Drainage RAMS Example UK — What a Drainage Method Statement Should Cover
A drainage RAMS must address a range of hazards specific to drainage work — including buried services, trench and excavation stability, confined space risk where manhole or chamber entry is involved, contaminated water and materials, plant movements, and environmental controls. This guide explains the topics typically covered in a drainage RAMS and what must be site-specific.
Topics a Drainage RAMS Commonly Covers
- Scope and project details
- Site name, address, principal contractor, scope of drainage works — foul drainage, surface water, combined drainage, soakaways, drainage connections, culvert works, or drainage maintenance. Document reference and version.
- Buried service identification
- CAT/Genny scanning, utility plans, dial-before-you-dig confirmation. Safe digging zone — typically 500mm either side of mapped services. No-dig zone for high-risk services (high-voltage cables, gas mains).
- Excavation and trench stability
- Depth and width of drainage trenches, ground condition assessment, trench support method where required (trench box, battering, sheet piling), bedding and surround specification, inspection by competent person before workforce enters.
- Confined space risk (manholes, chambers, pipes)
- Assessment of whether entry constitutes confined space entry. Atmospheric testing before entry, continuous monitoring, trained standby person outside, rescue equipment on site, written confined space permit to enter where required.
- Contaminated water and material
- Assessment of foul sewage exposure risk, PPE for contamination (waterproof gloves, face protection), hygiene procedures, handling and disposal of contaminated arisings, Hepatitis B vaccination consideration for regularly exposed operatives.
- Plant and vehicle movements
- Plant types (mini excavators, drainage layers, vacuum excavators, tankers), CPCS-certificated operators, pedestrian/plant segregation, banksman where required near public highway, pre-use plant inspection records.
- Public and property interface
- Proximity to public roads, footpaths, and private properties. Traffic management if drainage works are in or adjacent to the highway. Dust, noise, and vibration impacts on adjacent residents or businesses.
- Environmental controls
- Bunded fuel storage, silt and run-off controls, concrete washout area away from drains and watercourses, no uncontrolled discharge to watercourse, pollution incident response plan, Environment Agency contact details.
- Testing and CCTV
- Water test or air test procedures for new drainage. CCTV survey procedures where required. Safe operation of pressure jetting equipment — exclusion zone, PPE, pressure jet inspection certification.
- Emergency arrangements
- Trench collapse rescue procedure, confined space rescue plan (where applicable), first aid provision, emergency contacts, utility emergency numbers if a service is struck.
Confined Space Risk in Drainage Works
Entry into drainage chambers, manholes, culverts, and large-diameter pipes may constitute confined space entry under the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997. A confined space risk assessment is required where there is a foreseeable risk of atmospheric hazard, flooding, loss of consciousness from heat or other causes, or engulfment and entrapment.
The RAMS must include a confined space rescue plan — including equipment to be kept on site, who is trained in rescue, and how emergency services will be called — before entry is permitted.
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