Carpentry and joinery covers a huge range, from first-fix floor joists and stud walls to staircases, doors, kitchens and fencing. The hazards change with the job, but a few are constant: sharp, fast tools, dust that harms health over years, noise and vibration, and heavy awkward materials.
Because the work is so varied, a RAMS that is specific to the job, such as a staircase fit or a timber deck, is more useful than one generic document that says “carpentry”.
Hazards a carpentry and joinery RAMS should cover
Every job and site is different, but a carpentry and joinery RAMS will usually need to deal with most of the following.
- Cuts and injuries from hand and power tools, including saws and nail guns
- Wood dust, which can cause asthma and other serious lung conditions
- Hand-arm vibration from sanders, routers and drills
- Noise from saws, planers and compressors
- Manual handling of sheet materials, doors and beams
- Working at height from steps, platforms and towers
- Crush and trapping while erecting frames and heavy timber
- Slips and trips from offcuts, and lead paint or asbestos when working on older buildings
What is in the AutoRAMS carpentry and joinery library
AutoRAMS holds 83 carpentry and joinery job types in 11 categories. Each job comes with a written sequence of operation, the hazards that go with it, who could be harmed, and the controls. You choose the jobs you are doing, tick what applies on site, and the RAMS is assembled around your answers.
For example, First-fix carpentry starts you off with a 16-step sequence of operation. The library also holds general hazards for the trade, including:
- Cuts, lacerations, kickback and projectile injury from hand and power tools (circular saws, routers, planers, chisels, nail/staple guns)
- Inhalation of wood dust from sawing, sanding, planing and routing (respiratory sensitisation, occupational asthma; hardwood dust is a recognised carcinogen)
- Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) from prolonged use of vibrating tools (sanders, routers, saws, planers, nail guns)
Jobs you can choose from
- First Fix & Structural (18): First-fix carpentry, Timber stud partition installation, Timber floor joist installation and more
- Doors & Ironmongery (12): Door frame or lining installation, Internal door installation, External door or doorset installation and more
- Kitchens, Furniture & Fit-Out (11): Kitchen units and worktops installation, Fitted wardrobe or cabinet installation, Shelving installation and more
- Second Fix & Mouldings (8): Second-fix carpentry, Skirting and architrave installation, Timber wall cladding installation and more
- Stairs, Handrails & Access (8): Staircase installation, Handrail or balustrade installation, Loft or access-hatch installation and more
- External Carpentry (8): Timber decking installation, Timber fencing and gates, Timber fascia or soffit replacement and more
- Repair, Restoration & Specialist (7): Timber splice or local rot repair, Joinery strip-out and removal, Timber preservative or treatment application and more
- Windows & Glazing (4): Timber window installation, Sash-window repair and cord replacement, Casement-window repair and more
- Formwork & Temporary Works (3): Timber shuttering or formwork, Site hoarding or temporary timber partition, Temporary timber protection works
- Floors (3): Timber or laminate flooring installation, Floorboard repair or replacement, Raised timber floor construction
- Other jobs (1): Shopfitting or commercial interior carpentry
Legislation and standards a carpentry and joinery RAMS often refers to
- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), including wood dust
- Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005
- Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)
- Work at Height Regulations 2005
Your competent person should check which of these apply to your job and make sure the RAMS reflects them.
How to produce a carpentry and joinery RAMS in minutes
- Pick the jobs. Choose carpentry and joinery and the job types you are doing.
- Tick what is on site. Tell AutoRAMS about access, the public, services, working at height and so on.
- Add the site and the team. Name, address, dates and who is working.
- Generate and review. Download a branded PDF with your logo, then have your competent person check and approve it before use.
Frequently asked questions
Why is wood dust in a carpentry RAMS?
Wood dust is a hazardous substance, and long-term exposure can cause serious respiratory disease. A RAMS should say how dust is controlled, for example with on-tool extraction and suitable face protection.
Do I need a separate RAMS for each carpentry job?
You need one that fits the job and the site. Using the same job library each time, then adjusting for the site, keeps each RAMS accurate without writing it from scratch.
Can one RAMS cover first fix and second fix?
It can, if the scope, the people and the site conditions are the same. Many carpenters prefer separate RAMS because the hazards and the sequence of work are different at each stage.