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Concreting · United Kingdom

Method statement for concrete slab pour

By Safety PaperworkBuilt from HSE guidance and CDM 2015 · How we write and check theseUpdated

You must assess the risks of concrete slab pour and record the significant findings if you employ 5 or more people. On CDM sites the principal contractor will ask for RAMS before you start.

RAMS cover the hazards, who could be harmed and how, the controls and the safe sequence of work, and the crew is briefed and signs. The main hazards are silica dust from concrete, brick, stone and tiles, being hit by mobile plant, road traffic and public entering the work area.

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RAMS example: concrete slab pour

This is a complete RAMS for concrete slab pour, with 9 job steps. Open it in the builder to add your site, crew and signatures, change anything, and download a PDF. Or download the free Word template below and fill it in by hand.

Risk Assessment and Method Statement (RAMS)
Pour a concrete slab · Concreting · Example
Document RAMS-001 · Rev 1

Risk assessment

#ActivityHazardsWho might be harmedRisk beforeControlsRisk after
1Plan truck and pump access, checking for overhead power lines and soft ground
  • Contact with overhead power lines
  • Being hit by mobile plant
  • Road traffic
Workers, Plant operators, Public, Visitors, Road usersVery high (15)
  • Ask the distribution network operator (DNO) to turn off, move or insulate the lines before work starts. Eliminate
  • Use non-conductive (fibreglass) ladders near any power lines. Reduce / substitute
  • Mark the safe distance with flags, tape or goal posts and keep all plant and people outside it. Isolate
  • Follow HSE GS6: barriers, goal posts under the lines and a permit for work near them. Control (procedures)
  • Use a dedicated spotter whenever plant moves or raises anything near lines. Control (procedures)
  • Treat all lines as live. If plant touches a line, stay in the cab and keep everyone well away. Control (procedures)
  • Separate people and plant with barriers, exclusion zones and marked walkways. Isolate
  • Use plant with working reversing alarms, cameras and lights. Control (engineering)
  • Being hit by mobile plant: see step 4 for the full controls Control (procedures)
  • Do the work at low-traffic times, or close the road or lane with approval. Eliminate
  • Put solid barriers between the work and traffic where speeds are high, not just cones. Isolate
  • Use a truck-mounted attenuator or buffer vehicle on high speed roads. Control (engineering)
  • Set up signs and cones to Chapter 8 (Traffic Signs Manual) by trained operatives. Control (procedures)
  • Get a street works permit or licence from the highway authority before you start. Control (procedures)
Medium (5)
2Set up traffic control at the site entry and a spotter for reversing trucks
  • Road traffic
  • Public entering the work area
Workers, Road users, Public, ChildrenVery high (15)
  • Park work vehicles to shield the work zone, with beacons on. Control (procedures)
  • Wear Class 2 or 3 hi-vis clothing (EN ISO 20471). PPE
  • Road traffic: see step 1 for the full controls Control (procedures)
  • Fence off the site with secure temporary fencing and lock the gates when you leave. Isolate
  • Give pedestrians a safe, marked path around the work, with ramps for prams and wheelchairs. Isolate
  • Use hoarding, covered walkways or catch fans where work is above public areas. Control (engineering)
  • Put signs at each entry: site name, contact number and "No unauthorised entry". Control (procedures)
  • Make the site safe at the end of each day: cover holes, lower plant, remove ladders and lock tools away. Control (procedures)
  • Use a spotter when moving plant or materials across public paths. Control (procedures)
Medium (5)
3Check formwork, edge forms, rebar and caps on starter bars before the pour
  • Formwork collapse
  • Impalement on rebar
WorkersHigh (12)
  • Keep people out from under the formwork during the pour. Isolate
  • Use formwork designed by a competent person or engineer for the load. Control (engineering)
  • A competent person inspects the formwork and props before the pour and signs it off. Control (procedures)
  • Follow the design for prop spacing, bracing and pour rate. Control (procedures)
  • Watch for movement or bulging during the pour and stop if it happens. Control (procedures)
  • Do not strip formwork until the concrete reaches the strength the engineer requires. Control (procedures)
  • Wear a hard hat, safety boots and gloves. PPE
  • Cover or cap all exposed bar ends with approved caps or covers. Control (engineering)
  • Bend bars over where the design allows. Control (engineering)
  • Use edge protection near starter bars so nobody can fall onto them. Control (engineering)
  • Keep walkways clear of exposed bars and mark the hazard. Control (procedures)
  • Wear gloves, safety glasses and safety boots when handling bar. PPE
Medium (5)
4Set up the pump with outriggers on pads and an exclusion zone around the boom and hose. Never open a line or clear a blockage until the pressure is released
  • Being hit by mobile plant
  • Contact with overhead power lines
Workers, Visitors, Public, Plant operatorsVery high (15)
  • Separate people and plant with barriers, exclusion zones and marked walkways. Isolate
  • Use plant with working reversing alarms, cameras and lights. Control (engineering)
  • Have a traffic management plan showing plant routes, loading areas and pedestrian paths. Control (procedures)
  • Use a spotter when reversing or working near people. Control (procedures)
  • Make eye contact with the operator before going near. Stay out of the swing radius. Control (procedures)
  • Operators hold a CPCS, NPORS or equal card for the plant they use. Control (procedures)
  • Do a pre-start check on each machine every day and record it. Control (procedures)
  • Wear hi-vis clothing and a hard hat. PPE
  • Contact with overhead power lines: see step 1 for the full controls Control (procedures)
Medium (5)
5Place concrete, keeping clear of the hose end and wearing gloves and boots
  • Wet concrete and cement burns
  • Lifting and carrying heavy loads
  • Slips and trips
Workers, Visitors, PublicHigh (12)
  • Use long-handled tools and pumps to cut down contact. Control (engineering)
  • Wash concrete off skin straight away with clean water. Control (procedures)
  • Have clean water and eye wash where concrete or mortar is mixed and used. Control (procedures)
  • Do a COSHH assessment for cement, lime and mortar, and check hands regularly for early signs of dermatitis. Control (procedures)
  • Wear waterproof gloves, long sleeves and waterproof boots with trousers worn over the top. PPE
  • Wear safety glasses or goggles to stop splashes. PPE
  • Plan to avoid carrying: have materials delivered, and old items picked up, as close as possible to where they are used. Eliminate
  • Use lighter or smaller loads: order smaller bags and shorter lengths, and drain or break down old items before moving them. Reduce / substitute
  • Use trolleys, pallet jacks, hoists, vacuum lifters or plant instead of carrying by hand. Control (engineering)
  • Use a two-person lift for anything heavy, long or awkward. Plan the route first and clear it. Control (procedures)
  • Keep the load close, back straight and no twisting. Turn with your feet. Control (procedures)
  • Plan walkways and keep them clear of materials, hoses and leads. Eliminate
  • Run leads and hoses overhead on hooks or stands, or along walls, not across walkways. Control (engineering)
  • Fill or cover holes, and lay boards or mats on muddy access paths. Control (engineering)
  • Clean up offcuts, packaging and spills as you go, not at the end of the day. Control (procedures)
  • Keep work areas, stairs and access paths well lit. Control (procedures)
Medium (6)
6Vibrate and screed, keeping power leads out of wet concrete
  • Hand-arm and whole-body vibration
  • Electric shock from leads and power tools
  • Repetitive work and awkward postures
WorkersHigh (12)
  • Use low-vibration tools and methods, such as a breaker on an excavator instead of a hand jackhammer. Reduce / substitute
  • Keep tools sharp and well maintained, and use anti-vibration handles and seats. Control (engineering)
  • Limit trigger time using the HSE vibration calculator to stay below the exposure action value, and rotate workers. Control (procedures)
  • Keep hands warm and dry, and take regular breaks. Control (procedures)
  • Report tingling, numbness or white fingers early. Control (procedures)
  • Use battery-powered tools where you can. Reduce / substitute
  • Use 110V tools through a centre-tapped transformer, or battery tools. Use an RCD on any 230V supply. Control (engineering)
  • Keep leads off the ground and out of water, using lead stands or hooks. Control (engineering)
  • Check leads, plugs and tools before every use. Tag out and remove anything damaged. Control (procedures)
  • Keep tools and leads inspected and PAT tested on a regular schedule. Control (procedures)
  • Do not use tools in rain or wet areas unless they are rated for it. Control (procedures)
  • Use tools that cut the effort: powered screwdrivers, long-handled tools and extension poles for overhead work. Reduce / substitute
  • Set work up at waist height on benches or trestles where you can. Control (engineering)
  • Repetitive work and awkward postures: see step 7 for the full controls Control (procedures)
Medium (6)
7Finish the surface, taking breaks in heat and sun
  • Heat stress
  • Sun exposure (UV)
  • Repetitive work and awkward postures
WorkersHigh (12)
  • Schedule heavy work for the cooler part of the day. Eliminate
  • Provide shade over work and rest areas, and fans or cooling in roof spaces. Control (engineering)
  • Supply cool drinking water close by and drink a cup every 15 to 20 minutes. Control (procedures)
  • Take regular rest breaks in the shade, more often as it gets hotter. Control (procedures)
  • Let new and returning workers build up to full work in the heat over about a week. Control (procedures)
  • Plan outdoor work for early morning or late afternoon when UV is lower. Eliminate
  • Put shade covers over fixed work areas. Control (engineering)
  • Check the UV index each day. Use sun protection when it is 3 or higher. Control (procedures)
  • Check your skin regularly and see a doctor about any new or changing spots. Control (procedures)
  • Wear a broad-brim hat or hard hat brim, long sleeves, sunglasses and SPF 30 or higher sunscreen, reapplied every 2 hours. PPE
  • Use tools that cut the effort: powered screwdrivers, long-handled tools and extension poles for overhead work. Reduce / substitute
  • Set work up at waist height on benches or trestles where you can. Control (engineering)
  • Use light tools with good grips, and keep blades and bits sharp. Control (engineering)
  • Rotate tasks and take short breaks every hour on repetitive work. Control (procedures)
  • Warm up before heavy physical work and report aches and pains early. Control (procedures)
Medium (8)
8Wash out the pump and trucks only in the set wash out area, away from drains
  • Wet concrete and cement burns
  • Poor housekeeping and waste
Workers, VisitorsMedium (9)
  • Wet concrete and cement burns: see step 5 for the full controls Control (procedures)
  • Order materials to size and send packaging back where you can. Eliminate
  • Put skips and waste chutes close to the work. Control (engineering)
  • Clean as you go, and do a full clean up at the end of each day. Control (procedures)
  • Keep exits, stairs and walkways clear at all times. Control (procedures)
  • Stack materials neatly on level ground, away from edges. Control (procedures)
  • Use a registered waste carrier and keep waste transfer notes for at least 2 years. Keep hazardous waste such as asbestos separate, with consignment notes (special waste in Scotland). Control (procedures)
  • Wear gloves when handling waste. PPE
Low (4)
9Cut control joints the next day with water suppression
  • Silica dust from concrete, brick, stone and tiles
  • Saw cuts and kickback
  • Loud noise
Workers, People nearbyVery high (20)
  • Order materials cut to size, or use low-dust methods such as score and snap or a block splitter. Reduce / substitute
  • Cut outdoors or in a separate area, with other people well away and upwind. Isolate
  • Use water on the blade or on-tool dust extraction connected to an H-class vacuum. Control (engineering)
  • Clean up with a vacuum or wet methods. Never dry sweep or use compressed air. Control (procedures)
  • Do a COSHH assessment and keep exposure below the workplace exposure limit (0.1 mg/m3 respirable crystalline silica, 8 hours). Control (procedures)
  • Workers regularly exposed to silica dust get health surveillance (COSHH reg 11, HSE G404). Control (procedures)
  • Wear a fit-tested FFP3 mask. PPE
  • Keep blade guards fitted and working, and use the riving knife on table saws. Control (engineering)
  • Use push sticks and clamps, and support long pieces so they do not pinch the blade. Control (engineering)
  • Use a sharp, undamaged blade made for the material. Control (procedures)
  • Stand to one side of the blade line, out of the kickback path. Control (procedures)
  • Let the blade stop fully before reaching in or putting the saw down. Control (procedures)
  • Use quieter tools and methods, such as cut-to-size materials, low-noise machines and battery tools. Reduce / substitute
  • Keep noisy plant away from work areas, and use screens or distance between the noise and people. Isolate
  • Keep tools maintained and use mufflers on compressors and generators. Control (engineering)
  • Limit time on noisy tools and rotate workers. Control (procedures)
  • If you have to shout to be heard by someone 2 metres away, the noise is probably 85 dB(A) or more: wear hearing protection. Control (procedures)
  • Assess noise. At 85 dB(A) or more, hearing protection is required and the zone must be marked. Control (procedures)
Medium (8)

Method statement: sequence of work

  1. Plan truck and pump access, checking for overhead power lines and soft ground
  2. Set up traffic control at the site entry and a spotter for reversing trucks
  3. Check formwork, edge forms, rebar and caps on starter bars before the pour
  4. Set up the pump with outriggers on pads and an exclusion zone around the boom and hose. Never open a line or clear a blockage until the pressure is released
  5. Place concrete, keeping clear of the hose end and wearing gloves and boots
  6. Vibrate and screed, keeping power leads out of wet concrete
  7. Finish the surface, taking breaks in heat and sun
  8. Wash out the pump and trucks only in the set wash out area, away from drains
  9. Cut control joints the next day with water suppression

PPE

Safety bootsHi-vis vestChemical-resistant glovesSafety glassesSun protection (sunscreen and neck cover)Safety helmetRigger glovesSafety gogglesKnee padsEar defendersHalf-mask respirator (P3 filters)FFP3 dust mask

Plant and equipment

Concrete pumpWacker plateHand toolsCut-off saw (Stihl saw)

Emergency

Call 999. Add the nearest A&E, the assembly point and the first aider for your site.

Sign-off

Supervisor and every worker sign to confirm they have read and understood this RAMS.

Free RAMS template for concrete slab pour

Word (.docx) and PDF, A4 landscape, no email needed. Fill in your site details, then print or send it.

Word template (.docx)PDF template

Make yours in 2 minutes

Same document, filled in for your job. Answer a few yes or no questions, the crew signs on the phone, and you send the PDF.

Start this RAMS

Pre-start checklist for concrete slab pour

Tick these off before work starts. They come from the hazards, permits and equipment in this job.

The safe sequence of work

  1. Plan truck and pump access, checking for overhead power lines and soft ground
  2. Set up traffic control at the site entry and a spotter for reversing trucks
  3. Check formwork, edge forms, rebar and caps on starter bars before the pour
  4. Set up the pump with outriggers on pads and an exclusion zone around the boom and hose. Never open a line or clear a blockage until the pressure is released
  5. Place concrete, keeping clear of the hose end and wearing gloves and boots
  6. Vibrate and screed, keeping power leads out of wet concrete
  7. Finish the surface, taking breaks in heat and sun
  8. Wash out the pump and trucks only in the set wash out area, away from drains
  9. Cut control joints the next day with water suppression

Hazards to watch on concrete slab pour

The hazards most specific to this job, and the step where each one comes up.

Step 3Formwork collapseFormwork or falsework fails during a concrete pour and collapses with workers on or under it.
Step 3Impalement on rebarA worker falls or trips onto exposed rebar or starter bars and is impaled or badly cut.
Step 1, 2Road trafficPassing cars and trucks hit workers or plant working on or next to a road.
Step 7Sun exposure (UV)Long hours in the sun cause sunburn, eye damage and skin cancer.
Step 1, 4Contact with overhead power linesA ladder, MEWP, crane, tipper or long length of material touches or gets close to an overhead line and electrocutes people.
Step 5, 8Wet concrete and cement burnsWet concrete, mortar and cement burn skin and eyes. Burns can be deep and are often not felt until later.
Very likelyLikelyPossibleUnlikelyVery unlikelyHow bad it could be: Negligible to FatalBA
Highest risk on concrete slab pour: Very high before controls (B), down to Medium after controls (A), on the United Kingdom 5 by 5 risk matrix (likely and fatal becomes unlikely and major injury).

What changes on your site

This example covers the job itself. Your site may add more. Add controls for any of these that apply (the builder asks you these as yes or no questions):

  • Will anyone work at height, anywhere a fall could hurt them?
  • Will anyone use a ladder or stepladder?
  • Will anyone work on a roof?
  • Is there a fragile roof, skylight or clear roof sheet?
  • Will you use a scaffold or mobile tower?

Why RAMS get rejected

Principal contractors send documents back for these reasons. This example avoids them, but check yours too.

  • The method statement is only a list of headings that repeats the risk table and never says how the work is done.
  • The method sequence does not match the risk assessment, for example the method strips the roof before the scaffold is handed over.
  • Residual risk is still High after controls with no extra measures or explanation.
  • It reads as copied: another firm, another address, or wording that does not fit UK sites. HSE warns that copying an example and adding your name does not satisfy the law.
  • Work on an older building with no reference to an asbestos survey.
  • Plant and access equipment listed with no inspection, thorough examination or competence evidence.
  • No briefing record, no revision history, or no named supervisor.

Questions

Do I need RAMS for concrete slab pour?

You must assess the risks of concrete slab pour and record the significant findings if you employ 5 or more people. On CDM sites the principal contractor will ask for RAMS before you start.

Who signs the RAMS?

The person who wrote it and the person who approved it sign and date it. Every worker signs the briefing register after it is explained to them, and the principal contractor reviews and accepts it before you start.

How long do I keep it?

Keep this RAMS, every revision and the signed briefing register with the site file for the length of the job, and keep a copy in your records afterwards.

What PPE is needed for concrete slab pour?

Usually Safety boots, Hi-vis vest, Chemical-resistant gloves, Safety glasses, Sun protection (sunscreen and neck cover), Safety helmet, Rigger gloves, Safety goggles, Knee pads, Ear defenders, Half-mask respirator (P3 filters), FFP3 dust mask. The site rules may add more, so check with the principal contractor.

More concreting RAMS

RAMSConcrete Driveway6 stepsRAMSConcrete Footings6 stepsRAMSFormwork9 stepsRAMSConcrete Cutting8 stepsRAMSFloor Grinding5 stepsRAMSPrecast Concrete Installation6 steps

Related jobs in other trades

BricklayingBrickworkAlso involves impalement on rebarRoofingRe-RoofingAlso involves contact with overhead power linesScaffoldingScaffold ErectionAlso involves contact with overhead power linesDemolitionSoft StripAlso involves loud noiseElectricalConsumer Unit ReplacementAlso involves electric shock from leads and power tools

Toolbox talks for this job

Toolbox talkOverhead Power LinesToolbox talkExtension Leads and Power ToolsToolbox talkSilica DustToolbox talkHearing Protection and Noise

Blank RAMS template: free RAMS templates. Also for other countries: Australia (SWMS) · United States (JHA) · Canada (FLHA)

Sources