Painting & decorating RAMS example

HSE 5-STEP · CDM 2015

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Prepare and repaint interior walls, ceilings and woodwork throughout occupied ground and first floor offices, including redecoration of external window frames reached from a ladder and mobile access tower.

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Preparation and redecoration of the interior of the occupied ground and first floor offices at Kingsway House, 18 Kingsway House, Nottingham NG1 6D**, for Beacon Facilities Management. Works include filling and sanding of walls and woodwork, application of emulsion to walls and ceilings and solvent-based coatings to woodwork, and redecoration of external window frames accessed from a leaning ladder and a mobile access tower. The building predates 2000, so a pre-work asbestos check is required before any preparation that could disturb textured coatings (Artex), and no such material is to be disturbed without a survey.

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Document details
Contractor	Crown Finish Decorators Ltd
Author	S. Hargreaves, Site Supervisor (NVQ Level 2 Painting & Decorating)
Client / Principal Contractor	Beacon Facilities Management
Site	Kingsway House (Ground & First Floor Offices), 18 Kingsway House, Nottingham NG1 6D**
Project reference	CFD-3312
Start / duration	Tue 23 Jun 2026 / 5 days

1. Scope of works

2. Sequence of works

Method statement, safe system of work

Operatives report to the client's facilities contact, sign in, and confirm the areas released for work, occupied zones and agreed working hours.
Review this RAMS, the asbestos register/refurbishment survey for the building and the manufacturers' Safety Data Sheets for all coatings before starting.
Confirm with the client that a refurbishment and demolition asbestos survey has been carried out; identify any textured coatings (Artex), ceiling tiles or other suspect materials and mark them as not to be disturbed.
Where suspect asbestos-containing materials are present and cannot be avoided, stop and refer to a licensed/competent asbestos contractor before any preparation; do not sand, scrape or drill them.
Agree and segregate the day's work area from occupied desks using barriers, signage and dust sheets; protect floors, furniture and IT equipment.
Set out COSHH controls: ventilate the area, keep solvent-based products and white spirit in a designated, ventilated store away from ignition sources, and provide a lidded metal container for solvent-soaked rags.
Carry out surface preparation: wash down, fill cracks and imperfections, and sand filler and existing coatings using sanders fitted with on-tool (Class M) dust extraction.
Where old paint may contain lead (pre-1992 coatings), avoid dry sanding and burning off; use wet abrasion or chemical stripping, collect residues and wear appropriate RPE.
Mask and protect glazing, ironmongery, sockets and switches; do not paint over or interfere with any electrical fittings.
Apply primers, undercoats and finish coats to walls, ceilings and woodwork following the manufacturers' data sheets for coverage, ventilation and drying times.
For any two-pack/isocyanate coatings, mix and apply only with the specified RPE and forced ventilation, keeping other operatives and occupants clear during application and curing.
For external window frames at low level, work from a suitably footed and tied/secured leaning ladder for short-duration tasks, maintaining three points of contact.
For external window frames above ground floor, erect a mobile access tower on firm level ground by a PASMA-trained operative, fully braced with guardrails and toe boards, and inspect before use.
Barrier the ground beneath external work and keep pedestrians and the public clear; do not leave the tower or ladder accessible when unattended.
Clean equipment, decant waste solvents into labelled containers, and remove solvent-soaked rags from site daily to prevent spontaneous combustion.
At the end of each shift, clear the work area, reinstate desks and access routes, and confirm the offices are left clean, safe and secure.
On completion, carry out a final inspection with the client, snag and touch up as required, and remove all materials, waste and protection.
Hand back all areas, confirm no asbestos-containing materials were disturbed, 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
Disturbance of asbestos-containing materials (e.g. textured coatings/Artex, ceiling tiles) during preparation in a pre-2000 building.	Operatives, office occupants and public. Inhalation of asbestos fibres can cause fatal lung disease (asbestosis, mesothelioma) years later.	Pre-2000 building identified. Asbestos awareness trained operatives. Client asked to provide the asbestos register.	2×5=10	Do not start preparation until a refurbishment and demolition survey is available (Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012). Identify and mark all suspect materials as not to be disturbed. Never sand, scrape, drill or overpaint textured coatings without confirmation they are asbestos-free. If suspect material is found or damaged, stop work immediately, prevent access and refer to a competent/licensed asbestos contractor before continuing.	Low
Exposure to hazardous substances from paints, solvents, isocyanates (two-pack coatings) and white spirit (inhalation, skin/eye contact).	Operatives, office occupants. Respiratory sensitisation and occupational asthma (isocyanates), dermatitis, headaches, eye irritation.	COSHH assessments held. Manufacturers' Safety Data Sheets consulted. Low-VOC water-based products used where suitable.	3×3=9	Substitute solvent-based products with water-based where the specification allows (elimination/substitution). Ensure good natural or mechanical ventilation during application and curing. Restrict isocyanate two-pack coatings to trained operatives using specified air-fed/appropriate RPE and forced ventilation, keeping occupants clear. Wear nitrile gloves and eye protection; apply barrier cream. Follow COSHH 2002 and each product's SDS.	Low
Inhalation of dust from sanding of fillers and existing coatings, including possible lead-based paint in older layers.	Operatives, office occupants. Respiratory irritation; lead absorption can cause serious ill health.	Sanders fitted with on-tool dust extraction. Dust sheets and area segregation. General ventilation.	3×3=9	Use sanders with Class M on-tool (H-type/HEPA) extraction rather than dry hand sanding to remove dust at source. Treat pre-1992 coatings as potentially lead-based: avoid dry sanding and hot-air/burning removal, use wet abrasion or chemical stripping, collect and bag residues, and wear FFP3 RPE (face-fit tested). Clean by H-class vacuum, not dry sweeping. Wash hands before eating; no eating or drinking in the work area.	Low
Fall from height during redecoration of external window frames from a ladder or mobile access tower.	Operatives. Falls from height can cause fractures, serious injury or fatality.	PASMA-trained operative for tower. Ladders and tower inspected before use. Work at Height Regulations 2005 followed.	2×4=8	Follow the Work at Height Regulations 2005 hierarchy: use the mobile access tower with guardrails and toe boards as a stable working platform in preference to a ladder for anything but short-duration tasks. Erect, alter and dismantle the tower only by a PASMA-trained operative, fully braced on firm level ground, and inspect and tag before use. Foot and tie/secure leaning ladders, set at 75 degrees, and maintain three points of contact. Do not overreach; reposition instead. Do not work at height in high winds.	Low
Slips, trips and falls in an occupied office from trailing leads, dust sheets, spilled paint and wet floors.	Operatives and office occupants. Sprains, fractures, head injuries.	Good housekeeping. Dust sheets taped down. Segregation of work area from desks.	3×2=6	Keep walkways and fire exits clear at all times. Secure dust sheets so they do not curl or slip; route leads away from walkways or cover them. Clean spills immediately and place wet-floor/wet-paint signs. Maintain a tidy work area and remove waste as work progresses. Keep occupants out of the active work zone using barriers and signage.	Low
Fire and explosion from flammable paints, solvents, white spirit and spontaneous combustion of solvent-soaked rags.	Operatives, occupants, property. Burns, smoke inhalation, property damage.	No hot works. Solvent products in original labelled containers. Awareness of flammable material storage.	2×4=8	Store flammable liquids in a designated, ventilated area away from ignition sources and escape routes, in minimum working quantities (DSEAR). Keep containers closed when not in use. Place solvent-soaked rags in a lidded metal bin and remove from site daily to prevent spontaneous combustion. No smoking or naked flames in the work area. Keep a suitable extinguisher to hand and keep fire exits and alarm call points unobstructed.	Low
Public and occupants in the vicinity, including below external work and around barriers/signage.	Public, office occupants, visitors. Struck by falling tools/materials, contact with wet paint, trips over equipment.	Occupied-site awareness. Segregation of internal work areas. Signage for wet paint.	2×3=6	Barrier and sign the ground beneath external work at height to exclude the public and occupants. Do not leave tools or materials on ladder rungs or tower platforms unattended. Maintain a clear, safe route to the building entrance at all times. Restrict tower/ladder access when unattended and never leave a means of climbing accessible. Carry out overhead work when footfall is lowest where practicable.	Low

4. Plant & equipment

Mobile access tower (PASMA, erected with guardrails and toe boards, inspected and tagged)
Leaning ladder (Class 1 / EN 131, footed and tied)
Orbital/detail sanders with on-tool Class M (H-type) dust extraction
H-class (HEPA) vacuum cleaner
Brushes, rollers, scrapers and filling knives
Dust sheets and masking materials
Lidded metal bin for solvent-soaked rags
Barriers, cones and signage

5. Materials / COSHH

Water-based emulsions, solvent-based gloss/eggshell, primers, fillers, two-pack isocyanate coatings and white spirit are used. A COSHH assessment is held for each product and the manufacturer's Safety Data Sheet is consulted before use. Water-based products are substituted for solvent-based wherever the specification allows. Isocyanate-containing two-pack coatings are used only by trained operatives with specified RPE and forced ventilation. Dust from sanding is controlled at source by on-tool extraction; pre-1992 coatings are treated as potentially lead-based and are not dry-sanded or burned off. Solvent-soaked rags are stored in a lidded metal container and removed daily. Suspected asbestos-containing materials are not disturbed and are managed under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, not as general COSHH substances.

6. PPE

Safety footwear
Disposable coveralls (Type 5/6) for sanding and spraying
Nitrile chemical-resistant gloves
Safety glasses / goggles
FFP3 disposable respirator (face-fit tested) for sanding and lead/dust work
Air-fed or specified RPE when applying isocyanate two-pack coatings
Hard hat and high-visibility clothing for external work at height near the public

7. Competence & training

All operatives hold NVQ Level 2 in Painting & Decorating and valid CSCS cards. All have completed asbestos awareness training (UKATA or equivalent) as required by the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. The operative erecting and using the mobile access tower is PASMA-trained. Operatives using RPE have been face-fit tested for the masks they wear. S. Hargreaves (Author) is the Site Supervisor responsible for COSHH controls, the asbestos check and the work-at-height arrangements.

8. Permits

Permit to work for external work at height (issued before tower/ladder work commences).
Area/handover agreement with the client releasing each zone and confirming occupied areas.
Written confirmation that a refurbishment and demolition asbestos survey has been completed before preparation begins.

9. Access & egress

Access is via the client's main entrance and internal stairwell; the passenger lift is not used for materials without agreement. Internal walkways and all fire escape routes are kept clear at all times. External works are reached from a cordoned area of pavement/car park, with a clear route maintained to the building entrance. The mobile access tower and ladders are the controlled means of access to external window frames and are not left climbable when unattended.

10. Welfare

Toilet, hand-washing and kitchen facilities within the client's offices are used by prior arrangement. Hand-washing is available before eating and after handling coatings; no eating or drinking takes place in the work area. Operatives carry drinking water. Rest breaks are taken away from occupied desks and the active work zone.

11. First aid

A stocked first aid kit is carried in the company vehicle and its location is known to all operatives; an eye-wash station is available for splashes. At least one operative is a trained first aider. For solvent or isocyanate exposure causing breathing difficulty, remove the person to fresh air and seek medical advice, taking the product Safety Data Sheet. For serious injury, call 999 and follow the client's site emergency plan.

12. Emergency procedures

In the event of fire, raise the alarm, evacuate via the nearest escape route, call 999 and report to the client's assembly point; do not tackle anything beyond a small, safe fire with the extinguisher provided. If suspected asbestos-containing material is disturbed, stop work immediately, prevent access to the area, keep people out and report to the supervisor and client before any further work. In the event of a fall or injury at height, make the area safe, administer first aid and call 999. Report reportable incidents under RIDDOR.

13. Environmental

Waste paint, solvents and contaminated materials are segregated and removed from site for disposal as hazardous waste through a licensed carrier; nothing is poured down drains or sinks. Empty containers and packaging are recycled where possible. Water-based products are preferred to reduce solvent emissions. Dust is controlled at source to prevent spread within the occupied building. Any suspected asbestos waste is handled only by a licensed contractor under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.

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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