Drylining RAMS: what contractors should include.

Drylining RAMS should explain how the specified partitions, linings and boards will be delivered, stored, set out, cut, lifted, fixed, finished and handed over without exposing workers or others to uncontrolled risk. They should identify the actual materials, work areas, access equipment, tools, interfaces, competence, supervision, hold points and change arrangements.

RAMS is common industry shorthand for a risk assessment and method statement. Under CDM 2015, contractors must plan, manage and monitor their work, provide appropriate supervision and instructions, and coordinate with other project duty holders. A generic list of hazards does not show how the proposed drylining method will work on the project.

The RAMS should align with the relevant parts of the Construction Phase Plan, current drawings, manufacturers' information, COSHH assessments and site logistics arrangements.

Define exactly what the drylining scope includes

“Drylining” can describe several different activities. State whether the work includes metal track and stud partitions, independent wall linings, direct-bond boards, shaft walls, deflection heads, insulation, plywood pattressing, service openings, plasterboard ceilings, jointing, sanding or another defined system. Do not assume one method covers all of them.

Record the wall types, board types, layers, dimensions, weights, fixing method and areas covered. Identify any separate specialist design, temporary support, lifting plan or access method that the RAMS must follow rather than reproduce.

Where ceiling boards, unusually large boards, prefabricated panels or work over open edges fall outside the normal method, define a separate assessment and controlled sequence. Scope boundaries prevent a familiar document from being stretched to work it was never written for.

What information is needed before writing drylining RAMS?

Obtain and confirm, where relevant:

• current drawings, partition schedules, specifications and manufacturers' installation details;
• wall type, board type, number of layers, stud centres, head and base details and fixing requirements;
• approved details for openings, support, deflection, movement, interfaces and service penetrations;
• substrate condition, fixing zones and available information about concealed electrical or other services;
• board dimensions and weights, delivery point, distribution route, storage area and floor-loading limits;
• workface access, platform selection, floor openings, leading edges and overhead work;
• tools, cutting and sanding methods, extraction equipment and waste arrangements;
• safety data and task-specific COSHH assessments for compounds, adhesives, sealants or other products actually used;
• interfaces with mechanical, electrical, carpentry, finishes and other trades; and
• the principal contractor's rules, permits, inspection points and programme constraints.

Missing or conflicting design information should be raised before installation reaches the affected area. RAMS should not invent stud sizes, fixing centres, board build-ups or support details.

Write the method in the order the work will happen

A project-specific method may need to describe:

1. confirming the approved information, work area, interfaces and release to start;
2. accepting deliveries, checking loads and moving materials along the planned route;
3. storing boards flat or as instructed, protected from damage and without overloading floors or obstructing routes;
4. setting out tracks, studs, openings and supports against the current drawings;
5. checking for concealed services before drilling or fixing into floors, walls or soffits;
6. installing tracks, studs, noggings, pattressing, insulation and other specified components;
7. measuring, cutting and lifting boards using the planned controls and access equipment;
8. fixing each layer in the required order while maintaining specified joints and interfaces;
9. jointing, controlled sanding, cleaning and waste removal; and
10. inspection, snagging, recording concealed work and handing over the completed area.

Include hold points for details that will be hidden by boards. State who checks them, which drawing or specification is used, and what record releases the next layer.

Critical controls to address in drylining RAMS

Board delivery, storage and manual handling

HSE's construction manual-handling guidance specifically identifies plasterboard as work that may need additional controls. Large boards can be heavy, bulky, difficult to see around and vulnerable to wind or sudden movement. The assessment should use the actual board size and weight, route, frequency and work position.

• deliver as close as practicable to the point of use and plan distribution while mechanical access is available;
• use suitable trolleys, board lifters, hoists or other aids where they reduce the risk;
• keep routes level, lit and clear, and protect boards from moisture and instability;
• define when team handling is needed and how workers will coordinate the lift; and
• avoid sustained overhead holding, twisting and handling from unsuitable platforms.

Manual-handling training can support the controls, but HSE makes clear that it is not a substitute for eliminating or reducing the risky lift.

Access and work at height

Select access for the task and working duration. HSE requires work at height to be planned, supervised and carried out by competent people using appropriate equipment. The method should distinguish between floor-level wall work, high-level board fixing and any ceiling work.

Use collective protection and suitable guarded platforms where reasonably practicable. State the inspection, movement and use rules for podiums, towers or mobile elevating work platforms. Do not permit improvised access, standing on materials, or moving mobile equipment with people or unsecured materials on it.

Cutting, joint sanding and construction dust

Plan board sizes and setting out to reduce cutting. Use suitable controlled cutting and housekeeping methods; dry sweeping or compressed air can put settled dust back into the breathing zone. HSE says sanding taped plasterboard joints can produce high levels of gypsum dust and recommends avoiding sanding where possible or using suitable on-tool extraction.

If drilling or chasing concrete, masonry or another silica-containing substrate forms part of the method, assess that separate dust exposure and use suitable suppression or extraction. Do not assume the controls for plasterboard dust are adequate for every substrate.

Where the COSHH assessment selects tight-fitting respiratory protective equipment, it must be suitable for the individual wearer and face-fit tested. RPE should support effective source controls, not replace them.

Concealed services and powered fixings

Before drilling or fixing, use current information and an agreed checking method to establish whether electrical cables, pipes or other services may be present. HSE advises workers to look for electrical services around the job and remember that cables may be in walls, floors and ceilings.

Define tool selection, guards, bits, leads or batteries, pre-use checks and isolation arrangements. Specify who is authorised and competent to use any cartridge-operated or specialist fixing system. Damaged equipment should be taken out of use rather than repaired informally.

Sharp materials, cuts and falling objects

Metal studs, tracks, board knives, offcuts and exposed screws can cause cuts and punctures. Address safe cutting surfaces, blade changes, storage, deburring where necessary, suitable gloves selected for the task and prompt waste removal. Protect people below high-level work and prevent boards, tools or fixings from falling through openings or from platforms.

Interfaces, housekeeping and occupied areas

Coordinate drylining with service installation, inspections and other finishes so people are not working through each other's exclusion zones. Keep access and escape routes clear of boards, tracks, packaging, leads and offcuts. For refurbishment or occupied premises, include segregation, dust migration, noise, delivery timing and arrangements for occupants or the public.

How should the RAMS be briefed and reviewed?

The supervisor should brief the method to the people doing the work, check understanding and confirm that the specified equipment and information are available. The briefing should focus on the actual sequence, material handling, access, concealed-service checks, dust controls, hold points and stop-work conditions—not just collect signatures.

Review the RAMS when drawings or wall types change, a different board or fixing system is introduced, ceiling work is added, the access method changes, hidden services are found, sequencing conflicts arise, controls are not working, or an incident or significant near miss exposes a gap.

The contractor remains responsible for planning, managing and monitoring its work. A principal contractor's review or acceptance does not transfer that duty.

Can a drylining RAMS template be used?

A relevant template can provide a structured starting point, but it cannot know the project's wall types, boards, building condition, delivery route, workface, access, concealed services, interfaces or principal contractor requirements.

The IMERI H&S Partners Drylining & Plasterboard Installation RAMS template is currently available as a digital product. Its scope should be checked against the intended work. A competent person must assess the actual project, adapt the hazards, sequence and controls, coordinate it with other project information, and brief the workforce before use.

Buying or downloading a template does not make it approved, suitable for the project or ready to issue. The principal contractor may require further information or changes, and the contractor must still ensure the final method is workable and controlled.

When is project-specific RAMS support useful?

Support may be useful when the package covers multiple wall systems, large or specialist boards, high-level or ceiling work, difficult distribution routes, occupied buildings, significant service interfaces, restricted programmes, repeated review comments or unclear responsibilities.

For projects in Watford, Hertfordshire, London and the South East, send the drawings, wall schedule, board specification, access and lifting arrangements, intended tools, programme and principal contractor requirements. IMERI H&S Partners can then confirm an appropriate scope for project-specific RAMS support.