A roof job puts people at the edge of a building, often on surfaces that are not designed to be walked on. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require you to avoid work at height where you reasonably can, and where you cannot, to choose the safest equipment and prevent falls. A roofing RAMS is where you show that thinking for this particular roof: how you get on and off, what protects the edges, and what you do about fragile materials.
It also has to cope with things that change between visits: the weather, the state of the deck once the covering is stripped, who else is on site and who is walking below.
Hazards a roofing RAMS should cover
Every job and site is different, but a roofing RAMS will usually need to deal with most of the following.
- Falls from roof edges, verges, eaves and open decks
- Falls through fragile roof coverings, rooflights and deteriorated decking
- Tools, tiles, slates and debris falling on people below
- Wind, rain, ice and heat, and when work must stop
- Manual handling of heavy or awkward materials, including lifting up to roof level
- Access equipment: ladders, towers, scaffolds, MEWPs and roof ladders
- The public and other trades beneath or beside the work
- Asbestos in older roofs, especially cement sheets and soffits
What is in the AutoRAMS roofing library
AutoRAMS holds 86 roofing job types in 10 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, Pitched roof strip and re-cover starts you off with a 15-step sequence of operation. The library also holds general hazards for the trade, including:
- Falling from an unprotected roof edge, verge, eaves or open floor/deck
- Falling through fragile roof coverings, rooflights or deteriorated decking
- Tools, materials, tiles, slates or debris falling and striking people below
Jobs you can choose from
- Flat Roofing & Waterproofing (18): Built-up felt flat-roof system, Torch-on felt roofing, Cold-applied felt or bituminous membrane and more
- Pitched Roofing (16): Pitched roof strip and re-cover, Slate roof installation, Tile or slate local repair and more
- Sheeting & Cladding (12): Metal roof-sheet installation, Composite roof-panel installation, Roof or wall cladding installation and more
- Inspection, Repair & Maintenance (8): Roof leak investigation and repair, Emergency temporary roof weatherproofing, Roof inspection or condition survey and more
- Leadwork & Detail Roofing (7): Lead flashing installation or repair, Lead sheet roof or detailed leadwork, Chimney flashing or local chimney roof repair and more
- Roof Drainage & Roofline (6): Gutter installation or replacement, Fascia and soffit installation or replacement, Gutter repair / reseal and more
- Green / Blue / Solar Roofs (6): Solar PV roof mounting system, Green-roof installation, Green-roof maintenance and more
- Specialist Roofing (6): Non-licensed asbestos-cement roof-sheet removal, Asbestos-cement roof replacement, New thatched-roof installation and more
- Roof Windows & Openings (4): Rooflight or skylight installation, Roof lantern installation, Sun-tunnel installation and more
- Other jobs (3): Clay or concrete tiled roof installation, Warm-roof insulation installation, Work on or near fragile roof surfaces
Legislation and standards a roofing RAMS often refers to
- Work at Height Regulations 2005
- Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
- Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, for older buildings
- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), for sealants, adhesives and bitumen products
- Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
Your competent person should check which of these apply to your job and make sure the RAMS reflects them.
How to produce a roofing RAMS in minutes
- Pick the jobs. Choose roofing 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
Do roofers need a RAMS for small repair jobs?
It is good practice, and many clients and insurers insist on one however small the job. A short, accurate RAMS for a repair is far better than none, and it records the access and edge protection decisions you made.
Should a roofing RAMS mention fragile roofs?
Yes. Falls through fragile surfaces such as old cement sheets, rooflights and rotten decking are a well-known cause of serious injury, so your RAMS should say how you will identify fragile areas and stop people reaching them.
Who checks a roofing RAMS before it is used?
Your own competent person should read and approve it against the actual roof and site. AutoRAMS gives you a thorough starting document, but it does not replace that check.