If you lay bricks or blocks on UK sites, a Risk Assessment and Method Statement (RAMS) is not optional paperwork. Main contractors will ask for one before you lift a trowel. The HSE expects it under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and CDM 2015. A decent RAMS protects your team, keeps you out of trouble with the principal contractor, and stops you losing a day's pay because your documents were bounced back at the gate.
This guide walks through exactly what a bricklayer's RAMS should contain, gives you a ready-to-adapt template for a typical bricklaying task, lists the hazards inspectors actually check for, and ends with a downloadable sample RAMS PDF you can take to site tomorrow.
Download the sample RAMS PDF
A fully worked RAMS example formatted to UK construction standards, ready to adapt for your next bricklaying job.
What RAMS actually means for bricklayers
RAMS stands for Risk Assessment and Method Statement. They are two separate documents that almost always travel together. The risk assessment identifies hazards and how you will control them. The method statement sets out, step by step, how you will carry out the work safely. Together they give the principal contractor proof that you have thought about the job before arriving.
For bricklaying specifically, the risks are well known: manual handling of heavy blocks, working at height on scaffolds and trestles, silica dust from cutting bricks, cement burns, slips and trips in messy work areas, and being struck by vehicles or site plant. A RAMS that does not address these clearly will be sent back.
Legal basis for a bricklayer's RAMS in the UK
The following regulations directly require, or strongly imply, a RAMS for bricklaying work in Great Britain:
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, Regulation 3: every employer must carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment for work activities.
- Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, Regulation 15: contractors must plan, manage and monitor the work they undertake and ensure workers have suitable information and instruction.
- Work at Height Regulations 2005: any work at height, including laying bricks off a scaffold or trestle, must be properly planned.
- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH): cement, mortar additives and silica dust are all hazardous substances that require a COSHH assessment.
- Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992: repeated lifting of blocks and bricks is one of the most reported causes of injury in bricklaying.
The structure of a good bricklayer's RAMS
A RAMS for bricklaying should fit on between four and eight pages. Anything longer and site supervisors stop reading. Anything shorter and it looks thin. The structure below is the one most UK principal contractors expect.
1. Document control
- Document title and reference number
- Version number and date
- Prepared by, reviewed by, and approved by (with signatures)
- Project name, site address and client
2. Scope of works
A short paragraph describing exactly what you will be doing. For example: Laying external facing brickwork and internal blockwork to ground and first floor levels of Plot 14, including cutting of bricks, installation of cavity wall insulation and wall ties.
3. Personnel and competence
List the roles on the gang and the cards or qualifications they hold. For a typical crew that means CSCS cards, first aider details, and the name of the person responsible for supervision on site.
4. Sequence of work (the method statement)
Break the job into numbered steps. Keep each step short. The principal contractor wants to see you have thought about the order of operations, not read a novel.
5. Risk assessment table
The risk assessment is usually a table with columns for hazard, who might be harmed, likelihood, severity, initial risk rating, control measures and residual risk.
6. PPE schedule
A list of the personal protective equipment required, when it must be worn, and who is responsible for providing and maintaining it.
7. Emergency arrangements
First aid provision, fire assembly points, emergency numbers, nearest A&E, and the site manager's number.
8. Briefing and sign-off
A sheet at the back for every operative to sign, confirming they have been briefed on the RAMS before starting work.
Bricklaying RAMS template: the hazards and controls
The table below is the core of a bricklayer's RAMS. Use it as a starting point, then add any site-specific risks that apply to your job.
| Hazard | Who is at risk | Control measures | Residual risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual handling of blocks and bricks | Bricklayers, labourers | Use of block grabs, split-pack deliveries, two-person lifts for blocks over 20kg, trained operatives, regular rotation of tasks | Low |
| Silica dust from cutting bricks and blocks | Bricklayers, adjacent trades | On-tool water suppression, P3 FFP3 masks, cutting outdoors or in well-ventilated areas, rotation of cutting duties, face-fit testing | Low |
| Cement burns and dermatitis | Bricklayers, labourers | Nitrile gloves, long sleeves, wash facilities with warm water and pH-neutral soap, immediate washing of any skin contact, barrier cream | Low |
| Falls from height (scaffold, trestle, hop-up) | Bricklayers, labourers | Use of scaffold built by competent scaffolder, tag system checked before use, edge protection, no work in high winds, toe boards and brick guards in place | Low |
| Falling materials from scaffold | Workers below, public | Brick guards, netting, exclusion zones, keeping scaffold lifts tidy, no stacking above toe board height | Low |
| Slips, trips and falls at ground level | All site operatives | Good housekeeping, clear walkways, materials stored in designated areas, prompt removal of mortar droppings | Low |
| Being struck by site plant or deliveries | Bricklayers, labourers | Segregated pedestrian routes, banksman for reversing vehicles, high-visibility clothing, pre-start briefings | Low |
| Noise from cutting and mixing plant | Bricklayers, labourers, nearby trades | Hearing protection (SNR 25+), low-noise cutting methods, limiting duration of exposure | Low |
| Hand-arm vibration from power cutters | Operators, labourers | Rotation of cutting tasks, HAVS trigger-time monitoring, low-vibration tools, warm hands before use | Low |
| Electrical hazards from 110V cutters and mixers | Operators | 110V site transformer, PAT-tested equipment, RCD protection, damaged leads removed from service immediately | Low |
Method statement: a typical bricklaying sequence
The method statement section should be numbered and written in plain English. Here is a typical sequence for laying external facing brickwork to the ground floor of a housing plot. Adapt it to the specific job.
- Pre-start briefing. Supervisor briefs the gang on the RAMS, the day's scope, welfare location and emergency procedures. All operatives sign the briefing record.
- Material delivery and handling. Bricks and blocks delivered in banded packs, placed as close to the work face as possible using the forklift or telehandler. Operatives never manually handle full packs.
- Setting out. Check and agree lines, levels and dimensions against the architect's drawings with the site engineer. Confirm DPC level and cavity width.
- Mortar preparation. Mortar mixed off-site or in the designated mortar station. Labourer wears gloves and dust mask when handling cement. Mixer located on firm level ground, away from pedestrian routes.
- Laying up to scaffold lift one. First three to four lifts laid from ground level. No scaffold required. Keep work area tidy; remove surplus mortar from floor as you go.
- Scaffold inspection. Before any work at height, check the scaffold tag. Do not use scaffold without a current green tag. Report any defects to the site manager.
- Laying at height. Work from the scaffold platform. Bricks and blocks raised to the scaffold in banded loads or loaded out by the labourer. No throwing of materials. Wear hard hat, boots, hi-vis and gloves at all times.
- Cutting of bricks and blocks. Carried out at a designated cutting station using a water-suppressed cut-off saw. Operator wears eye protection, P3 FFP3 mask, ear defenders and gloves. No dry cutting.
- Installation of wall ties and cavity insulation. Cavity kept clean. Ties installed to specification. Insulation installed close-butted with no gaps.
- Housekeeping and close down. End of each shift: mortar washed from scaffold and tools, offcuts removed, walkways swept, mixer cleaned down. Final check of scaffold edge protection.
Tip: The method statement should match the risk assessment. If you mention silica dust in one, it has to appear in the other. Site Manager AI cross-checks these automatically when it generates the document, which is why returned documents are rare.
PPE for a bricklaying gang
A simple PPE schedule keeps everyone on the same page. As a minimum for bricklaying, every operative on the gang should have:
- Hard hat to BS EN 397
- Safety boots with steel toe and mid-sole to BS EN ISO 20345
- Hi-visibility vest or jacket to BS EN ISO 20471
- Safety glasses to BS EN 166 when cutting or chasing
- Nitrile or rigger gloves for handling materials and cement
- FFP3 face-fitted dust mask for any cutting or dusty task
- Ear defenders SNR 25 or higher when operating cutters or mixers
Common reasons a bricklayer's RAMS gets rejected
From reading hundreds of RAMS submitted by bricklaying subbies to UK principal contractors, the most common reasons for rejection are:
- Generic, off-the-shelf wording. A RAMS that does not mention the actual site or the actual plot is useless to a principal contractor.
- No silica dust assessment. HSE has increased enforcement on silica. Any RAMS that does not mention water suppression and RPE gets flagged.
- No manual handling plan. Dense blocks are over 20kg. If you have not explained how you will handle them, the RAMS is rejected.
- Out-of-date version. If your RAMS is more than 12 months old or references expired staff cards, it will bounce back.
- Nobody signed the briefing sheet. A briefing sheet with no signatures is the same as no briefing.
- No emergency information. First aider names, nearest A&E, site manager contact, fire assembly point.
How long should a bricklayer's RAMS be?
Between four and eight pages for a typical job. A two-day facing brick repair on a domestic extension does not need a twenty-page document. A new-build estate with three plots of brickwork and several trades working above and below will need more detail on coordination and exclusion zones. Match the depth of the RAMS to the complexity and duration of the job.
Keeping the RAMS alive on site
A RAMS is not a document you write once and forget. It should be reviewed whenever:
- A new operative joins the gang
- The scope of work changes
- A near miss or incident occurs
- The method or equipment changes
- Weather conditions introduce new risks (strong winds, ice, heat stress)
Most site managers want to see the RAMS reviewed and re-signed at least weekly for longer jobs, and before the start of any new phase of work.
Using Site Manager AI to produce a bricklayer's RAMS
Site Manager AI is built for UK construction compliance. It takes the job details you give it (plot number, scope, gang size, working at height, silica exposure) and returns a formatted RAMS that matches the structure above in minutes instead of hours. The document is yours to edit, sign and upload to the main contractor's system. No more evenings spent in front of a Word template after a long day on the trowel.
Worth knowing: RAMS produced by Site Manager AI follow the HSE's guidance on structure and content, and are cross-checked against CDM 2015, COSHH, and Work at Height Regulations before being output.
FAQ: RAMS for bricklayers
Is a RAMS legally required for bricklaying?
A formal RAMS document is not named in law, but the underlying requirement is. A risk assessment is required by the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 require contractors to plan, manage and monitor their work. In practice, almost every UK principal contractor will require a written RAMS before bricklaying starts on their site.
How much does a bricklayer's RAMS cost to buy?
Generic templates from document shops typically range from twenty to one hundred pounds. The problem is they are rarely site specific, so they often need substantial editing to pass a main contractor review. Site Manager AI plans start well below the cost of buying three or four generic templates and produce bespoke documents for every new job. See our pricing page for current plans.
Who should write the RAMS: the bricklaying gang or the main contractor?
The bricklaying contractor is responsible for their own RAMS. The principal contractor reviews and accepts it, coordinates it with other trades, and makes sure it aligns with the overall construction phase plan. If the main contractor writes your RAMS for you, you still have to read, agree and brief your operatives on it.
Do I need a separate RAMS for every site?
You need a RAMS that reflects the actual site, but much of the content (hazards, typical controls, PPE) will be the same. A sensible approach is to maintain a core template and tailor it for each project by updating the site address, scope, plot details, welfare arrangements and emergency contacts.
How often should a bricklayer's RAMS be reviewed?
Review on any change of scope, method, personnel, or after an incident or near miss. For long-running projects, review at least monthly and re-brief the gang.
Does a one-man bricklayer on domestic work need a RAMS?
A sole-trader bricklayer working on a domestic project is still covered by the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 if they employ anyone, even casually. On a notifiable CDM project, or if working for a main contractor, a written RAMS will almost always be required. For a small householder job, a shorter risk assessment may be enough, but writing out a RAMS is still good practice and is useful evidence if anything goes wrong. See our CDM 2015 for sole traders guide for more on this.
What is the difference between a RAMS and a method statement?
A method statement is the step-by-step plan for how the work will be done safely. A risk assessment is the structured analysis of hazards and controls. A RAMS is the combined document. Read our how to write a method statement UK guide for more on the method statement half.