Tiling RAMS template
A tiling RAMS should describe the actual wall or floor tiling job, the hazards created at each step, and the controls and sequence the crew will follow. This fillable worksheet gives a starting structure for a UK tiling risk assessment and method statement. It is not a finished document for any particular site. Before use, a competent person must add the substrate, tile and product specifications, access method, cutting equipment, dust controls, people affected, emergency arrangements and client/site rules.
The existing Complys tiling RAMS guide explains the trade and gives a worked example and pre-work checklist. This page is the document form a tiler can copy and complete. Keep the guide as the explanatory owner; do not republish its prose under a second URL. The general RAMS overview addresses document workflow and the risk assessment software page covers broader assessment management.
What needs to be assessed for this job?
Wall and floor tiling can involve cutting ceramic, porcelain, natural or engineered stone; preparing a subfloor; mixing adhesive or grout; moving large-format tiles; kneeling; operating a wet saw; using powered tools near water; and working on a step, podium or other access equipment. Each job differs. A bathroom refurbishment in an occupied home has different interface and dust-control needs from a large commercial floor installed before handover.
Do not assume every tile has the same silica content, every adhesive has the same ingredients or every substrate may be disturbed safely. Read the product safety data sheets (SDS) and manufacturer instructions, inspect the work area and ask for the relevant building information. HSE's COSHH assessment guidance explicitly lists silica dust from tile cutting as a process-generated hazard. An SDS for an adhesive alone will not assess dust generated by cutting a tile.
Copyable tiling RAMS form
1. Job details and approval
| Field | Complete for this project |
|---|---|
| Contractor, client, site and exact work area | |
| Scope: wall/floor, rooms, area, tile type and substrate | |
| Start/finish and working hours | |
| Supervisor, competent assessor and crew | |
| Other trades, occupants, public and access restrictions | |
| Design/specification, drawings and product instructions | |
| Material SDS and COSHH assessment references | |
| Site induction, permits, isolation and welfare arrangements | |
| Assessment version, issue date, approver and review trigger |
2. Work sequence and controls
Complete the control column with equipment, settings, locations and responsibilities. A prompt such as “wear PPE” is not a sufficient method by itself.
| Step | Task and foreseeable harm | Project-specific method and controls | Person responsible / hold point |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Inspect the area; unidentified services, hazardous materials, occupied spaces | ||
| B | Deliver and store tiles, bags and tools; handling, unstable stacks, blocked routes | ||
| C | Prepare substrate; dust, hidden services, uneven or wet surfaces | ||
| D | Measure and cut tile; inhalable/RCS dust, cuts, noise, electricity and water | ||
| E | Mix/apply primer, adhesive or grout; skin/eye contact, vapour/dust and spills | ||
| F | Fix wall or floor tiles; kneeling, repetitive work, large-format handling, falling tiles | ||
| G | Work above floor level; fall and dropped-item risk | ||
| H | Grout, finish and clean; wet floors, residue, waste and public interface | ||
| I | Inspect, protect curing work and hand over; access and residual hazards |
3. Hazard assessment and action record
| Hazard/exposure | Who may be harmed | Existing control and evidence | Further action, owner and due point | Residual risk after action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile or substrate cutting dust | ||||
| Adhesive, grout, primer and cleaning products | ||||
| Wet cementitious material and prolonged wet work | ||||
| Manual handling of boxes and large-format tiles | ||||
| Kneeling, awkward reach and repetitive task | ||||
| Wet saw and electrical supply | ||||
| Falls from access equipment or at edges | ||||
| Slips, trips, sharp waste and occupied-area interface |
Use the project's own risk-rating method if required; do not let a numerical score hide an unverified control. Mark an unresolved critical hazard as stop and resolve. Record how the crew was briefed and who may authorise a change.
4. Equipment, competence and emergency details
List the actual cutter, extraction or water-suppression method, electrical protection, handling aids, access equipment and inspection status. Record which worker is competent to operate each item. Identify first-aid and eyewash provision, spill response, emergency access and the site contact. State how the team will leave the room safe if work stops mid-task. Record waste and slurry disposal arrangements so dust is not reintroduced during cleaning.
5. Review and sign-off
| Trigger or record | Entry |
|---|---|
| Material/SDS or tile type changed | |
| Cutting method or location changed | |
| Substrate condition or service found | |
| Crew, equipment, access or neighbouring trade changed | |
| Incident, exposure or failed control | |
| Supervisor acceptance and crew briefing |
Controls that usually need real detail
Cutting dust and COSHH
Plan cutting to reduce the number of cuts, choose an appropriate tool and location, and keep others out of the exposure zone. The control depends on material and task. HSE construction-dust guidance uses an assess, control and review approach and points to specific task controls. Wet cutting or suitable on-tool extraction can substantially reduce airborne dust, but “wet” does not mean zero exposure. HSE wet-cutting advice warns that harmful dust can remain even when it is not visible. Select any respiratory protective equipment from the actual exposure assessment and make sure it is suitable, maintained and worn correctly. Keep slurry and settled dust from drying and becoming airborne; clean by a method that does not create a new cloud.
For adhesive, primer, grout and sealant, read the specific SDS. Assess inhalation, skin and eye contact, mixing, ventilation and disposal. Do not copy a generic “non-hazardous” statement across products. COSHH applies to hazardous substances and to harmful substances created by the process. If the work exposes workers regularly to wet cementitious products, assess skin disease risk and the need for health surveillance. HSE's cement guidance describes dermatitis and the importance of suitable washing and skin-protection arrangements. Gloves need selection for the substance and task; a contaminated glove can trap material against the skin.
Handling and musculoskeletal risk
Tile packs, adhesive bags and large-format pieces need a delivery and handling plan. Record weight, dimensions, travel route, stairs/thresholds, carrying height and where the materials will be staged. Use mechanical aids or a team method where the assessment calls for them; do not assume two people make an awkward panel safe. Plan work height and breaks or task rotation for prolonged kneeling and reaching. Knee protection helps but does not remove the need to change the work method where practicable. Keep stacking stable and routes clear.
Wet tools, access and other people
A wet saw requires a suitable electrical supply and the manufacturer's controls for water, blade guarding and inspection. Put the saw where splash, leads and offcuts do not create a slip or trip route. Segregate occupants and other trades, particularly in a school, care setting or occupied home. For high wall tiling, name the access equipment and its inspection, stable footing and safe reach. “Use ladder as required” is too vague if the task needs prolonged two-handed work. Secure loose tiles and tools so they cannot fall onto people below.
Example: small occupied bathroom refurbishment
A tiler is replacing wall tiles in a bathroom while residents remain in the property. The site information identifies the substrate and services; the contractor checks whether removal may disturb hazardous material before breaking out old finishes. Deliveries are carried to a clear, protected staging area. Cutting is planned outside the occupied room in a controlled location, with the tool and dust method selected for the actual tile. Residents are kept away from cutting, mixing and uncured surfaces. The team reviews the adhesive SDS and records gloves, ventilation and washing arrangements. A safe access platform is selected for upper walls, and the room is left secure after each shift.
This example provides questions to answer, not permission to start. If hidden services or an unexpected substrate appear, work stops for reassessment. The actual RAMS needs the products, work sequence and site rules in the tables above.
Where Complys fits
Keep the finished assessment and method statement controlled, reviewed and available to the crew. The RAMS page describes Complys' general construction document workflow, and risk assessment software describes wider assessment records. Do not claim that software can identify every hidden hazard, determine an adequate silica control or approve a site's RAMS automatically. A competent person remains responsible for the job-specific decisions. Verify live features, offer terms and exact routes against implementation before using any stronger CTA.
Next step: copy the worksheet, fill every project-specific field, resolve missing COSHH and site information, have the supervisor review it, and brief the crew before work begins.
Source, claim and writer-side QA register — checked 5 October 2026
| Material claim | Primary source | Boundary |
|---|---|---|
| Tile cutting may generate silica dust; COSHH assessment must include process-generated substances | HSE COSHH assessment | Tile/material-specific assessment still needed. |
| Construction dust requires task-specific assessment, controls and review | HSE construction dust | No universal cutter/RPE prescription made. |
| Wet cutting reduces visible dust but does not prove absence of harmful exposure | HSE wet cutting | Apply to suitable materials/tools; assess exposure. |
| Cementitious wet work can cause dermatitis and may call for skin controls/surveillance | HSE CIS26 cement | Depends on material and exposure. |
| Live tiling guide owns explanatory intent, worked example and checklist | Complys tiling RAMS guide | This draft is a fillable form; do not duplicate guide prose. |
Cannibalisation: no exact tiling-specific fillable form owner observed; existing tiling guide has explanatory intent, worked example and checklist, so keep distinct title and reciprocal link. Confirm current repository/unpublished content and canonical before a new route. Product truth: no claim that Complys validates COSHH or guarantees approval; product links require implementation check. Jurisdiction: GB construction. Links/metadata: .co.uk tiling guide and two observed money pages, distinct worksheet title/meta. Writer-side QA: usable form, site-specific triggers, direct answer, practical guidance, primary sources and specialist publication gate. Independent whole-page QA remains outstanding.