RAMS for tilers

Cutting tiles and stone produces silica dust, and adhesives and grouts can cause dermatitis. A tiler's RAMS shows how you cut, mix and lift safely in the client's home.

Tiler preset: 9 hazards with controls, 8 steps of work, PPE and plant, ready to edit and download as a PDF.

Make RAMS for tilers

Hazards and controls

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

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

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

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

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

Hearing damage from noisy tools

Noise and hand-arm vibration · Who: Operatives, others nearby · Residual risk: Medium

Quieter tools and methods chosen
Hearing protection worn where noise is above 85 dB(A) or people must shout to be heard 2 m away
Others kept away from noisy work

Hand-arm vibration (HAVS, white finger)

Noise and hand-arm vibration · Who: Operatives · Residual risk: Medium

Low-vibration tools chosen and maintained
Trigger time limited using the tool's vibration level and the HSE exposure points system
Tasks rotated; breaks taken; hands kept warm
Symptoms reported; health surveillance where exposure is regular

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 and protect floors and fittings
Check for hidden services before drilling or removing old tiles
Remove old tiles with dust control; bag waste
Prepare and prime the substrate
Mix adhesive and grout in a ventilated area; wear a mask when mixing powders
Cut tiles with a wet cutter or a tile cutter with extraction
Fix, grout and seal
Clean up and hand over

PPE

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

Plant and equipment

Wet tile cutter or manual tile cutter
Angle grinder with extraction (diamond blade)
Mixing drill
Knee boards

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

Questions

Is wet cutting enough to control silica dust?

It is one of the main controls. Combine it with extraction for dry cuts, good ventilation and a suitable mask for dusty tasks.

Do adhesives need a COSHH assessment?

Cement-based adhesives and some grouts can cause skin burns and dermatitis. Check the safety data sheet and wear gloves.

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.