Window installation RAMS

HSE 5-STEP · CDM 2015

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Remove existing windows and install replacement uPVC double-glazed windows to the ground and first floor of an occupied house, with the first-floor windows accessed externally from a scaffold or mobile access tower.

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Removal of existing windows and installation of replacement uPVC double-glazed windows to the ground and first floor of 16 Larchfield Road, Nottingham NG5 4P**, for Mr and Mrs Harding. Ground-floor windows are worked on internally and from ground level; first-floor windows are accessed externally from a mobile access tower or scaffold. The property is occupied throughout and a public footway and neighbouring access run alongside the working area. Work at height is carried out in accordance with the Work at Height Regulations 2005.

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	Clearview Windows & Doors Ltd
Author	S. Whitfield, Installation Supervisor (FENSA registered installer)
Client / Principal Contractor	Mr and Mrs Harding
Site	16 Larchfield Road, 16 Larchfield Road, Nottingham NG5 4P**
Project reference	CVW-4471
Start / duration	Tue 23 Jun 2026 / 2 days

1. Scope of works

2. Sequence of works

Method statement, safe system of work

Operatives arrive, confirm the scope with the householders, explain the two-day programme, and confirm which rooms and openings are affected and when.
Carry out a site-specific check: ground conditions for the tower/scaffold, position of the footway and neighbour access, overhead obstructions, and the condition of the openings.
Set out barriers, cones and signage to establish an exclusion zone beneath the first-floor working area and segregate pedestrians on the footway.
Confirm any highways permission is in place where the footway is affected, and maintain a safe pedestrian route past the works.
Erect the mobile access tower on firm, level ground to the manufacturer's instructions by a PASMA-trained operative, or use the handed-over scaffold, and record the pre-use inspection.
Protect internal floors, sills and furnishings with dust sheets and agree with the householders that openings will be temporarily unglazed during the change-over.
Starting at ground floor, remove the existing glazed unit and sash using glass suckers, then carefully remove the frame, controlling the glass and old material.
Lower removed glass and frames to ground level under control; never drop or throw materials, and stack removed glass securely away from edges and walkways.
Prepare the opening, check dimensions, and offer up the new uPVC frame using a two-person lift for larger units.
Pack, level, plumb and square the frame, then fix mechanically to the manufacturer's specification, avoiding overtightening and distortion.
Fit the sealed glazed units with glass suckers, engage the glazing packers and beads, and check the window operates correctly.
Seal internally and externally with low-modulus silicone and, where specified, expanding foam, and fit trims and cills.
Repeat the removal and installation sequence for the first-floor windows, working from the tower/scaffold platform with guardrails and toe boards in place.
When cutting back reveals, brickwork or old mortar is unavoidable, use water suppression or on-tool extraction to control silica dust and wear RPE.
At the end of each working day, ensure every opening is either fully glazed and locked or made temporarily secure and weathertight, and confirm the property is secure.
Remove tools and materials from the tower, and either remove ladders/board the access or otherwise deter unauthorised climbing overnight.
Clear the exclusion zone only when overhead work has stopped, sweep up all glass and debris, and check the footway and neighbour access are clear.
Demonstrate the new windows, locks and trickle vents to the householders, and hand over keys and any guarantee/FENSA paperwork.
Carry out a final inspection of fixings, seals and operation, and confirm no glass, offcuts or fixings are left in the garden or footway.
Dismantle the tower, load out all waste for recycling or controlled disposal, and leave the site clean and secure.

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 when working on first-floor windows from the tower or scaffold, or during access.	Operatives. Falls from height can cause serious injury or fatality.	PASMA-trained tower use or a handed-over scaffold. Guardrails and toe boards to the working platform. Inspected access equipment.	3×5=15	Work in accordance with the Work at Height Regulations 2005, using a fully boarded platform with double guardrails and toe boards as collective protection. Erect and inspect the tower to the manufacturer's instructions and record a pre-use inspection and inspection every 7 days. Access via the internal ladder/stairway, not by climbing the outside. Do not overreach; reposition the platform instead. Stop work at height in high winds or adverse weather.	Medium
Falling glass, tools or materials from height striking people below.	Public on the footway, occupants, neighbours, other operatives. Head or serious injury.	Toe boards to platform. Awareness of the footway and neighbour access below. Materials lowered under control.	3×4=12	Establish and barrier an exclusion zone beneath the first-floor works and maintain it whenever overhead work is in progress. Lower all glass and frames to the ground under control using glass suckers or hand-to-hand; never drop or throw materials. Keep loose tools tethered or in bags away from platform edges. Segregate pedestrians on the footway and suspend overhead work if people cannot be excluded. Wear head protection near overhead work.	Low
Cuts and lacerations from handling glass and breakage of sealed units.	Operatives, occupants, public. Severe cuts, including to major blood vessels.	Glass suckers for lifting units. Cut-resistant gloves. Experienced fitters.	3×3=9	Use glass suckers and a two-person lift for large or heavy sealed units to control the load. Wear cut-resistant gloves and long sleeves when handling glass. Inspect units for cracks before lifting and stack removed glass on edge, secured, away from walkways and edges. Sweep and remove broken glass immediately into a rigid container. Never carry glass up or down the tower ladder; raise or lower it under control.	Low
Manual handling of window frames, sealed units and access equipment.	Operatives. Musculoskeletal injuries to back, shoulders and hands.	Manual handling trained operatives. Two operatives for team lifting. Glass suckers to improve grip.	3×2=6	Assess the weight and size before lifting; team-lift large frames and units in line with the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992. Use glass suckers and mechanical aids to improve grip and control. Break the load down where possible, use good technique and avoid twisting. Keep access routes and the platform clear to reduce awkward handling. Rotate tasks to limit repetitive strain.	Low
Silica dust from cutting back reveals, brickwork or old mortar around openings.	Operatives (respiratory disease from respirable crystalline silica), occupants.	Minimise cutting where possible. General awareness of dust control. Ventilation of the work area.	2×3=6	Control respirable crystalline silica under the COSHH Regulations 2002: use water suppression or on-tool dust extraction (M-class) when cutting masonry or reveals, not dry cutting. Wear FFP3 respiratory protection with a documented face-fit. Isolate the dusty work from occupied rooms, ventilate, and clean up with a vacuum rather than sweeping dry. Keep occupants and the public clear of the dust source.	Low
Public, occupants and children in the vicinity of the works, including on the footway and at the property entrance.	Public, occupants, children, neighbours. Struck-by, trips, or unauthorised access to the tower.	Occupied-site awareness. Pedestrian segregation and signage. Tidy working area.	3×3=9	Barrier and sign the working area, maintain a safe segregated route on the footway and obtain highways permission where it is affected. Keep the property entrance accessible and clear. Prevent unauthorised climbing of the tower by removing or boarding access ladders and immobilising the tower when unattended, particularly to deter children. Keep the site tidy and free of trip hazards, offcuts and glass.	Low
Security and weather exposure of an occupied property with openings temporarily unglazed.	Occupants (intrusion, weather ingress, distress), property.	Change-over of one opening at a time where practicable. Awareness of security. Householder kept informed.	2×3=6	Plan the sequence so openings are unglazed for the shortest time practicable and, wherever possible, complete each window the same day. At the end of each shift ensure every opening is fully glazed and locked, or made temporarily secure and weathertight if a unit cannot be completed. Confirm the property is secure with the householders before leaving. Do not leave ground-floor openings accessible or unsecured overnight.	Low

4. Plant & equipment

Mobile access tower (EN 1004, PASMA erected) or handed-over scaffold
Glass suckers/lifters
Cordless drill/driver and bits
Oscillating multi-tool / hand saw for frame removal
On-tool dust extraction (M-class) or water suppression for cutting
Silicone gun and sealant
Hand tools, packers and levels
Signage, cones and pedestrian barriers
Rigid container for broken glass

5. Materials / COSHH

Low-modulus silicone sealant and expanding polyurethane foam are handled to their Safety Data Sheets: avoid skin and eye contact, wear nitrile gloves and ensure ventilation, as uncured foam and sealant can irritate and sensitise. Respirable crystalline silica from cutting masonry or reveals is controlled under the COSHH Regulations 2002 using water suppression or M-class on-tool extraction and FFP3 RPE with face-fit testing. Old frames, glass and packaging are segregated for recycling or controlled disposal; no asbestos is anticipated but work stops and is reassessed if any suspected asbestos-containing material is found.

6. PPE

Safety footwear with midsole (steel toe and penetration protection)
Cut-resistant gloves (and nitrile gloves for sealant/foam)
Safety glasses/goggles
High-visibility clothing (for the footway/exclusion zone)
Safety helmet near overhead work
FFP3 respiratory protection (face-fit tested, when cutting masonry)

7. Competence & training

All operatives are experienced window fitters trained in manual handling and safe glass handling. Tower erection, alteration and inspection is carried out by a PASMA-trained operative. S. Whitfield (Author) is the Installation Supervisor and a FENSA registered installer responsible for the work at height arrangements, inspections and handover. Operatives cutting masonry are face-fit tested for their FFP3 respirators.

8. Permits

Mobile access tower / scaffold pre-use inspection and handover record (retained on site and repeated every 7 days).
Highways/footway permission from the local authority where the works or access affect the public highway.
FENSA notification of the replacement glazing under Building Regulations on completion.

9. Access & egress

Internal work and ground-floor windows are accessed via the front door with routes kept clear. First-floor windows are accessed from the mobile access tower or scaffold via the internal ladder/stairway to a guarded platform, never by climbing the outside of the structure. The householders' means of escape from the dwelling and a segregated pedestrian route on the footway are maintained throughout. Access ladders are removed or boarded when the tower is unattended.

10. Welfare

Toilet and hand-washing facilities are used by arrangement with the householders where offered and suitable; otherwise the nearest agreed facility is used. Operatives carry drinking water and take breaks away from the working area, the exclusion zone and the footway.

11. First aid

A stocked first aid kit is carried in the company vehicle and its location is known to all operatives, with dressings suitable for glass lacerations. At least one operative is a trained first aider. For serious cuts, control bleeding, do not remove embedded glass, and call 999. For a fall from height, do not move the casualty unless in further danger and call 999. The site address is available for the emergency services.

12. Emergency procedures

In the event of a fall from the tower or scaffold, stop work, make the area safe, administer first aid and call 999; do not move a fallen casualty unless in further danger. For a serious cut from glass, apply direct pressure, elevate and call 999. If a member of the public enters the exclusion zone or a tower is struck or destabilised, stop overhead work immediately and make it safe. In the event of fire, evacuate, call 999 and do not re-enter. Reportable incidents are notified under RIDDOR and to the client.

13. Environmental

Old frames, glass, packaging and offcuts are segregated and removed from site for recycling or controlled disposal, with glass handled in rigid containers. Dust from cutting is suppressed at source to prevent nuisance to the household and neighbours. Sealant and foam cartridges are disposed of as directed by their Safety Data Sheets and not released to drains or the ground. Noise is minimised on the occupied site, and no glass, fixings or offcuts are left in the garden, footway or neighbouring property.

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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