Free to use · PDF download # Working at height RAMS Builder > Working at height RAMS builder for ladders, towers, MEWPs, podiums and existing scaffolds. Answer a few questions, or download a free template or example PDF. > Web page: https://complyonsite.com/tools/rams-builder?job=working-at-height Working at height risk assessment and method statement Prepare RAMS for ladder and step work, mobile tower use, MEWP use, podium use and working from a scaffold that is already up. - Free to use - No account needed - Questions follow HSE guidance - Saves in this browser ## Working at height RAMS template A blank working at height RAMS to fill in: job details, method statement, risk assessment and briefing record. Risk assessment and method statement Working at height RAMS - **Company**: left blank to fill in - **Site and work area**: left blank to fill in - **Planned dates**: left blank to fill in - **In charge on site**: left blank to fill in - **Team**: left blank to fill in Method statement 1. 1 2. 2 3. 3 4. 4 5. 5 6. 6 Risk assessment | Hazard | Who might be harmed and how | Controls in place | Further action | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | [Download the templatePDF, 4 pages](https://complyonsite.com/rams/samples/working-at-height-rams-template.pdf) ## Working at height RAMS example The same RAMS, filled in for one job. Risk assessment and method statement Working at height, Second floor offices, 14 Mill Street, Stockport - **Company**: Hollins & Reed Contracting Ltd - **Site and work area**: Second floor offices, 14 Mill Street, Stockport - **Planned dates**: 12 to 14 October 2026 - **In charge on site**: Dan Hollins - **Team**: Two operatives: Dan Hollins leads and checks the tower and stepladder each morning; Priya Shah works with him. Method statement 1. 1 Set up the work areaConfirm the work area and scope before starting. Keep other people outside the active work area. Keep entrances and escape routes clear. 2. 2 Keep people clear of the workAgree how people get past or around the work while it is going on. Put barriers or signs where a route crosses the work. Do not leave open work unattended. 3. 3 Stop things falling on people belowFence off the ground below the work so nobody walks under the tools and materials. Use toe boards, brick guards or netting on platforms and lanyard tools where you can. 4. 4 Check the ladder before useCheck the feet, rungs, steps, locks, labels and visible condition before climbing. Remove damaged equipment from use. 5. 5 Use the tower manualMatch every frame, brace, platform, guardrail and stabiliser to the named system. Use trained people and do not improvise missing parts. 6. 6 Use the ladder or stepsCheck the ladder or steps before use. Place them on firm, level ground. Keep three points of contact while climbing. Reposition them instead of overreaching. Do not carry loose tools or tins up; hand them up or use a belt. 7. 7 Use the mobile towerBuild or alter the tower using the supplier instructions. Check the tower before first use and after it is moved. Lock the wheels before using the platform. Climb using the internal access provided. Fit the toe boards and keep tools and materials inside the guardrails. 8. 8 Set the ladder securelyPut it on firm, level support with a strong upper resting point. For a leaning ladder, use the 1-in-4 angle and secure it against slipping. Open stepladders fully and lock them before climbing. 9. 9 Set the tower on firm groundSupport locked castors or base plates correctly on firm, level ground. Fit stabilisers or outriggers when the manual requires them. Never use bricks as packing. 10. 10 Climb facing the ladderFace the rungs while climbing and keep three points of contact. Use a tool belt or pass tools up separately. 11. 11 Assemble and dismantle safelyWhen your team assembles or dismantles it, follow the protected sequence from the manual. Keep the area below controlled and secure parts for storage. 12. 12 Keep the task within reachUse only light tools and materials. Keep your belt buckle within the ladder stiles. Descend before moving the ladder. 13. 13 Check the complete towerBefore use, check the platform, guardrails, toe boards, access, braces, wheels and stabilisers. Arrange the required inspection by a competent person. 14. 14 Work inside the tower protectionUse the internal access provided and keep guardrails and toe boards in place. Keep tools and materials within the platform loading. 15. 15 Move the tower emptyRemove people and materials before moving it. Reduce the height as the manual requires and check the route, ground and overhead clearance. Move it only in suitable weather. 16. 16 Clear and hand back the areaRemove tools, waste and unused materials. Check the area is clean and ready to use. Tell the person in charge when the work is complete. Risk assessment - People entering the work area or tripping over materials Workers, occupants and visitors Mark or barrier the active work area. Store tools and materials away from access routes. - People using the building or passing by walking into the work or over what it leaves Occupants, visitors, members of the public and workers Keep the barriers and signs up while the work is active. Give people a clear way round where their normal route is blocked. - Tools and materials falling onto people below People below, including the public Lower waste in bags or a chute, never throw it. Keep the exclusion zone up until the last item is down. - A defect or unlocked section makes the ladder fail or move. The ladder user Use a ladder suited to the job and the user. - The wrong parts or sequence cause a fall or tower collapse. Tower users and people below Keep the manual with the tower information. Stop if the configuration is not covered. - Falling from the ladder or steps; tools or tins dropped on people below The person working from it, if the feet slip or they overreach to one side. Anyone passing or working under the ladder while it is in use. Secure the equipment where it could move. Keep the base and area below clear. - Falling from the tower platform; the tower overturning; tools or materials dropped from the platform The person on the platform, where a guardrail or toe board is missing or was never fitted. Anyone on or beside the tower, if it is moved with someone on it or built without its stabilisers. Anyone passing or working underneath. Fit the required guardrails, braces and stabilisers. Move the tower only when nobody is on it. Keep the area around the tower controlled. - A slipping base, wrong angle or unlocked ladder causes a fall. The ladder user and people below Never stand a ladder on boxes, pallets or loose packing. Keep doors and routes controlled. - Soft, sloping or improvised support overturns the tower. Tower users and people nearby Check the base before climbing. Keep within the maker’s height and loading limits. - A lost handhold or turned body causes a fall. The ladder user Keep both hands available for climbing when moving between levels. - An unguarded platform, falling part or wrong sequence causes a fall or collapse. Tower assemblers and people below Use competent people and matching components. Stop if the configuration is not covered. - Overreaching, force or heavy handling pulls the user off balance. The ladder user Reposition from the ground instead of leaning sideways. Use a guarded platform for force or bulky work. - A defect in the assembled tower is missed before use. Tower users and people below Keep it out of use until the inspection is complete. Recheck after movement, alteration or bad weather. - A fall or dropped item injures the tower user or people below. Tower users and people below Do not climb guardrails or add boxes, ladders or loose platforms. Keep the area below controlled. - An occupied or unstable tower overturns or strikes people and services. Tower movers and nearby people Push or pull from the base only. Keep people clear of the route. - Debris, tools or unfinished work left in the area Workers, occupants and visitors Remove waste by the agreed route. Record and protect any unfinished work. [Download the examplePDF, 5 pages](https://complyonsite.com/rams/samples/working-at-height-rams-example.pdf) ## What a Working at height RAMS covers Working from a ladder, stepladder, podium, mobile tower, MEWP or a scaffold someone else has put up. Not covered: erecting, altering or dismantling a scaffold. - Ladder/steps - Mobile tower use - MEWP use - Podium use - Existing scaffold use ## Suggested steps and hazards for Working at height Suggested for MEWP use before any questions are answered. 1. ### Stop things falling on people below - Fence off the ground below the work so nobody walks under the tools and materials. - Use toe boards, brick guards or netting on platforms and lanyard tools where you can. Hazard Tools and materials falling onto people below Who might be harmed and how People below, including the public Controls in place - Lower waste in bags or a chute, never throw it. - Keep the exclusion zone up until the last item is down. Falling objects are a leading cause of harm to the public near construction. [HSE: Protecting the public](https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/publicprotection.htm) 2. ### Use a trained familiarised operator - Use an operator trained for the MEWP category and familiar with the named make and model. - Check the training and familiarisation records. Hazard An unfamiliar operator overturns, collides or becomes trapped. Who might be harmed and how The operator and people nearby Controls in place - Follow the machine manual and site traffic controls. - Supervise an unfamiliar operator. Category training and machine familiarisation support safe control of the MEWP. [Mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs)](https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/mewp.htm) 3. ### Check the MEWP before use - Check the examination status, controls, tyres, alarms, guardrails, gate and emergency lowering system. - Use only the named machine within its load and wind limits. Hazard A defect or overloaded MEWP fails, overturns or leaves someone stranded. Who might be harmed and how The operator and people nearby Controls in place - Remove a defective machine from use. - Keep the manual and examination record available. The pre-use check and examination status show whether the machine is fit to operate. [Mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs)](https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/mewp.htm) ## What the builder asks about Working at height Your answers decide which steps, hazards and controls it suggests. The job - What work will you do from the platform? Where - Is the MEWP position ready? - Is the tower position ready? - Is the podium position ready? How it’s done - How high is the work, and what is the ground like? - Which ladder or steps will you use? - Which tower work will your team do? - Which MEWP will you use? - What will your team do to the scaffold? - What will you do with the ladder? - What will you do from the podium? - What work and load does the handover allow? What you’ve been told - Which named podium and manual do you have? - Do you have the tower system and manual? ## What your Working at height RAMS includes ### Method statement The work in order, step by step. ### Risk assessment Each hazard, who could be harmed, the controls in place and any further action. ### PDF The method statement and risk assessment in one A4 PDF. - ### [Cherry picker RAMS](https://complyonsite.com/tools/rams-builder?job=cherry-picker) - ### [Scissor lift RAMS](https://complyonsite.com/tools/rams-builder?job=scissor-lift) - ### [Boom lift RAMS](https://complyonsite.com/tools/rams-builder?job=boom-lift) - ### [MEWP RAMS](https://complyonsite.com/tools/rams-builder?job=mewp) - ### [Mobile scaffold tower RAMS](https://complyonsite.com/tools/rams-builder?job=mobile-scaffold-tower) - ### [Ladder RAMS](https://complyonsite.com/tools/rams-builder?job=ladder) - [All trades and tasks](https://complyonsite.com/tools/rams-builder) ## What the law asks for ### What a RAMS is A risk assessment and method statement. The risk assessment records what could cause harm on the job, who could be harmed and how, and the controls that keep the risk down. The method statement sets out how the work will be done, step by step, in the order it happens. A client or main contractor will usually ask for one before you start. RAMS is a site term, not a legal one: the law asks for the risk assessment and for the work to be planned, and a method statement is the usual way to show that plan for one job. ### What the law asks for - Employers, and self-employed people doing construction work, must make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to their own people and to anyone else affected by the work ([Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, regulation 3](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/3242/regulation/3)). - An employer with five or more employees must record the significant findings. The assessment must be reviewed if there is reason to think it is no longer valid, or the work has changed significantly. - Every contractor must plan, manage and monitor its work so that, so far as is reasonably practicable, it is done without risks to health and safety, and must give its workers the information and instructions they need, including the hazards the risk assessment found ([Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, regulation 15](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/51/regulation/15)). HSE guidance: [the steps to manage risk](https://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/risk/steps-needed-to-manage-risk.htm) and [what contractors must do under CDM](https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm/2015/contractors.htm). This is the law in Great Britain; Northern Ireland has its own equivalent regulations. ### What the builder does You choose the work and answer questions about how the job will be done, such as what you will stand on and what else is going on nearby. Your answers decide which steps, hazards and controls it suggests. Many suggestions link to the HSE guidance they draw on. Your work is kept in this browser, and the PDF is made on your device. ### Separate documents A COSHH assessment, lifting plan, permit to work, asbestos survey and the principal contractor’s construction phase plan are separate from the RAMS.