Structural Steelwork Erection RAMS: A Complete UK Guide

Table of Contents

• Why Steelwork RAMS Matter
• Key Hazards in Structural Steel Erection
• Crane Lifts and BS 7121
• Working at Height Controls
• Bolt-Up and Connection Procedures
• What Your Steelwork RAMS Must Include
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Next Steps

Why Steelwork RAMS Matter

Structural steelwork erection is one of the highest-risk activities on any construction project. You are working at significant heights, using cranes to lift heavy steel members, and coordinating multiple trades in a fast-moving sequence. Under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015), steelwork contractors must produce Risk Assessments and Method Statements (RAMS) for every stage of the erection process before any work begins.

Principal contractors take steelwork RAMS seriously. Poorly written documents are rejected outright — and with good reason. An incomplete RAMS for steelwork erection is not just a paperwork failure; it is a genuine safety risk. This guide explains what you need to include, why it matters, and how to produce documents that will be accepted first time.

For a broader introduction to RAMS in UK construction, see our guide on what RAMS means and why they are required.

Key Hazards in Structural Steel Erection

Your risk assessment must identify all hazards associated with the erection sequence. The following are consistently the most significant:

• Falling from height — Operatives working on partially erected frames face fall risks at every stage. Edge protection, safety nets, and personal fall arrest systems must be specified and their use enforced.
• Struck by suspended load — During crane lifts, members may swing unexpectedly. Exclusion zones must be established and enforced. Tag lines must be used to control loads during landing.
• Collapse of partially erected structure — Steel frames are vulnerable to collapse before the structure is fully braced and connected. Your method statement must specify the sequence of erection and temporary bracing requirements to prevent progressive collapse.
• Falls of materials and tools — Nuts, bolts, and tools dropped from height can be fatal to workers below. Barriers, exclusion zones, and tool lanyards are required controls.
• Contact with plant and vehicles — Crane movements and delivery vehicles create collision risks on the ground.
• Manual handling of heavy components — Even with crane assistance, there is residual manual handling involved in positioning and connecting steel members.
• Noise and vibration — Impact tools used during bolt-up generate significant noise levels. Consider COSHH-linked noise assessments where exposures approach the Upper Exposure Action Value (85 dB(A)).

Crane Lifts and BS 7121

Every crane lift on a steelwork project must be covered by a lifting plan in accordance with BS 7121 (Code of Practice for Safe Use of Cranes) and the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER). Your RAMS should reference your lifting plan and confirm that:

• A competent Appointed Person has planned every lift.
• The crane has a current thorough examination certificate (6-monthly for lifting equipment in use).
• All lifting accessories (slings, shackles, spreader beams) have thorough examination certificates.
• Safe Working Loads have been established for every lift.
• Ground conditions and outrigger positions have been assessed.
• Exclusion zones are marked and enforced during all lifts.
• Only CPCS-qualified crane operators and slinger-signallers are used.

Your RAMS must not attempt to replace the lifting plan — the two documents complement each other. The RAMS covers the overall erection sequence; the lifting plan covers the specific lifts within that sequence.

Working at Height Controls

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require you to avoid working at height where possible, use the safest possible collective protection when it is not, and only use personal fall protection as a last resort. For structural steelwork, the hierarchy typically looks like this:

• Safety nets — Where it is practicable to install them before erection begins, fall arrest nets installed below the working level reduce the consequences of a fall. Networks of nets can follow the erection sequence upwards.
• Collective edge protection — Temporary edge protection systems can be installed on completed bays before work progresses. Your method statement should specify how and when edge protection is installed relative to the erection sequence.
• Personal fall arrest — Harness and lanyard systems with energy absorbers, connected to certified anchor points. The RAMS must specify anchor point design loads (min. 12 kN per EN 795) and confirm operatives are trained in harness use and rescue procedures.

For steel erection, the use of safety nets in combination with a planned erection sequence that minimises exposure at unprotected edges is the industry-preferred approach. If nets are not used, you must justify this in your RAMS and demonstrate that alternative measures provide equivalent protection.

Bolt-Up and Connection Procedures

The bolt-up phase is where most hand-to-structure contact occurs. Your RAMS should cover:

• The type and grade of bolts specified (e.g. 8.8 structural bolts) and the tightening method (snug-tight, full pretension, or combined method).
• Whether pre-tensioning is required (e.g. for slip-critical connections) and the method to be used (torque wrenching, turn-of-nut, or direct tension indicators).
• Inspection and acceptance criteria for connections.
• How operatives access connection points — the RAMS must specify access equipment and confirm no improvised access.
• PPE requirements at the connection stage: hard hat, safety glasses, anti-vibration gloves, safety footwear.

What Your Steelwork RAMS Must Include

A comprehensive structural steelwork erection RAMS must address all of the following:

• Project information — project name, site address, contract reference, client and principal contractor details.
• Scope of works — define exactly what steelwork is covered: column bases, frame erection, roof steelwork, mezzanines, etc.
• Sequence of erection — a detailed step-by-step method statement covering the planned erection sequence, temporary bracing strategy, and connection sequence.
• Crane and lifting arrangements — crane type, location, and reference to the lifting plan.
• Working at height controls — specific measures for each phase.
• Exclusion zones — how they are established, marked, and enforced.
• Emergency procedures — particularly rescue from height.
• Competency requirements — CPCS cards, SMSTS/SSSTS, harness inspection training.
• Sign-off — prepared, reviewed, and approved by competent persons.

You can generate a complete RAMS for structural steelwork erection using the RAMS AI steel erection template, which covers all of the above sections automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a separate lifting plan always required for steelwork erection?

Yes. Under LOLER 1998, every lifting operation must be properly planned by a competent person. For structural steelwork, this means a dedicated lifting plan prepared by an Appointed Person for each lift or series of similar lifts. The lifting plan is a document separate from your RAMS, though the RAMS should reference it.

What competency qualifications are required for steelwork erectors?

Operatives should hold relevant CSCS cards. Crane operators require CPCS (Construction Plant Competence Scheme) cards for the relevant crane category. Slinger-signallers require CPCS A40. Site supervisors should hold SMSTS or equivalent. For specialist connections involving high-strength bolt pre-tensioning, evidence of specific training is advisable.

Do I need CDM 2015 notifications for steelwork-only packages?

The notification obligation rests with the principal contractor (or client if there is no principal contractor). However, as a steelwork contractor you must provide a pre-construction information pack for your package if requested, and you must ensure your RAMS align with the Construction Phase Plan. If your steelwork package meets the notification threshold (over 30 working days with more than 20 workers simultaneously, or over 500 person-days), the project must be notified to the HSE via the F10 form.

Next Steps

Browse all trade RAMS templates on the RAMS AI trade hub — covering 22 specialist construction trades.

Structural steelwork erection RAMS are complex documents that require specific knowledge of crane operations, structural behaviour, and working at height legislation. RAMS AI generates detailed, trade-specific RAMS for steelwork erection that satisfy the requirements of CDM 2015 and are formatted for submission to principal contractors.