RAMS for Painters and Decorators
Generate compliant risk assessments for UK decorating contractors in under 2 minutes. COSHH, WAHR 2005, lead paint controls, and CDM 2015 cited automatically.
Built with UK health & safety regulations in mind
Painting and decorating looks straightforward from the outside. On paper, it is. In practice, it involves working at height on ladders, towers, and scaffolding. It involves significant daily exposure to chemical substances: solvents, isocyanate-containing paints, two-pack epoxy systems, biocidal washes, and lead paint in older buildings. It involves preparing surfaces that may contain asbestos, silica-laden materials, and historic lead paint. And on commercial and construction sites, it happens alongside other trades in a CDM-regulated environment.
A painter and decorator RAMS that says "use PPE when painting" and nothing else will not pass scrutiny from a principal contractor, a commercial client, or an HSE inspector. COSHH alone requires substance-specific assessments with reference to workplace exposure limits (WELs) from EH40. Where lead paint is involved, the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002 impose additional requirements. Where the work is at height, WAHR 2005 sets the standard.
swiftRMS generates a compliant painter and decorator RAMS in under 2 minutes. You specify the task, the substances involved, and the site conditions. The output is a properly structured PDF with the right legislation cited and the substance-specific hazards documented.
What Painters & Decorators RAMS Must Include
Compliant risk assessments for painters & decorators work must cover these specific areas
COSHH assessment for all substances used
Every paint, solvent, primer, biocidal wash, varnish, and preparation chemical must be assessed under COSHH Regulations 2002. This includes reference to the manufacturer's Safety Data Sheet (SDS), the relevant WEL from EH40, and the specific control measures: ventilation, PPE, and exposure monitoring where required.
Lead paint assessment and controls
In buildings constructed before 1960, lead paint is a serious risk during surface preparation. The Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002 require air monitoring during high-dust lead paint removal, respiratory protection, and hygiene controls.
Isocyanate paint assessment
Two-pack paints, lacquers, and some wood coatings contain isocyanates, one of the most common causes of occupational asthma in the UK. HSE requires that anyone using isocyanate-containing products has received specific training. RAMS must confirm this and specify respiratory protection.
Working at height controls
Ladder use, step ladders, hop-ups, and mobile elevated work platforms all fall under WAHR 2005. RAMS must specify the equipment used for each task and justify the choice against the hierarchy of control.
Surface preparation dust controls
Sanding, wire brushing, and grinding surfaces generates dust that may contain silica, lead, or asbestos. Dust controls, LEV (local exhaust ventilation), and respiratory protection must be specified.
Confined space and ventilation
Internal spray application in poorly ventilated rooms can create an explosive and toxic atmosphere. Ventilation requirements, ignition source controls, and entry/exit procedures must be addressed.
Common Painters & Decorators Tasks That Require RAMS
Generate RAMS for any of these tasks in minutes, not hours
External painting at height (commercial or residential)
Working from scaffolding, MEWPs, or ladders. WAHR 2005 applies. RAMS must specify the access method, inspection requirements, and collective fall prevention measures.
Spray painting (solvent-based and water-based)
High chemical exposure: COSHH critical. Atomised particles penetrate deeper into lungs than brush application. RPE, ventilation rates, and fire risk must all be assessed.
Stripping lead paint
Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002 apply in full. RAMS must cover baseline blood-level monitoring, hygiene procedures, disposal of lead-contaminated waste, and Duty of Care requirements.
Two-pack and epoxy floor coatings
Isocyanate and solvent exposure. COSHH mandatory. Skin sensitisation risk must be addressed alongside respiratory risk. No solvent mopping on occupied sites without LEV.
Applying biocidal treatments (moss kill, anti-mould)
Biocidal products fall under the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR). RAMS must confirm the product is registered for the intended use and document the correct PPE and application controls.
Internal decoration on CDM projects
Working alongside other trades in an active construction site. CDM 2015 applies. RAMS must address the interface with other trades, particularly where spraying in areas where others are working.
Wallpaper stripping using chemical strippers
COSHH applies. Electrical isolation required before steaming or applying chemical strippers near sockets, lighting, or unprotected wiring.
UK Legislation for Painters & Decorators Risk Assessments
Every RAMS automatically cites the relevant UK legislation and industry standards
COSHH Regulations 2002
The most critical piece of legislation for decorating RAMS. Every chemical substance used during the work must be assessed. EH40 (Workplace Exposure Limits) provides the reference values.
Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002
Specific requirements for working with lead paint. Applies wherever there is a risk of exposure to lead dust or fumes above the action level. Requires air monitoring and health surveillance in significant exposure scenarios.
Work at Height Regulations 2005 (WAHR)
Applies to ladder use, scaffold access, MEWP operation, and any work where falls from height are a risk.
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and MHSW Regulations 1999
The duty to carry out and record risk assessments for all work activities.
CDM Regulations 2015
Applies when decorating forms part of a construction project. Decorators working on commercial refurbishments or new-build fit-outs must provide site-specific RAMS.
Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) 528/2012
Governs the use of biocidal products including moss killers, mould treatments, and anti-fouling paints. RAMS must confirm product registration.
How swiftRMS Generates Painters & Decorators RAMS
swiftRMS asks you about the specific painting or decorating task: the substrates, the products being used, the access equipment, and whether the site is occupied. Based on your inputs, it generates a COSHH-compliant RAMS that lists each substance with its hazard category, WEL reference from EH40, and the required controls.
If you flag lead paint, the output includes the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002 controls. If isocyanate-containing products are specified, it flags the training requirement and the RPE standard. Working at height inputs trigger WAHR 2005 references with task-appropriate access equipment guidance.
The PDF is formatted for professional submission: clear hazard register, control measures, PPE schedule, and the legislative references that demonstrate compliance. No blank templates, no guesswork. Under 2 minutes from start to download.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The legal obligation to assess risk applies regardless of whether the client is a business or a homeowner. For domestic work you may not submit the RAMS anywhere, but you are required to have one. If you are working on a domestic refurbishment that is also a CDM project, the obligation becomes contractual too.
This depends on the product. For solvent-based spray paints: minimum half-face respirator with combined organic vapour and P3 filter. For isocyanate-containing products: supplied air respirator (SCBA) or fresh air fed hood. Eye protection and chemical-resistant gloves are required in both cases.
Yes. Surface preparation in buildings constructed before 2000 can disturb asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). Textured coatings (such as Artex applied before 1985) frequently contain chrysotile asbestos. Before sanding or stripping any textured coating in an older building, an asbestos survey is required. Your RAMS must address this risk.
Yes. When you specify the substances used during the task, swiftRMS incorporates the COSHH assessment elements directly into the RAMS, including hazard category, WEL reference, and required controls. For a full standalone COSHH assessment document, see our COSHH assessment generator.
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