Straight answers to UK health & safety questions

RAMS stands for risk assessments and method statements. Together, they identify a job's hazards, evaluate who could be harmed, specify controls and set out the safe sequence of work. RAMS is commonly used for construction and higher-risk tasks, although the combined document itself is not a defined legal requirement.

A document called “RAMS” is not generally required by UK law. Employers must carry out suitable and sufficient risk assessments, and those with five or more employees must record significant findings. A method statement is usually good practice, although written arrangements are specifically required for demolition, dismantling or structural alteration.

A risk assessment identifies hazards, evaluates risk and selects controls. A method statement explains the safe sequence for completing a task using those controls. RAMS is the common name for presenting both together. UK law requires suitable and sufficient risk assessment; a method statement is generally a practical communication tool, not a universal statutory form.

To write a workplace risk assessment, identify hazards, decide who could be harmed and how, evaluate existing controls, record significant findings and assign further actions, then review the controls. Employers with five or more employees must record significant findings, but every employer must make a suitable and sufficient assessment.

Yes. Every UK employer must make a suitable and sufficient assessment of risks to employees and other people affected by the business. Relevant self-employed people also have duties. An employer with five or more employees must record the significant findings, but the duty to assess applies regardless of workforce size.

UK law does not set a universal annual review interval. Review a risk assessment when there is reason to suspect it is no longer valid or after a significant change, and amend it where needed. A planned review date is useful, but higher-risk or fast-changing work should be checked more frequently.

A 5x5 risk matrix rates likelihood from 1 to 5 and severity from 1 to 5, then usually multiplies them to produce a score from 1 to 25. The scoring labels and action bands are not fixed by UK law, so define them clearly and use them consistently.

A COSHH assessment identifies hazardous substances created or used at work, considers how people may be exposed and harmed, and specifies measures to prevent or adequately control exposure. It must be suitable for the actual task. A supplier's safety data sheet supplies useful hazard information but is not itself a COSHH assessment.

A hazard statement is standard wording describing the nature and, where appropriate, severity of a chemical hazard. Its H-code is a reference such as H315 for skin irritation. H-codes help identify hazards on labels and safety data sheets, but they do not measure task-specific exposure or replace a COSHH assessment.

In England and Wales, the responsible person must ensure a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is completed and recorded. They may do it themselves if they have enough competence for the premises and risks, or appoint a competent fire-risk assessor. Appointment does not transfer the responsible person's legal duties.

Test a workplace fire alarm weekly and arrange periodic competent maintenance; government guidance commonly specifies six-monthly competent testing and annual system maintenance. Function-test emergency lighting monthly and complete a full discharge test annually. Record results, repair defects promptly and follow the fire-risk assessment, system design and manufacturer's instructions.

A toolbox talk is a short, focused discussion about a health and safety issue relevant to the audience's work. It explains hazards and controls, invites questions and checks understanding. Toolbox talks support consultation, instruction and ongoing briefings, but they do not replace risk assessment, training, supervision or physical controls.

Choose one job-relevant topic, prepare the key hazard and controls, gather the team where they can participate, explain and demonstrate the safe approach, then ask questions to check understanding. Record attendance and actions, correct any immediate deficiency before work starts, and follow up unresolved issues with a named owner.

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require duty holders to plan and organise work at height, ensure competence, assess risks, select suitable equipment and inspect and maintain it. Follow the hierarchy: avoid work at height where reasonably practicable; prevent falls where it cannot be avoided; then minimise fall distance and consequences.

Use a ladder only where a risk assessment shows more protective equipment is not justified because the work is low risk and short duration, or site features cannot be changed. As HSE guidance, consider alternative equipment if work on a ladder exceeds 30 minutes. Use a competent person, stable setup and secure handhold.

CDM 2015 applies to small construction projects. The sole contractor or principal contractor must prepare a proportionate construction phase plan before work starts, plan and manage the work, consult workers and coordinate contractors. Projects are F10-notifiable if they exceed 500 person-days, or last over 30 working days with over 20 workers simultaneously.

RIDDOR requires responsible persons to report specified work-related deaths and injuries, over-seven-day worker incapacitation, certain diagnosed occupational diseases, specified dangerous occurrences and defined gas incidents. Over-seven-day injuries must be reported within 15 days; deaths, specified injuries and dangerous occurrences require notification without delay and a report within 10 days.

Yes. A landlord must assess and control tenants' risk of exposure to legionella, but a typical domestic system may need only a simple, proportionate assessment. Landlords can assess it themselves if competent. The law does not require a legionella test certificate or an automatic annual or two-year reassessment.

Employers must manage risks to lone workers under the Management Regulations. Assess how working without nearby help changes foreseeable harm, then provide suitable training, supervision, monitoring, contact and emergency response. Lone working is not generally prohibited, but some high-risk activities require another person or specific rescue and supervision arrangements.

Employers must consider women of childbearing age in the general workplace assessment. They must complete an individual assessment when a worker gives written notice that she is pregnant, breastfeeding or gave birth within the previous six months. Review it regularly; if risk remains, adjust work, offer suitable alternative work, then suspend on full pay.

HSE's Management Standards cover six work-design areas linked to work-related stress: Demands, Control, Support, Relationships, Role and Change. Employers have a legal duty to assess and act on stress risks. The Standards provide a suitable risk-assessment approach focused on organisational causes, worker consultation and practical prevention.

Employers must assess workstations for display screen equipment users and reduce identified risks. HSE describes users as workers who use DSE daily for continuous periods of an hour or more. Assess every regular work setting, including home and office, plan breaks or activity changes, provide training and fund requested eye tests.

TILE structures a manual-handling assessment around the Task, Individual, Load and Environment. Examine posture, frequency and distance; each worker's capability; the load's weight, size, grip and stability; and space, floor and environmental conditions. First avoid hazardous handling where reasonably practicable, then assess unavoidable work and reduce the risk.

For hand-arm vibration, the daily exposure action value is 2.5 m/s² A(8), equal to 100 exposure points, and the daily exposure limit value is 5 m/s² A(8), equal to 400 points. At the action value employers must reduce risk; the limit must not be exceeded on any day.

The lower noise exposure action values are 80 dB(A) daily or weekly and 135 dB(C) peak. The upper action values are 85 dB(A) and 137 dB(C) peak. The exposure limit values are 87 dB(A) and 140 dB(C) peak, taking hearing protection into account.

The UK workplace exposure limit for respirable crystalline silica is 0.1 mg/m³ as an eight-hour time-weighted average. It is a maximum, not a safe target: employers must prevent exposure where reasonably practicable or adequately control it. Use lower-dust methods, water suppression or extraction, then suitable face-fit-tested RPE where needed.

If you find material that may contain asbestos, stop work and tell your employer or the building owner. Keep people away and do not cut, sweep, vacuum or remove it. Check the asbestos register or survey and obtain competent advice. If material was disturbed, stop immediately and follow the site's emergency arrangements.

Martyn's Law is the common name for the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. It creates duties for certain publicly accessible premises and events to prepare for terrorist attacks. Standard tier premises are generally those where 200 to 799 people may reasonably be expected at the same time. Enhanced tier premises and qualifying events generally involve 800 or more people and have additional duties. The SIA will regulate the Act. As at 4 October 2026, the substantive duties are not yet in force: commencement is expected in spring 2027, but no exact date has been confirmed.

Once the substantive provisions commence, standard tier premises, which generally expect 200 to 799 people at the same time, must notify the SIA and put appropriate, reasonably practicable public protection procedures in place. Enhanced tier premises generally expect 800 or more people and must do those things plus implement public protection measures, document compliance, keep measures under review and designate a senior individual where the responsible person is an organisation. Qualifying events are also subject to the enhanced requirements.

A venue where fewer than 200 people can reasonably be expected at the same time is normally outside Martyn's Law's premises duties. A venue expecting 200 to 799 people may be standard tier if it meets the other scope tests. Standard tier venues must notify the SIA after commencement and put proportionate procedures in place for evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication. They do not have to buy a prescribed training course, complete a Standard Terrorism Evaluation form or submit procedure documents to the SIA.

When the enforcement provisions commence, the SIA may issue compliance notices and financial penalties. The ordinary maximum is £10,000 for a standard tier contravention. For enhanced tier premises or qualifying events it is normally the greater of £18 million or 5% of qualifying worldwide revenue, with a maximum of £18 million where there is no completed first accounting period. Continued breach of a compliance or restriction notice can attract daily penalties of up to £500 for standard tier and £50,000 for enhanced tier or qualifying events. Some serious failures are criminal offences. These are maximums, not automatic fines.

A useful Martyn's Law checklist starts by testing whether the premises or event is in scope and identifying the responsible person. It then records the number of people reasonably expected at the same time, assigns the correct tier, prepares evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication procedures, and makes workers aware of them. Enhanced tier premises and qualifying events also need measures, documented assessments, review arrangements and senior oversight. This checklist supports preparation but does not itself establish compliance.