SiteSorted
Landscaping · United Kingdom

Method statement for retaining wall construction

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

You must assess the risks of retaining wall construction 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, hitting underground services, trench or excavation collapse and being hit by mobile plant.

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RAMS example: retaining wall construction

This is a complete RAMS for retaining wall construction, with 10 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)
Retaining wall construction · Landscaping · Example
Document RAMS-001 · Rev 1

Risk assessment

#ActivityHazardsWho might be harmedRisk beforeControlsRisk after
1Get utility plans and check the wall has an engineer's design where needed, such as most walls over 1 m or any wall holding up a building, driveway or slope
  • Hitting underground services
Workers, PublicVery high (15)
  • Keep machine buckets well clear of marked services and use a spotter. Isolate
  • Do a CAT and Genny scan before digging and mark services on the ground. Control (engineering)
  • Hand dig trial holes to find services before machine digging (safe digging practice). Control (engineering)
  • Get utility plans before digging and check them against what you see on site. Control (procedures)
  • Keep plans or locate tickets on site and check them again if the work area grows. Control (procedures)
  • If you hit a service, stop, get everyone clear, and call the owner and emergency services. Control (procedures)
  • Wear safety boots, gloves and hi-vis when digging. PPE
Medium (5)
2Check neighbouring footings, fences and structures near the cut, and get engineer advice before digging close enough to undermine them
  • Trench or excavation collapse
  • Public entering the work area
Workers, Public, ChildrenVery high (15)
  • Use methods that keep people out of the trench, such as directional boring or working from the surface. Eliminate
  • Barricade or cover the excavation so people and plant cannot fall in. Isolate
  • Support or batter back the sides of any excavation where collapse could happen. Use trench boxes or sheet piling for deeper trenches. Control (engineering)
  • Keep spoil, materials and plant at least 1 metre back from the edge. Control (engineering)
  • Provide a safe way in and out, such as a ladder near where people work. Control (engineering)
  • Inspect the excavation at the start of each shift and after rain or anything that could weaken it. Record it. Control (procedures)
  • Never work alone in a trench. Watch for water, cracks and bulging walls, and get out if you see them. Control (procedures)
  • Wear a hard hat, hi-vis and safety boots. PPE
  • 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
  • Public entering the work area: see step 10 for the full controls Control (procedures)
Medium (5)
3Set up an exclusion zone around the machines
  • Being hit by mobile plant
Workers, Visitors, PublicVery 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)
  • Being hit by mobile plant: see step 7 for the full controls Control (procedures)
Medium (5)
4Excavate the cut in short sections, battered or benched to the engineer's or geotechnical advice, and never let anyone work between an unsupported cut face and the wall
  • Trench or excavation collapse
  • Being hit by mobile plant
Workers, Visitors, PublicVery high (15)
  • Trench or excavation collapse: see step 2 for the full controls Control (procedures)
  • 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)
  • Being hit by mobile plant: see step 7 for the full controls Control (procedures)
Medium (5)
5Pour the footing or lay the base, capping any rebar bars
  • Wet concrete and cement burns
  • Impalement on rebar
WorkersHigh (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
  • 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
Low (4)
6Lay drainage and the first course
  • Lifting and carrying heavy loads
  • Repetitive work and awkward postures
WorkersHigh (12)
  • 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
  • Lifting and carrying heavy loads: see step 7 for the full controls 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)
  • 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)
  • Wear knee pads for kneeling work and gloves for grip. PPE
Medium (6)
7Lift blocks or sleepers with machines or two people
  • Lifting and carrying heavy loads
  • Being hit by mobile plant
Workers, Visitors, PublicVery high (15)
  • 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)
  • Rotate tasks and take breaks on long lifting jobs. Control (procedures)
  • Wear gloves for grip and safety boots to protect your feet. PPE
  • 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
Medium (6)
8Cut blocks wet, never dry
  • 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)
9Backfill and compact behind the wall in layers as it goes up
  • Hand-arm and whole-body vibration
  • Being hit by mobile plant
  • Trench or excavation collapse
Workers, Visitors, PublicVery high (15)
  • 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)
  • Being hit by mobile plant: see step 7 for the full controls Control (procedures)
  • Trench or excavation collapse: see step 2 for the full controls Control (procedures)
Medium (6)
10Barricade the top of the wall until the permanent fence or balustrade is in, then clean up
  • Public entering the work area
  • Poor housekeeping and waste
Public, Children, Workers, VisitorsHigh (12)
  • 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)
  • 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)

Method statement: sequence of work

  1. Get utility plans and check the wall has an engineer's design where needed, such as most walls over 1 m or any wall holding up a building, driveway or slope
  2. Check neighbouring footings, fences and structures near the cut, and get engineer advice before digging close enough to undermine them
  3. Set up an exclusion zone around the machines
  4. Excavate the cut in short sections, battered or benched to the engineer's or geotechnical advice, and never let anyone work between an unsupported cut face and the wall
  5. Pour the footing or lay the base, capping any rebar bars
  6. Lay drainage and the first course
  7. Lift blocks or sleepers with machines or two people
  8. Cut blocks wet, never dry
  9. Backfill and compact behind the wall in layers as it goes up
  10. Barricade the top of the wall until the permanent fence or balustrade is in, then clean up

PPE

Safety bootsHi-vis vestRigger glovesSafety glassesEar defendersFFP3 dust maskSafety helmetChemical-resistant glovesSafety gogglesKnee padsHalf-mask respirator (P3 filters)

Plant and equipment

Excavator (360): CPCS or NPORS excavator cardSkid steer loader: CPCS or NPORS skid steer cardWacker plateCut-off saw (Stihl saw)Hand tools

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 retaining wall construction

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 retaining wall construction

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

The safe sequence of work

  1. Get utility plans and check the wall has an engineer's design where needed, such as most walls over 1 m or any wall holding up a building, driveway or slope
  2. Check neighbouring footings, fences and structures near the cut, and get engineer advice before digging close enough to undermine them
  3. Set up an exclusion zone around the machines
  4. Excavate the cut in short sections, battered or benched to the engineer's or geotechnical advice, and never let anyone work between an unsupported cut face and the wall
  5. Pour the footing or lay the base, capping any rebar bars
  6. Lay drainage and the first course
  7. Lift blocks or sleepers with machines or two people
  8. Cut blocks wet, never dry
  9. Backfill and compact behind the wall in layers as it goes up
  10. Barricade the top of the wall until the permanent fence or balustrade is in, then clean up

Hazards to watch on retaining wall construction

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

Step 5Impalement on rebarA worker falls or trips onto exposed rebar or starter bars and is impaled or badly cut.
Step 2, 4, 9Trench or excavation collapseThe trench walls cave in and bury or crush a worker. Any excavation can collapse, however shallow. Sides must be supported or battered back wherever a collapse could hurt someone.
Step 5Wet concrete and cement burnsWet concrete, mortar and cement burn skin and eyes. Burns can be deep and are often not felt until later.
Step 9Hand-arm and whole-body vibrationLong periods on jackhammers, grinders, compactors or riding plant cause white finger, numbness and back damage.
Step 1Hitting underground servicesDigging, drilling or driving pegs hits a buried power cable, gas pipe or water main, causing electrocution, explosion or flooding.
Step 3, 4, 7, 9Being hit by mobile plantExcavators, loaders, telehandlers and trucks run over or crush workers, especially when reversing or slewing.
Very likelyLikelyPossibleUnlikelyVery unlikelyHow bad it could be: Negligible to FatalBA
Highest risk on retaining wall construction: 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?

Licences and legal requirements in United Kingdom

Equipment on this job that needs a licence, ticket or training:

  • Excavator (360): CPCS or NPORS excavator card
  • Skid steer loader: CPCS or NPORS skid steer card

Employers must assess the risks of their work and record the significant findings (required where you employ 5 or more people). On CDM projects, contractors give their RAMS to the principal contractor before starting, and brief the workers on it.

Rules that apply: HSE HSG47 Avoiding danger from underground services; CDM Regulations 2015, regulation 22 (excavations); CDM Regulations 2015; CDM Regulations 2015 and PUWER 1998; Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992; COSHH Regulations 2002; Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER); Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005; Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005.

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 retaining wall construction?

You must assess the risks of retaining wall construction 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 retaining wall construction?

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

More landscaping RAMS

RAMSPaving and Patio Installation5 stepsRAMSTree Felling10 stepsRAMSTurf Laying5 stepsRAMSFencing6 stepsRAMSIrrigation Installation5 stepsRAMSGarden Maintenance6 steps

Related jobs in other trades

BricklayingBrickworkAlso involves impalement on rebarDemolitionSoft StripAlso involves loud noiseElectricalConsumer Unit ReplacementAlso involves repetitive work and awkward posturesScaffoldingScaffold ErectionAlso involves public entering the work areaRoofingRe-RoofingAlso involves public entering the work area

Toolbox talks for this job

Toolbox talkSilica DustToolbox talkHearing Protection and NoiseToolbox talkHand-Arm VibrationToolbox talkExcavation and Trench Safety

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

Sources