fall from a tower or other serious injury, stop work, make the area safe, administer first aid and call 999. Any damaged tower is taken out of use, tagged and re-inspected before further use. Reportable incidents are notified to the Principal Contractor and, where reportable, under RIDDOR.

13. Environmental

Waste is segregated at source: plasterboard offcuts are kept as a separate waste stream to the Principal Contractor's designated skip, with packaging, metal and general waste segregated for recycling where possible. Dust is controlled at source and cleaned with M-class vacuums to keep it out of the wider building and shared air. Noise from cutting is limited by method and coordinated with other trades. Deliveries are planned to reduce vehicle movements, and no hazardous liquid waste is expected from the works.

This document was AI-generated as a drafting aid. It is not a substitute for professional health & safety advice. It must be reviewed, verified and made site-specific by a competent person before use, briefed to all operatives, and updated when site conditions or the method change. The provider accepts no liability for use of this document on site.

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