RAMS for kitchen and bathroom fitters

Kitchen and bathroom fits happen in homes that people still live in. The RAMS covers heavy units and worktops, dust from cutting, water and power shut-downs and keeping the family safe while the room is stripped out.

Kitchen and bathroom fitter preset: 10 hazards with controls, 9 steps of work, PPE and plant, ready to edit and download as a PDF.

Make RAMS for kitchen and bathroom fitters

Hazards and controls

These are the hazards the kitchen and bathroom fitter preset starts with. Residual risk is after the controls, on a 5 × 5 likelihood and severity scale.

Cuts, entanglement and flying particles from tools

Hand and power tools · Who: Operatives, others nearby · Residual risk: Medium

Tools suitable for the task, maintained, with guards fitted
Only trained and competent people use powered tools
Blades and discs changed with the tool unplugged or battery removed
Eye protection worn when cutting, drilling or grinding

Electric shock from tools and leads

Hand and power tools · Who: Operatives · Residual risk: Medium

110 V (centre-tapped) or battery tools on site; leads checked before use
Portable equipment inspected and tested at suitable intervals
Leads routed away from water and sharp edges

Back and muscle injuries from lifting and carrying

Manual handling · Who: Operatives · Residual risk: Medium

Loads assessed before lifting; mechanical aids (trolleys, sack trucks, hoists) used where possible
Heavy or awkward loads lifted by two people
Loads broken down into smaller units; materials delivered close to where they are needed
Operatives shown good lifting technique

Breathing in wood dust (asthma, cancer from hardwood dust)

Dust: cutting and sanding timber and board · Who: Operatives · Residual risk: Medium

Saws and sanders with extraction to an M-class vacuum
FFP3 mask worn for dusty tasks; cutting done outside or in a ventilated area
Dust cleaned by vacuum, not sweeping

Breathing in silica dust (lung disease)

Dust: cutting, chasing and drilling masonry and concrete · Who: Operatives, client, others nearby · Residual risk: Medium

Tools with on-tool extraction to an M- or H-class vacuum, or water suppression
FFP3 mask, face-fit tested, worn as well as extraction
Work area closed off and ventilated; others kept away
Dust cleaned with an M-class vacuum, never by dry sweeping or compressed air

Striking hidden cables, pipes or gas mains when drilling, cutting or digging

Hidden and buried services · Who: Operatives, client · Residual risk: Medium

Service drawings and client information checked before work
Walls and floors scanned with a cable and pipe detector; buried services traced with a CAT and Genny
Hand-dug trial holes before machine digging near services
Water and gas located and the stopcock or ECV position confirmed before starting

Skin, eye or breathing harm from adhesives, sealants, solvents, cement and cleaning products

Hazardous substances (COSHH) · Who: Operatives, client · Residual risk: Medium

Safety data sheets and COSHH assessments available for products used
Less harmful products chosen where possible
Gloves, eye protection and good ventilation as the data sheet says
Wet cement and lime kept off skin; washing facilities used before eating
Products stored in their original containers, lids on, away from children

Disturbing asbestos in buildings built before 2000 (lung disease)

Asbestos · Who: Operatives, client, occupants · Residual risk: Medium

Client asked for the asbestos register or survey before work; a refurbishment survey where work is intrusive
Operatives have asbestos awareness training
If suspected asbestos is found: stop work, keep people out of the area, tell the client and do not restart until it has been tested
Licensed work only by a licensed contractor

Injury to the client, children, pets or the public

Working in occupied homes and premises · Who: Client, occupants, public · Residual risk: Low

Work area agreed with the client and closed off with barriers or doors
Tools, materials and chemicals never left unattended in reach of children
Access routes and fire escape routes kept clear
Occupants told about noisy, dusty or disruptive work in advance
Services only isolated after warning the occupants

Slips, trips and falls on the same level

Slips, trips and housekeeping · Who: Operatives, client, public · Residual risk: Low

Work area kept tidy as work goes on; waste cleared at least daily
Leads and hoses routed away from walkways or covered
Good lighting on access routes; spills cleaned at once
Floor protection taped down at the edges

Sequence of work

Agree the work area, water and power shut-downs and access route with the client
Check the asbestos information (old floor tiles, textured coatings, boxing)
Lay floor and route protection
Isolate water and electrics to the room before removing the old fittings
Strip out the old kitchen or bathroom; bag and remove waste
Cut and fit units, worktops and sanitaryware with dust extraction
Connections by qualified trades (electrician, Gas Safe engineer) where needed
Silicone and finish; test for leaks
Clean the room and hand over to the client

PPE

Safety boots, Eye protection, Gloves, FFP3 dust mask (face-fit tested), Knee pads.

Plant and equipment

Track saw and router with M-class extraction
Battery drills and impact drivers
Cable and pipe detector
Sack truck for appliances
Stepladders (BS EN 131)

Every job is different: delete what does not apply, add site-specific hazards and name the people responsible before you issue the RAMS.

Questions

Who does the electrical and gas work?

Electrical work by a competent electrician and gas work by a Gas Safe engineer. Name them in the RAMS and coordinate isolations with them.

How should I handle quartz worktops?

Cutting engineered stone gives off high levels of silica dust. Cut off site where possible, or use wet cutting or extraction and a suitable mask.

Other trades: Roofers · Plumbers and heating engineers · Painters and decorators · Carpenters and joiners · Plasterers and dryliners · all trades

Checked against hse.gov.uk on 31 October 2026.