Glazing Installation RAMS: A Practical Guide for UK Glaziers and Contractors
A glazing installation RAMS — a combined Risk Assessment and Method Statement — is one of the most important documents a glazier or contractor will produce before starting work on site. Whether you are fitting curtain walling on a commercial building, replacing shopfront glass, or installing domestic double-glazed units, a well-written RAMS demonstrates that you have thought through every stage of the job and put real controls in place.
This guide explains what a glazing installation RAMS must cover, the legal basis behind it, and the practical controls that actually reduce harm.
What Is a RAMS and Why Is It Required?
A RAMS is two documents in one:
- Risk Assessment — identifies hazards, evaluates who could be harmed and how, and records the control measures you will apply. The duty to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment sits in Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
- Method Statement — sets out the sequence of work, the people involved, the plant and equipment to be used, and how the controls from the risk assessment will be applied in practice. It is the "how we will do it" document.
Most principal contractors and clients will ask to see a RAMS before you are allowed on site. It is not merely a paperwork exercise — it is the record of your planning.
Key Hazards in Glazing Installation
1. Manual Handling of Glass Units
Large glass panes and insulating glass units (IGUs) are heavy, awkward, and present a laceration risk if they are dropped or shattered. Manual handling of loads that could cause musculoskeletal injury is addressed under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992. Your RAMS should:
- State panel weights and dimensions.
- Specify mechanical handling aids — vacuum lifters, glass trolleys, suction cups — as the primary control.
- Restrict manual lifts to units within safe weight and size limits, and require a minimum two-person lift where mechanical aids are not practicable.
- Detail safe routes from the delivery vehicle to the installation point.
2. Work at Height
Any glazing above ground level triggers the Work at Height Regulations 2005. The hierarchy is firm: avoid work at height if reasonably practicable, then use collective protection (scaffolding, MEWPs, edge protection) before relying on personal fall protection (harnesses, lanyards). In your RAMS:
- State the working height and the access equipment selected.
- Confirm that access equipment is inspected before use and operated by a competent person.
- Record edge protection arrangements for upper-floor or roof installations.
- Never specify a harness as the first or only control for a height hazard.
3. Glass Breakage and Laceration
Breakage during handling or fitting is foreseeable. Controls include:
- Handling glass in purpose-made A-frames or on padded stillages.
- Wearing cut-resistant gloves (BS EN 388) — PPE is the last resort in the hierarchy but is non-negotiable here.
- Specifying the correct glass type (toughened, laminated) for the application in line with BS 6206 and Approved Document N (Building Regulations) where glazing is in a critical location.
- Having a breakage procedure in the method statement, including safe disposal of glass waste.
4. Hazardous Substances
Sealants, adhesives, and frame primers may be hazardous. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) require a suitable assessment before use. Check the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for each product, identify inhalation or skin-contact risks, and specify controls — typically ventilation, barrier cream, nitrile gloves, and eye protection.
5. Dropped Objects and Third-Party Risk
Glass and tools dropped from height can cause fatal injuries to people below. Your RAMS must:
- Define an exclusion zone beneath the work area (physical barriers and signage).
- Specify tool lanyards where work is at height.
- Detail arrangements for pedestrian management if working over a public footway or car park.
What a Good Glazing Method Statement Covers
A method statement for glazing installation typically includes:
| Section | What to include |
|---|---|
| Scope of work | Location, type of glazing, number of units |
| Programme | Start date, duration, sequence of tasks |
| Operatives | Names, roles, and relevant competencies/training |
| Plant and equipment | Vacuum lifters, MEWP details, scaffold reference |
| Step-by-step method | Frame prep → sealant application → unit placement → final seal → inspection |
| Emergency arrangements | First aid provision, nearest A&E, emergency contacts |
| Review trigger | What changes will require a RAMS review |
CDM 2015 Considerations
Where glazing installation forms part of a notifiable construction project, the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 apply. The principal contractor must ensure the pre-construction information is shared with you, and your RAMS feeds into the site's Construction Phase Plan. Even on smaller, non-notifiable projects, CDM's general principles — plan, manage, monitor — reflect exactly what a strong RAMS should already achieve.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Generic templates with no site-specific detail. A RAMS that does not name the building, the glass type, or the access method is not suitable and sufficient.
- Listing PPE before engineering controls. PPE is the last line of defence, not the solution.
- No review process. If the scope changes — different floor level, unexpected structural condition, additional operatives — the RAMS must be reviewed before work continues.
- Forgetting the method statement. A risk assessment on its own is not a RAMS.
Final Thought
A glazing installation RAMS that is specific, sequenced, and grounded in the real hazards of your job is a live working document — not a box-ticking exercise. Keep it on site, brief your team against it before work starts, and update it whenever conditions change.