Surfacing and Tarmac Method Statement: A Practical Guide for UK Contractors
If your work involves laying tarmac, resurfacing car parks, driveways, footpaths or highways, you will almost certainly be asked to produce a surfacing and tarmac method statement before you are allowed on site. This article explains what that document needs to cover, what legislation underpins it, and how to write one that is genuinely useful rather than just a box-ticking exercise.
What Is a RAMS and Why Does Surfacing Work Need One?
A RAMS is a Risk Assessment + Method Statement — two linked documents that together describe the hazards in your work and the safe system of work you will follow to control them.
- The risk assessment sits under the duty imposed by Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, regulation 3, which requires every employer (and self-employed person) to carry out a suitable and sufficient assessment of risks to workers and others who may be affected.
- The method statement is the practical narrative that explains, step by step, how the work will be carried out safely, incorporating those controls.
For tarmac and surfacing work, a RAMS is not optional. The hazards are significant: hot materials, heavy plant, proximity to live traffic, hazardous substances, and manual handling all feature regularly.
Key Hazards to Address in a Tarmac Risk Assessment
A thorough risk assessment for surfacing work should consider at minimum:
| Hazard | Typical harm |
|---|---|
| Hot bitumen / asphalt (typically 150–180 °C) | Serious burns to skin, eyes and airways |
| Bitumen fume | Respiratory sensitisation; potential carcinogen — COSHH 2002 applies |
| Diesel and fuel handling | Fire, skin/eye irritation |
| Traffic management failure | Struck-by — fatal or life-changing injury |
| Plant (pavers, rollers, plate compactors) | Crush, run-over, vibration (HAV) |
| Manual handling (kerb stones, lids, flagging) | MSDs — back, shoulder injury |
| Noise from plant and compaction equipment | Occupational deafness |
| Slips on loose chippings or emulsified surface | Fractures, soft tissue injury |
| UV exposure on outdoor work | Skin cancer (long-duration work) |
COSHH and Bitumen Fume
Bitumen fume is a substance hazardous to health and falls squarely under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH). You must carry out a COSHH assessment as part of your overall risk assessment. The HSE's EH40 Workplace Exposure Limits document sets the relevant benchmark. Controls should follow the hierarchy: use lower-temperature materials where practicable, ensure good natural ventilation, keep workers upwind of the paver, and supply appropriate respiratory protective equipment (RPE) — but RPE comes last in the hierarchy, not first.
Traffic Management
For any surfacing work on or adjacent to the highway, traffic management is a critical control. Reference the Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual and any specific requirements in the contract. Your method statement should name:
- the traffic management scheme being deployed (e.g., lane closure, stop-and-go, convoy working)
- who is responsible for setting out and maintaining signing, lighting and guarding
- how operatives are protected from live traffic throughout the shift
Failure in traffic management is one of the leading causes of fatalities in road-working. This section of your method statement deserves detailed, specific content — not generic phrases.
Is CDM 2015 Relevant?
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 apply to construction work, and the HSE's guidance confirms that surfacing and highway maintenance operations typically fall within the definition of construction work. If the project has a domestic or commercial client, involves more than one contractor, or exceeds the notification thresholds (more than 30 working days with more than 20 workers simultaneously, or 500 person-days), CDM duties around Principal Contractor, Principal Designer and F10 notification come into play. Check at the outset.
What a Tarmac Method Statement Should Include
A well-structured method statement for surfacing work should set out:
- Scope of work — what surface, where, dimensions, specification
- Sequence of operations — break-out/excavation, sub-base preparation, binder course, surface course, edging, line marking
- Plant and equipment — paver, roller, planers, compactors, tankers; inspection and pre-use checks
- Materials — asphalt mix type, delivery temperature requirements, storage
- Traffic management — as above, scheme referenced
- Supervision and competence — named supervisor, relevant qualifications (e.g., NRSWA operatives for highway work, CPCS cards for plant operators)
- COSHH controls — bitumen fume, fuels, weed killers if used
- Manual handling controls — mechanical aids, team lifts, task rotation
- HAV controls — daily exposure limits, tool rotation, health surveillance arrangements
- Emergency arrangements — first aid provision, burns treatment protocol (do not remove clothing stuck to a bitumen burn), nearest A&E, site contacts
- PPE schedule — heat-resistant gloves, safety boots, hi-vis, RPE as required, eye protection
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Copying a generic template without site-specific detail. A method statement that does not name the actual road, plant or traffic scheme is of limited value and unlikely to satisfy a principal contractor's review.
- Listing PPE first. PPE is the last resort. Show that you have eliminated or engineered out hazards before reaching for gloves and masks.
- Ignoring third-party risk. Pedestrians, cyclists and neighbouring businesses are all affected by surfacing works. Your risk assessment must consider them under regulation 3 of MHSWR 1999.
- No burns protocol. Burns from hot bitumen are a real and serious risk. First aid arrangements must be specific, not generic.
Keeping Your RAMS Current
A method statement is a live document. If the scope changes, if plant is substituted, or if ground conditions turn out to be different from those anticipated, review and reissue the document before work continues. A RAMS signed off for one set of conditions does not automatically cover a changed situation.
Getting your surfacing and tarmac method statement right from the outset protects your workers, satisfies your clients, and demonstrates the professional standard of working that the HSE expects.