A decorator can move from a stepladder in a hallway to a tower on a stairwell to a spray rig in a new block in the same week. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 apply wherever a fall could cause injury, and HSE expects you to choose the right equipment for the task rather than reaching for a ladder by default. Ladders are not banned, but they are for low-risk, short-duration work.
The products matter as much as the access. Solvent vapour builds up in small rooms, spraying puts far more product into the air than brushing or rolling, and older buildings can hide lead paint under modern coats. A painting and decorating RAMS is where you show how you will prepare the surfaces, ventilate the space, protect the people living or working there, and deal with waste on this particular job.
Hazards a painting and decorating RAMS should cover
Every job and site is different, but a painting and decorating RAMS will usually need to deal with most of the following.
- Falls from ladders, stepladders, hop-ups, towers and MEWPs, especially on stairwells
- Lead dust and fume from preparing or stripping old paintwork
- Solvent vapour in enclosed rooms and confined spaces
- Spray mist, including isocyanate paints that can cause asthma
- Dust from sanding filler, plaster and old coatings
- Skin contact with paints, solvents and strippers
- Asbestos in older textured coatings and boards
- Occupants, children and the public in or near the work area
What is in the AutoRAMS painting and decorating library
AutoRAMS holds 30 painting and decorating job types in 7 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, Wallpaper hanging starts you off with a 17-step sequence of operation. The library also holds general hazards for the trade, including:
- Falls from stepladders, ladders, trestles, podiums and towers
- Breathing paint, solvent and cleaner vapours and skin contact with coatings
- Breathing fine dust while rubbing down filler, plaster, painted surfaces and bare timber
In an older building, add how lead paint will be checked and which preparation methods will be used before the RAMS goes to your competent person for review.
Jobs you can choose from
- Interior decorating (6): Internal emulsion painting: walls and ceilings, Interior woodwork: gloss, satin or eggshell, Door and frame redecoration and more
- Specialist coatings and finishes (6): Intumescent / fire-protective coating application, Floor painting / resin coating, Metalwork painting and more
- Exterior decorating (5): External masonry painting, External timber painting, Scaffold-based external painting and more
- Preparation, stripping and repairs (5): Old paint removal and stripping, Surface filling and minor repairs, Sanding and surface preparation and more
- Occupied and commercial premises (3): Occupied office redecoration, Retail / commercial refurbishment decoration, School / public building decoration
- Spray application (3): Water-based spray painting, Solvent-based spray painting, 2-pack / isocyanate-containing coating application
- Wallcoverings (2): Wallpaper hanging, Wallpaper stripping
Legislation and standards a painting and decorating RAMS often refers to
- Work at Height Regulations 2005
- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), for paints, solvents, fillers and dust
- Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002, where old lead paint is disturbed
- Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
- Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, for older textured coatings and boards
- UK REACH restriction on dichloromethane (DCM) paint strippers (Annex XVII, entry 59), if strippers are used
Your competent person should check which of these apply to your job and make sure the RAMS reflects them.
How to produce a painting and decorating RAMS in minutes
- Pick the jobs. Choose painting and decorating 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
Can decorators still use ladders?
Yes. HSE is clear that ladders are not banned and can be a sensible option for low-risk, short-duration work. For longer jobs, or where you need a stable platform, a podium, tower or other access equipment is usually the better choice, and your RAMS should say why you chose the equipment you did.
Should a decorating RAMS mention lead paint?
Yes, for any older building. HSE says lead paint can be found under existing paintwork in older buildings, and that dry sanding and burning off old paint are high-risk jobs. Your RAMS should say how you will check for lead and which preparation methods you will use if it is there.
Do decorators need a mask for painting?
HSE says most low-risk brush and roller jobs with low-VOC paints do not need one. Spraying, solvent-based products in poorly ventilated rooms and isocyanate paints are different and need the right respiratory protection, face-fit tested where it is tight fitting. Check the product’s safety data sheet and record the choice in the RAMS for your competent person to check.