Flooring RAMS example

HSE 5-STEP · CDM 2015

You write this

Prepare the existing subfloor, apply a cement-based levelling screed and lay LVT/vinyl floorcovering in an occupied domestic kitchen-diner.

You get this

Preparation of the existing subfloor, application of a cement-based levelling screed and installation of LVT/vinyl floorcovering in the occupied domestic kitchen-diner at 12 Willow Close, Derby DE22 3F**. Works include mechanical floor preparation with dust extraction, priming, mixing and pouring of levelling compound, and adhesive fixing of the floorcovering, carried out while the household remains in occupation.

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	Meadow Floors Ltd
Author	D. Reynolds, Lead Floor Layer (NVQ Level 2 Floorcovering)
Client / Principal Contractor	Not specified
Site	12 Willow Close, 12 Willow Close, Derby DE22 3F**
Project reference	MF-4521
Start / duration	Tue 23 Jun 2026 / 3 days

1. Scope of works

2. Sequence of works

Method statement, safe system of work

Operatives arrive, introduce themselves to the occupier, explain the works, the sequence and that the kitchen-diner will be out of use while the screed and adhesive cure.
Agree access routes, protection of adjacent floors and furniture, and confirm which welfare facilities may be used.
Review this RAMS and the Safety Data Sheets for the primer, levelling compound and adhesive before starting.
Clear and protect the work area: move light furniture with the occupier's agreement, lay protection to hallway and adjoining floors, and cordon the room from children and pets.
Assess the existing floorcovering and subfloor; as the building age does not indicate asbestos risk, proceed, but stop and refer for testing if any suspect bitumen/black adhesive or old vinyl tiles are found.
Remove the existing floorcovering and residues by hand where possible to minimise dust.
Mechanically prepare the subfloor using a floor grinder fitted with on-tool (Class M/H-type) dust extraction to remove high spots and old adhesive.
Vacuum the prepared floor with an H-class vacuum; do not dry sweep. Check the subfloor for moisture and soundness before proceeding.
Cut in and prime the subfloor with the specified primer, observing ventilation and drying times per the data sheet.
Break down and position levelling-compound bags near the mixing point using kinetic lifting or a sack truck to reduce manual handling strain.
Mix the cement-based levelling compound in a bucket with a paddle mixer, wearing gloves and eye protection to control cement contact and dust.
Pour and trowel the levelling screed to the required depth, working back towards the exit to avoid stepping on wet screed.
Allow the screed to cure fully per the manufacturer's data; keep the occupier, children and pets off the wet and curing floor with barriers and signage.
Set out the LVT/vinyl, then apply latex/PU adhesive with the correct trowel notch, maintaining ventilation and observing open time.
Lay the floorcovering, trimming to fit with a sharp hooked knife, cutting away from the body on a stable surface with a fresh blade.
Roll the floor to bed the adhesive, clean off surplus adhesive immediately, and check for a fully bonded, defect-free finish.
Remove waste, off-cuts and empty bags, and clean tools; do not wash cement or adhesive residues into household drains.
Reinstate furniture where agreed once the floor is trafficable, brief the occupier on cure/no-traffic times, and hand back the room.
Complete the job record and sign off with the occupier.

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
Exposure to hazardous substances from cement-based levelling compound, primer and latex/PU flooring adhesive (skin/eye contact, inhalation).	Operatives, occupier. Cement can cause burns and dermatitis; adhesives/primers can cause sensitisation, headaches and eye irritation.	COSHH assessments held. Manufacturers' Safety Data Sheets consulted. Products used in original labelled containers.	3×3=9	Follow COSHH 2002 and each product's SDS. Use low-odour/solvent-free adhesives and primers where the specification allows (substitution). Wear nitrile gloves and eye protection when handling wet cement and adhesive; apply barrier cream and wash promptly after skin contact. Ensure good ventilation during priming and adhesive application in the occupied home. Keep the occupier out of the area during application and curing.	Low
Inhalation of dust, including respirable crystalline silica (RCS), from mechanical grinding of the subfloor and dry cement powder.	Operatives, occupier. Long-term silica exposure can cause silicosis and other serious lung disease.	Floor grinder used with on-tool dust extraction. Area segregated from occupied rooms. Bags opened carefully.	3×4=12	Control RCS at source: use the grinder only with Class M/H-type on-tool extraction and never dry-grind without it (COSHH 2002). Vacuum with an H-class vacuum rather than dry sweeping. Add levelling powder gently to the water to limit airborne dust. Wear FFP3 RPE (face-fit tested) during grinding and powder handling. Seal the doorway to the rest of the occupied home to prevent dust spread.	Low
Manual handling of levelling-compound bags, adhesive tubs and rolls of floorcovering.	Operatives. Musculoskeletal injuries to the back, shoulders and arms.	Manual handling trained operatives. Materials delivered close to the work area.	3×2=6	Follow the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992: assess loads, use a sack truck or trolley to move screed bags, and team-lift heavy or awkward rolls. Break loads into manageable amounts and store at a convenient height to avoid repeated bending. Adopt good lifting technique, keep loads close and avoid twisting. Keep access routes clear so loads are not carried over obstacles.	Low
Musculoskeletal injury from prolonged kneeling, crouching and repetitive movements during floor laying.	Operatives. Knee injuries (e.g. bursitis), back and joint strain.	Knee pads worn. Awareness of posture. Task variation where possible.	3×2=6	Use knee pads or a kneeling board to reduce direct pressure on the knees. Rotate tasks between operatives and take regular short breaks to change posture. Work at a comfortable position and avoid overreaching. Keep the working area clear so movement is not restricted. Report any early signs of joint or back discomfort to the supervisor.	Low
Cuts and lacerations from sharp trimming knives when cutting LVT/vinyl.	Operatives. Cuts to hands, fingers and legs, some potentially deep.	Sharp blades used to reduce force. Cutting on a stable surface. Experienced operatives.	3×2=6	Use a knife with a sharp, fresh blade so less force is needed, and cut away from the body and away from the supporting hand. Use cut-resistant gloves where practicable and retract or sheath the blade when not cutting. Change blades promptly when blunt and dispose of used blades in a rigid sharps container, not loose in waste. Keep the cutting area clear and stable.	Low
Slips and trips on wet screed, spilled adhesive, primer or a freshly laid floor in an occupied home.	Operatives, occupier, children and pets. Sprains, fractures, contamination of clothing/footwear.	Barriers and signage to wet areas. Good housekeeping. Occupier briefed on no-access times.	3×2=6	Pour and lay working back towards the exit so operatives never step onto wet screed. Barrier and sign the room while the screed and adhesive cure and brief the occupier to keep children and pets out. Clean spills of primer/adhesive immediately. Maintain clean, dry access routes through the home and remove waste as work progresses. Wear suitable footwear with good grip.	Low
Occupied domestic property: disturbance, restricted room use, damage to the home and interaction with occupants.	Operatives (complaints), occupier and household (distress, injury from hazards, property damage).	Experienced operatives. Clear communication with the occupier. Protection of adjacent finishes.	2×2=4	Hold a pre-start discussion with the occupier on the sequence, no-access times and welfare. Protect hallways, doorframes and adjoining floors from damage and dust. Keep the work area tidy and secure tools when unattended so they are not accessible to children. Agree a single clear access route and keep other rooms undisturbed. Leave the property clean and secure at the end of each day.	Low

4. Plant & equipment

Floor grinder with on-tool Class M/H-type dust extraction
H-class (HEPA) vacuum cleaner
Bucket and paddle mixer (drill-driven)
Trowels, floor rollers and setting-out tools
Hooked trimming knives with retractable/replaceable blades
Sharps container for used blades
Sack truck / trolley for moving bags
Knee pads / kneeling board
Dust sheets, protection and doorway dust screen

5. Materials / COSHH

Cement-based levelling compound, primer, LVT/vinyl floorcovering and latex/PU flooring adhesive are used. A COSHH assessment is held for each product and the manufacturer's Safety Data Sheet is consulted before use. Cement-based products are alkaline and can cause burns and dermatitis, so skin and eye contact is controlled with gloves and eye protection. Dry cement powder and grinding of the subfloor can release respirable crystalline silica, which is controlled at source with on-tool extraction and FFP3 RPE. Low-odour/solvent-free primers and adhesives are used where the specification allows, with ventilation during application and curing. Waste and residues are removed from site and not washed into household drains.

6. PPE

Safety footwear with good grip
Nitrile chemical-resistant gloves (cement/adhesive) and cut-resistant gloves for knife work
Safety glasses / goggles
FFP3 disposable respirator (face-fit tested) for grinding and cement powder handling
Knee pads
Disposable coveralls when grinding or handling wet screed
Ear protection when using the floor grinder

7. Competence & training

All operatives hold NVQ Level 2 in Floorcovering and valid CSCS cards, and are trained in manual handling. Operatives using RPE have been face-fit tested for the masks they wear, and those using the floor grinder are trained in its safe use and dust control. D. Reynolds (Author) is the Lead Floor Layer responsible for the COSHH controls, dust management and the overall method on site.

8. Permits

No formal permit to work is required for this domestic floor-laying task; work proceeds under this RAMS and the occupier's agreement.
Occupier agreement to isolate the kitchen-diner while the screed and adhesive cure is confirmed before pouring.

9. Access & egress

Access is via the client's front door and hallway to the kitchen-diner. A single agreed access route is protected and kept clear; other rooms are kept undisturbed. Emergency egress from the dwelling is maintained at all times. While the screed and adhesive cure, the room is barriered and signed and the occupier is briefed to keep children and pets clear.

10. Welfare

Toilet, hand-washing and kitchen facilities within the occupier's home are used by prior arrangement. Hand-washing is available before eating and after handling cement and adhesives; no eating or drinking takes place in the work area. Operatives carry drinking water. Breaks are taken away from the work area.

11. First aid

A stocked first aid kit is carried in the company vehicle and its location is known to both operatives; an eye-wash bottle is available for cement/adhesive splashes. For cement contact, rinse the skin or eyes thoroughly with water and seek medical advice if irritation or burning persists, taking the product Safety Data Sheet. For a deep cut, apply direct pressure and seek medical help; for serious injury call 999.

12. Emergency procedures

In the event of fire, alert the occupier, evacuate the property, call 999 and gather at a safe point outside. For cement or adhesive in the eyes, irrigate immediately with clean water for at least the time stated on the SDS and seek medical attention. For a serious cut or other injury, administer first aid and call 999 where needed. Stop work and reassess if any suspect asbestos-containing material (e.g. old bitumen adhesive or vinyl tiles) is uncovered. Report reportable incidents under RIDDOR.

13. Environmental

Waste floorcovering, off-cuts, empty bags and adhesive containers are segregated and removed from site for appropriate disposal or recycling. Cement and adhesive residues are not washed into household drains; wash-out is collected and disposed of correctly. Dust is controlled at source to prevent spread through the occupied home. Low-odour/solvent-free products are preferred to reduce emissions, and materials are ordered to minimise surplus and packaging waste.

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.

Want one like this for your job?

First document free. Then £15 each, or three for £35. No subscription.

Get my RAMS