Plastering RAMS example

HSE 5-STEP · CDM 2015

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Plaster and skim internal walls and ceilings to two rooms in an occupied domestic renovation, working from hop-ups and a mobile access tower, using bagged plaster mixed on site.

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Plastering and skimming of internal walls and ceilings to two rooms at 18 Beckett Grove, Leeds LS8 2R**, for Mr & Mrs Ashworth, as part of an occupied domestic renovation. Works include preparation of backgrounds, application of bonding/undercoat where required, and a skim finish. Ceiling and high-wall work is carried out from a PASMA-compliant mobile access tower and hop-ups. Plaster is mixed on site from bagged materials using an electric paddle mixer. The dwelling remains occupied throughout, so dust control, protection of finishes and safe access for the occupants are managed at all times.

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	Trueline Plastering Ltd
Author	S. Whitaker, Site Supervisor (NVQ Level 2 Plastering)
Client / Principal Contractor	Mr & Mrs Ashworth
Site	18 Beckett Grove, 18 Beckett Grove, Leeds LS8 2R**
Project reference	TPL-3315
Start / duration	Tue 23 Jun 2026 / 4 days

1. Scope of works

2. Sequence of works

Method statement, safe system of work

Operatives arrive, review this RAMS, agree the day's work areas with the occupants and confirm which rooms and routes must stay available to the household.
Introduce ourselves to the occupants, explain the works, expected duration, noise and dust, and confirm welfare arrangements and any vulnerable persons in the property.
Isolate the work rooms from the rest of the occupied dwelling using dust sheets and taped dust barriers/zip doors to limit the spread of plaster and cement dust.
Protect floors, fixed furniture and finishes with dust sheets and boards; remove or cover items that cannot be plastered around.
Inspect the mobile access tower components on arrival; quarantine any damaged parts and confirm the tower is complete before assembly.
Erect the mobile access tower in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and PASMA training, using the 3T or advance-guardrail method, on firm level floor with castors locked and outriggers/stabilisers fitted as specified.
Complete and display a tower inspection tag before first use and re-inspect after any move or at least every 7 days while in use.
Set out the mixing station in a ventilated area, on protected flooring, with the 110V transformer and paddle mixer positioned to keep leads clear of access routes.
Decant bagged plaster carefully to minimise dust release; add powder to water (not water to powder) and mix with the paddle mixer at low speed to control airborne dust.
Prepare and treat backgrounds (brush down, apply PVA/bonding agent as specified) checking suction and that surfaces are sound before plastering.
Apply bonding/undercoat where required to walls and ceilings, ruling off and scratching to key, working off hop-ups at low level and the tower for ceilings and high walls.
Apply the skim finish coat to walls and ceilings, maintaining three points of contact when climbing and never overreaching from the tower platform.
Trowel up and finish the plaster in stages, keeping tools, buckets and spot boards off the platform edges and away from access routes.
Clean tools, buckets and the mixer in a controlled manner, settling out plaster/cement washings rather than discharging solids to the foul drain.
Clear plaster debris and empty bags as work proceeds; damp-wipe or vacuum (H-class where fine dust is present) rather than dry-sweeping to control respirable dust.
Move the tower only when clear of people, tools and materials, with the platform unloaded and following the manufacturer's move procedure.
At the end of each shift, make the work area safe, remove trip hazards, coil and store leads, and confirm access routes and the property are left safe for the occupants.
On completion, remove dust barriers and sheeting, clean down all surfaces and floors, and walk the finished rooms with the occupants.
Remove all waste, empty bags and washings from site for appropriate disposal and confirm the dwelling is left clean, secure and safe.
Sign out and notify the client that the works are complete.

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
Inhalation of plaster and cement dust, including respirable crystalline silica (RCS) from cement-based products, during decanting, mixing, sanding and clean-up.	Operatives and occupants. Long-term exposure to RCS and gypsum/cement dust can cause silicosis, chronic obstructive lung disease and occupational asthma; short-term irritation of the eyes, nose and throat.	Bagged materials handled carefully. General ventilation of the work area. Awareness of dust hazards. COSHH assessment held for cement and plaster products.	3×4=12	Follow the hierarchy of control under COSHH 2002: eliminate dry-sweeping; add powder to water and mix at low speed to suppress dust; use pre-mixed or low-silica products where practicable. Control at source with damp-down and H-class (M-class minimum) vacuuming rather than brushing. Ventilate the room. Provide RPE (FFP3 disposable or half-mask) that is face-fit tested to the wearer as a last line of defence. Keep occupants out of the work room while dust is generated and maintain dust barriers.	Low
Skin contact with wet cement, bonding coat and plaster causing cement burns, irritant/allergic contact dermatitis.	Operatives. Wet cement is highly alkaline and can cause serious chemical burns and ulceration on prolonged contact; repeated contact causes dermatitis and chromate sensitisation.	Awareness of cement hazards. Washing facilities available. COSHH assessment and Safety Data Sheets held for cement-based products.	3×3=9	Follow HSE cement/dermatitis guidance: use chromate-reduced cement products within shelf life. Provide and wear waterproof nitrile/rubber gloves and long sleeves to prevent skin contact; tuck gloves into cuffs to stop plaster running inside. Change out wet or contaminated clothing promptly. Provide hot and cold washing water, mild soap and after-work skin cream; wash off wet cement immediately. Never kneel in wet plaster/cement; use knee protection. Carry out skin checks and report any irritation early.	Low
Fall from height when plastering ceilings and high walls from the mobile access tower or hop-ups.	Operatives. Falls from a tower or hop-up can cause fractures, head injuries or fatality.	PASMA-trained operatives. Tower erected to manufacturer's instructions with guardrails and toe boards. Hop-ups of suitable height and construction.	2×4=8	Work to the Work at Height Regulations 2005 hierarchy: use hop-ups for low-level work to avoid the tower where reasonably practicable. Erect and use the tower per PASMA (3T/advance guardrail), on firm level ground with castors locked and stabilisers/outriggers fitted. Fully board the platform, keep guardrails and toe boards in place, and access via the internal ladder maintaining three points of contact. Do not overreach or use boxes/steps on the platform. Inspect and tag the tower before use and after each move. Never move the tower while occupied or loaded.	Low
Manual handling of bagged plaster/cement (typically up to 25 kg), mixed buckets and tower components.	Operatives. Musculoskeletal injuries to the back, shoulders and arms from lifting, carrying and repetitive mixing.	Manual handling awareness training. Materials delivered close to the work area where possible.	3×2=6	Follow the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 hierarchy: order plaster in smaller/handleable bag sizes and have materials delivered/placed near the point of use to reduce carrying. Break loads down; do not fill buckets beyond a safely liftable weight. Use good lifting technique, keep loads close, avoid twisting, and team-lift or use a sack truck for multiple bags. Rotate mixing duties to limit repetitive strain. Store materials at waist height where possible.	Low
Electric shock from the paddle mixer, leads and transformer in a wet mixing environment.	Operatives. Electric shock or burns; increased risk from wet hands and damp floors.	110V equipment used via transformer. Visual inspection of leads before use. Portable appliance testing in date.	2×3=6	Use 110V CTE reduced-voltage tools and leads via a transformer, or 230V only through an RCD. Pre-use visual check of the mixer, plugs and leads; remove damaged equipment from use. Keep the transformer and connections clear of water and off wet floors. Route leads to avoid trip hazards and cutting/abrasion. Do not carry or lower the mixer by its lead. Ensure operatives are competent with the equipment and switch off/isolate before clearing jams.	Low
Slips, trips and falls on the same level from plaster spillage, wet floors, buckets, leads and dust sheets in an occupied dwelling.	Operatives and occupants. Slips and trips can cause sprains, fractures and head injuries; occupants including children or elderly persons are at particular risk on shared routes.	Good housekeeping. Dust sheets secured. Work area kept tidy.	3×2=6	Clean up plaster and water spillages immediately; do not let plaster set on floors. Keep buckets, boards and materials off access routes and out of the occupants' walkways. Secure dust sheets and tape edges so they do not curl or slip. Route and cover trailing leads. Maintain lighting on stairs and routes. Provide well-fitting slip-resistant footwear. Keep the occupants' escape routes and stairs clear at all times.	Low
Working in an occupied domestic property: disruption, dust migration, damage to finishes, and safety of household members including children and vulnerable persons.	Occupants (dust exposure, trips, distress, property damage) and operatives (complaints, working around others).	Experienced operatives. Communication with occupants. Dust sheets and protection to finishes.	3×2=6	Agree work areas and no-go times with the household daily and identify any vulnerable persons. Seal the work rooms with dust barriers/zip doors to stop plaster and cement dust migrating into living areas. Keep at least one WC and a safe route available to the occupants. Protect floors, fixings and furniture with sheets and boards. Store materials, tools and mixing away from occupant areas. Damp-wipe and vacuum daily so the household is not left with settled dust. Secure the property on leaving.	Low

4. Plant & equipment

Mobile access tower (PASMA / BS EN 1004 compliant)
Hop-ups / low-level work platforms
Electric paddle/whisk mixer (110V)
110V transformer and leads
Mixing buckets, spot boards and stands
Plastering hand tools (trowels, hawks, floats, feather edge)
H-class (or M-class) vacuum for dust clean-up
Dust sheets, dust barriers / zip doors and floor protection

5. Materials / COSHH

COSHH assessments are held for all cement- and gypsum-based products used (bonding coat, undercoat, multi-finish plaster) and their Safety Data Sheets are on site. The principal COSHH hazards are respirable crystalline silica (RCS) and general dust from cement-based products and dry powder, and the highly alkaline nature of wet cement (risk of chemical burns and dermatitis). Controls follow the COSHH 2002 hierarchy: choose lower-silica/pre-mixed products where practicable, suppress dust by adding powder to water and mixing at low speed, avoid dry-sweeping (use damp-down and H/M-class vacuuming), ventilate the area, and provide face-fit-tested RPE (FFP3/half-mask) as the last line of defence. For skin protection, chromate-reduced cement is used within date, waterproof nitrile gloves and long sleeves are worn, wet cement is washed off immediately, and after-work skin cream is provided. PVA/bonding agents are used per the manufacturer's SDS, avoiding skin and eye contact.

6. PPE

Safety footwear (slip-resistant, toe protection)
FFP3 disposable or reusable half-mask RPE (face-fit tested) for dusty tasks
Waterproof nitrile/rubber gloves (protection from wet cement)
Long-sleeved overalls / suitable work clothing
Eye protection (goggles) when mixing, sanding or working overhead
Knee pads (to avoid kneeling in wet cement/plaster)
Head protection where a head-strike or overhead hazard is present

7. Competence & training

All operatives hold NVQ Level 2 in Plastering and a valid CSCS card. Anyone erecting, altering, moving or using the mobile access tower is PASMA trained and works to the manufacturer's instructions. All operatives have received manual handling and COSHH/dust awareness training and have current face-fit test records for the RPE they wear. S. Whitaker (Author) is the Site Supervisor responsible for briefing this RAMS and monitoring the controls.

8. Permits

9. Access & egress

Access is via the main entrance and internal stairs. Work rooms are sheeted and cordoned with dust barriers, while at least one WC and a clear, protected route are kept available to the occupants at all times. Trailing leads are routed and covered, and stairs and escape routes are kept clear of tools, buckets and materials. Access onto the mobile tower is via its internal ladder only, maintaining three points of contact.

10. Welfare

Toilet and hand-washing facilities are used by arrangement with the occupants where offered and suitable; otherwise the nearest agreed welfare facility is used. Hot and cold water, soap and after-work skin cream are available for washing off wet cement and preventing dermatitis. Operatives carry drinking water. Breaks are taken away from the work area and outside the dust-controlled zone.

11. First aid

A stocked first aid kit is carried in the company vehicle and its location is known to all operatives, including eyewash for cement/plaster splashes. Wet cement on skin or in eyes is washed off immediately with plenty of clean water and, for eyes or any burn, medical advice is sought without delay. For serious injury, call 999 immediately and follow the site emergency plan. The site address is available for the emergency services.

12. Emergency procedures

In the event of a fall from the tower or hop-up, or other serious injury, stop work, make the area safe, administer first aid and call 999; do not move a seriously injured casualty unless in further danger. For a cement burn or eye splash, irrigate immediately with clean water and seek medical attention. In the event of fire, alert the occupants, evacuate via the nearest safe route, call 999 and assemble at a safe distance. All incidents are reported to the client and, where reportable, under RIDDOR.

13. Environmental

Waste plaster, empty bags and packaging are segregated and removed from site for appropriate disposal or recycling. Tool and mixer washings are settled out and disposed of responsibly, never poured as solids into the foul drain or to surface water. Dust is controlled at source to protect the occupants and neighbouring areas, and noise from mixing is kept to reasonable working hours on the occupied site. Materials are ordered to need to minimise surplus and 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.

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