Solar · United Kingdom

Method statement for commercial solar installation

By Safety PaperworkBuilt from HSE guidance and CDM 2015 · How we write and check theseUpdated 9 November 2026

You must assess the risks of commercial solar installation 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 falling from a roof edge, falling through a fragile roof or skylight, falling through a floor opening or void and electric shock from live wiring.

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RAMS example: commercial solar installation

This is a complete RAMS for commercial solar installation, with 6 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)

Commercial flat roof solar installation · Solar · Example

Document RAMS-001 · Rev 1

Risk assessment

#	Activity	Hazards	Who might be harmed	Risk before	Controls	Risk after
1	Install edge protection and guard skylights	Falling from a roof edge Falling through a fragile roof or skylight Falling through a floor opening or void	Workers, People below, Visitors	Very high (20)	Do what you can from the ground or from a scaffold at the gutter line, for example pre-assemble parts on the ground. Eliminate Install edge protection or guardrails on all open roof edges before work starts. Isolate Use a perimeter scaffold with handrails and toe boards along the eaves where practical. Control (engineering) Where guardrails cannot be fitted, use fall restraint on certified roof anchors so workers cannot reach the edge. Control (engineering) Use one safe, controlled access point and keep others off the roof. Control (procedures) Work from underneath or from a MEWP so nobody stands on the fragile roof. Eliminate Cover or guard every skylight and fragile sheet with a fixed, marked cover or mesh before work starts. Isolate Use safety nets or a boarded platform under the work, and staging or crawl boards to spread the load on fragile surfaces. Control (engineering) Use fall arrest on rated anchors when working near fragile areas. Control (engineering) Treat all roof sheets as fragile until a competent person confirms they are not. Old fibre cement and plastic sheets are fragile. Control (procedures) Cover every hole and penetration with a fixed, secured cover marked "HOLE" or "DANGER". Isolate Put guardrails with toe boards around stairwells, lift shafts, voids and open edges. Isolate Install stairs early and fit temporary handrails as soon as they go in. Control (engineering) Never remove a cover or guardrail without approval. Put it back straight away. Control (procedures) Inspect covers and barriers daily and after other trades have been through. Control (procedures)	Medium (5)
2	Crane panels onto the roof with an exclusion zone below	Crane and lifting failure Falling tools and materials Public entering the work area	Workers, Public, People below, Children	High (12)	Barricade the lift zone and keep everyone out from under the load. Isolate Use a crane rated for the load at the radius, set up on firm ground with outrigger pads. Control (engineering) Check slings, chains, shackles and hooks before use. Remove anything damaged or not tagged. Control (engineering) Have a lift plan made by an appointed person, following LOLER. Control (procedures) Use CPCS or NPORS carded crane operators, slingers and signallers. Control (procedures) Barricade and sign the drop zone under overhead work so nobody walks beneath. Isolate Fit toe boards, kick plates and mesh screens on scaffolds and edges. Control (engineering) Use catch fans, debris netting or covered walkways where people pass below. Control (engineering) Tether hand tools when working at height. Control (engineering) Keep platforms tidy. Do not stack materials near edges or above toe board height. 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)	Medium (8)
3	Spread loads so the roof is not overloaded	Structural collapse during alterations	Workers, Occupants	High (10)	Get an engineer to check before removing any wall, beam, post or bracing that may be load-bearing. Eliminate Keep everyone clear of the area under and next to the work. Isolate Install temporary props, needles or shoring as designed before removing any support. Control (engineering) Follow the engineer's sequence. Do not change it without approval. Control (procedures) Check props daily. Do not remove them until the permanent support is in and approved. Control (procedures) Wear a hard hat and safety boots. PPE	Medium (5)
4	Fit frames and panels	Lifting and carrying heavy loads Strong wind and storms Cuts from sharp edges	Workers, Public	High (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 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) Check the forecast each morning and plan work at height and lifting around the weather. Eliminate Tie down or weigh down loose sheets, panels, boards and rubbish at the end of each shift. Control (engineering) Set wind limits for roof work, platforms and cranes, using the manufacturer's limits, and stop when they are reached. Control (procedures) Stop work and get down in lightning. Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back up. Control (procedures) Check scaffold, fencing and edge protection after strong wind before anyone uses them. Control (procedures) Deburr or cover sharp edges, and fit edge protectors on exposed sheet metal. Control (engineering) Use knives with retractable or self-retracting blades. Control (engineering) Cut away from your body and keep your other hand clear. Control (procedures) Put used blades in a blade bin or sharps container. Control (procedures) Use two people to handle large sheets of metal or glass. Control (procedures)	Medium (6)
5	Cable and connect, treating DC as live	Electric shock from live wiring	Workers, Occupants	Very high (15)	Isolate the power before any work. Do not work live. Eliminate Lock out and tag the isolation point with your own personal lock and danger tag. Isolate Prove dead at the point of work with an approved voltage indicator (GS38), and prove the tester before and after. Control (engineering) Only competent, qualified electricians do electrical work, following a safe isolation procedure. Control (procedures) Check for back feeds from solar, batteries and generators that can keep a circuit live after the main switch is off. Control (procedures) If live work cannot be avoided, use a permit, a safety observer and insulated tools. Control (procedures) Wear insulated gloves, arc-rated clothing and a face shield when testing or working near live parts. PPE	Medium (5)
6	Test, commission and clear the roof	Heat stress Poor housekeeping and waste	Workers, Visitors	High (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) Watch each other for dizziness, headache, confusion or stopping sweating. Stop work, cool down and get help. Control (procedures) Have a hot weather plan, including when work stops. Control (procedures) Wear light, loose, long-sleeved clothing, a hat or brim, and sunscreen. PPE 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	Medium (8)

Method statement: sequence of work

Install edge protection and guard skylights
Crane panels onto the roof with an exclusion zone below
Spread loads so the roof is not overloaded
Fit frames and panels
Cable and connect, treating DC as live
Test, commission and clear the roof

PPE

Safety bootsFull body harness and lanyardSafety helmetHi-vis vestCut-resistant glovesSun protection (sunscreen and neck cover)Rigger glovesSafety glassesInsulated electrical glovesArc-rated clothing and face shield

Plant and equipment

Mobile crane: CPCS or NPORS crane operator card, plus slinger signaller card; lift plan by an Appointed PersonGoods hoistPower drillElectrical test equipment (multifunction tester)Hand tools

Permits and plans

Roof access permitWork at height permitLift plan (LOLER reg 8)Permit to work (electrical isolation)

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 commercial solar installation

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 commercial solar installation

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

RAMS read, explained and signed by everyone on the job
Edge protection or fall protection in place before work at height starts
Fragile roof areas and skylights covered or barricaded
Openings, voids and penetrations covered and marked
Isolation, lockout and test for dead done before work starts
Exclusion zone below the work and public kept out
Weather checked: water, shade and rest breaks planned
Wind and weather checked; stop work limits agreed
First aider, first aid kit and emergency number (999) confirmed
PPE checked and worn: safety boots, full body harness and lanyard, safety helmet, hi-vis vest

The safe sequence of work

Install edge protection and guard skylights
Crane panels onto the roof with an exclusion zone below
Spread loads so the roof is not overloaded
Fit frames and panels
Cable and connect, treating DC as live
Test, commission and clear the roof

Hazards to watch on commercial solar installation

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

Step 1Falling through a fragile roof or skylightA worker steps on a skylight, clear sheet or old fibre cement roof and falls through to the floor below.

Step 2Crane and lifting failureA load falls or swings, or the crane tips, crushing workers under or near the lift.

Step 4Strong wind and stormsWind blows sheets, panels and people off roofs and scaffolds, and storms and lightning make work at height and lifting unsafe.

Step 1Falling from a roof edgeA worker slips or walks off the edge of a roof or gutter line and falls to the ground.

Step 6Heat stressHard work in hot weather or hot roof spaces causes heat exhaustion or heat stroke, which can kill.

Step 3Structural collapse during alterationsRemoving a wall, beam, post or bracing makes part of the building fall on workers.

Highest risk on commercial solar installation: 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?
Will you use a scaffold or mobile tower?
Will you use a MEWP (scissor lift or cherry picker)?

Licences and legal requirements in United Kingdom

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

Mobile crane: CPCS or NPORS crane operator card, plus slinger signaller card; lift plan by an Appointed Person

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: Work at Height Regulations 2005; Work at Height Regulations 2005, regulation 9 (fragile surfaces); Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER); Work at Height Regulations 2005, regulation 10 (falling objects); CDM Regulations 2015; CDM Regulations 2015, regulation 19 (stability of structures); Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992; Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.

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 commercial solar installation?

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 commercial solar installation?

Usually Safety boots, Full body harness and lanyard, Safety helmet, Hi-vis vest, Cut-resistant gloves, Sun protection (sunscreen and neck cover), Rigger gloves, Safety glasses, Insulated electrical gloves, Arc-rated clothing and face shield. The site rules may add more, so check with the principal contractor.

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Related jobs in other trades

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Toolbox talks for this job

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