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Plumbing · United Kingdom

Method statement for burst pipe repair

By Safety PaperworkBuilt from HSE guidance and CDM 2015 · How we write and check theseUpdated

You must assess the risks of burst pipe repair and record the significant findings if you employ 5 or more people. On CDM sites the principal contractor will ask for RAMS before you start.

RAMS cover the hazards, who could be harmed and how, the controls and the safe sequence of work, and the crew is briefed and signs. The main hazards are electric shock from live wiring, disturbing asbestos, fire from hot works and mould and droppings.

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RAMS example: burst pipe repair

This is a complete RAMS for burst pipe repair, with 6 job steps. Open it in the builder to add your site, crew and signatures, change anything, and download a PDF. Or download the free Word template below and fill it in by hand.

Risk Assessment and Method Statement (RAMS)
Burst pipe and leak repair · Plumbing · Example
Document RAMS-001 · Rev 1

Risk assessment

#ActivityHazardsWho might be harmedRisk beforeControlsRisk after
1Shut off water at the main and isolate power anywhere water has reached
  • Electric shock from live wiring
  • Slips and trips
Workers, Occupants, Visitors, PublicVery high (15)
  • Isolate the power before any work. Do not work live. Eliminate
  • Lock out and tag the isolation point with your own personal lock and danger tag. Isolate
  • Prove dead at the point of work with an approved voltage indicator (GS38), and prove the tester before and after. Control (engineering)
  • Only competent, qualified electricians do electrical work, following a safe isolation procedure. Control (procedures)
  • Check for back feeds from solar, batteries and generators that can keep a circuit live after the main switch is off. Control (procedures)
  • If live work cannot be avoided, use a permit, a safety observer and insulated tools. Control (procedures)
  • Wear insulated gloves, arc-rated clothing and a face shield when testing or working near live parts. PPE
  • Plan walkways and keep them clear of materials, hoses and leads. Eliminate
  • Run leads and hoses overhead on hooks or stands, or along walls, not across walkways. Control (engineering)
  • Slips and trips: see step 6 for the full controls Control (procedures)
Medium (5)
2Check for mould and sewage contamination in wet areas
  • Mould and droppings
  • Sewage and wastewater
Workers, OccupantsMedium (9)
  • Fix the water leak and dry the area before removing mould. Eliminate
  • Seal off the area with plastic sheeting and keep occupants out. Isolate
  • Clean up with an H-class vacuum and wet wipes. Never dry sweep. Control (engineering)
  • Bag mouldy material on site and remove it promptly. Control (procedures)
  • Wash hands and face before eating and at the end of each shift. Control (procedures)
  • Wear an FFP3 mask, gloves, goggles and disposable coveralls. PPE
  • Flush and drain the line before opening it, and plan the job to avoid contact. Eliminate
  • Use drain cameras, jetters and long-handled tools to keep hands out. Control (engineering)
  • Cover cuts with waterproof dressings. Never eat, drink or smoke before washing. Control (procedures)
  • Wash hands well and clean tools and boots after the job. Control (procedures)
  • Keep vaccinations such as tetanus and hepatitis A up to date, on medical advice. Control (procedures)
  • Wear waterproof gloves, goggles or a face shield, and coveralls. PPE
Low (3)
3Open up the wall or floor to reach the pipe, checking for asbestos first
  • Disturbing asbestos
  • General dust
  • Injury from power tools
Workers, Occupants, Public, People nearbyVery high (15)
  • Before work on any building built before 2000, check the refurbishment and demolition asbestos survey for the work area (HSE HSG264). If there is none, presume asbestos is present or have it sampled before you start. Eliminate
  • Seal off the work area and keep everyone else out. Isolate
  • If asbestos must be disturbed, keep it wet, use hand tools not power tools, and clean up with an H-class vacuum. Control (engineering)
  • Most asbestos insulation, coatings and insulating board need a licensed contractor. Notifiable non-licensed work is notified to HSE before it starts. Other work needs trained workers and controls. Control (procedures)
  • Stop work straight away if you find suspect asbestos. Do not touch it and tell your supervisor. Control (procedures)
  • Wear a fit-tested FFP3 mask (or better) and disposable type 5 coveralls. PPE
  • Use low-dust products, such as dust-reduced or pre-mixed compounds. Reduce / substitute
  • Seal off the work area with plastic sheeting in occupied buildings. Isolate
  • Use tools with dust extraction and a vacuum for clean up. Control (engineering)
  • Lightly mist the area with water to keep dust down, away from anything electrical. Control (engineering)
  • Never dry sweep or blow dust off with compressed air. Control (procedures)
  • Keep all guards fitted and working. Never tie back or remove a guard. Control (engineering)
  • Clamp or secure the work piece. Do not hold it by hand. Control (engineering)
  • Only trained, competent people use power tools, following the maker's instructions. Control (procedures)
  • Check tools before use. Unplug or remove the battery before changing blades or bits. Control (procedures)
  • No loose clothing, jewellery or long hair near spinning parts. Control (procedures)
Medium (6)
4Cut out the damaged section and fit the repair, with a hot work permit if soldering
  • Fire from hot works
  • Burns from hot surfaces
  • Cuts from sharp edges
Workers, Occupants, PublicVery high (15)
  • Use cold work methods where you can, such as bolting, press fittings or cutting with a saw instead of a torch. Eliminate
  • Move anything that can burn at least 10 metres away, or cover it with fire blankets. Isolate
  • Use fire-resistant screens to stop sparks reaching people or gaps in walls and floors. Control (engineering)
  • Get a hot work permit before starting. Control (procedures)
  • Keep a charged fire extinguisher and fire blanket at the work spot. Control (procedures)
  • Isolate heating systems and let parts cool before you touch them. Eliminate
  • Fit guards or insulation on hot pipes and equipment. Control (engineering)
  • Mark hot items with chalk or a "HOT" sign so others know. Control (procedures)
  • Keep a first aid kit and cool running water nearby for burns. Control (procedures)
  • Wear heat-resistant gloves and long sleeves. PPE
  • Deburr or cover sharp edges, and fit edge protectors on exposed sheet metal. Control (engineering)
  • Use knives with retractable or self-retracting blades. Control (engineering)
  • Cut away from your body and keep your other hand clear. Control (procedures)
  • Put used blades in a blade bin or sharps container. Control (procedures)
  • Use two people to handle large sheets of metal or glass. Control (procedures)
Medium (5)
5Turn water back on and check for leaks under pressure
  • Pressure testing
  • Hot water and steam
Workers, OccupantsMedium (8)
  • Test with water instead of air or gas where the system allows it. Never put water in refrigerant pipework, which is tested with dry nitrogen. Reduce / substitute
  • Keep people out of the test area with signs and barriers. Isolate
  • Use a calibrated gauge and a relief valve set to protect the system. Control (engineering)
  • Test to the pressure the system calls for and hold it for the set time. Never go over. Control (procedures)
  • Release the pressure fully before tightening anything or fixing leaks. Control (procedures)
  • Wear safety glasses or a face shield. PPE
  • Turn the system off and let it cool before work. Eliminate
  • Isolate and lock off the heat source and valves, and release the pressure. Isolate
  • Check the temperature, and open fittings slowly while facing away. Control (procedures)
  • Keep a first aid kit and cool water ready for burns. Control (procedures)
  • Wear heat-resistant gloves, long sleeves and a face shield. PPE
Low (4)
6Dry the area, clean up and advise on make good
  • Slips and trips
  • Poor housekeeping and waste
Workers, Visitors, PublicMedium (8)
  • Plan walkways and keep them clear of materials, hoses and leads. Eliminate
  • Run leads and hoses overhead on hooks or stands, or along walls, not across walkways. Control (engineering)
  • Fill or cover holes, and lay boards or mats on muddy access paths. Control (engineering)
  • Clean up offcuts, packaging and spills as you go, not at the end of the day. Control (procedures)
  • Keep work areas, stairs and access paths well lit. Control (procedures)
  • Wear safety boots with good grip, laced up. PPE
  • Order materials to size and send packaging back where you can. Eliminate
  • Put skips and waste chutes close to the work. Control (engineering)
  • Clean as you go, and do a full clean up at the end of each day. Control (procedures)
  • Keep exits, stairs and walkways clear at all times. Control (procedures)
  • Stack materials neatly on level ground, away from edges. Control (procedures)
  • Use a registered waste carrier and keep waste transfer notes for at least 2 years. Keep hazardous waste such as asbestos separate, with consignment notes (special waste in Scotland). Control (procedures)
  • Wear gloves when handling waste. PPE
Low (4)

Method statement: sequence of work

  1. Shut off water at the main and isolate power anywhere water has reached
  2. Check for mould and sewage contamination in wet areas
  3. Open up the wall or floor to reach the pipe, checking for asbestos first
  4. Cut out the damaged section and fit the repair, with a hot work permit if soldering
  5. Turn water back on and check for leaks under pressure
  6. Dry the area, clean up and advise on make good

PPE

Safety bootsRigger glovesSafety glassesFFP3 dust maskHalf-mask respirator (P3 filters)Safety gogglesCoverallsChemical-resistant glovesFace shieldEar defendersWelding gauntletsCut-resistant gloves

Plant and equipment

Hand toolsPress fitting toolPower drillPropane gas torch

Permits and plans

Hot works permit (fire watch at least 60 minutes after)

Emergency

Call 999. Add the nearest A&E, the assembly point and the first aider for your site.

Sign-off

Supervisor and every worker sign to confirm they have read and understood this RAMS.

Free RAMS template for burst pipe repair

Word (.docx) and PDF, A4 landscape, no email needed. Fill in your site details, then print or send it.

Word template (.docx)PDF template

Make yours in 2 minutes

Same document, filled in for your job. Answer a few yes or no questions, the crew signs on the phone, and you send the PDF.

Start this RAMS

Pre-start checklist for burst pipe repair

Tick these off before work starts. They come from the hazards, permits and equipment in this job.

The safe sequence of work

  1. Shut off water at the main and isolate power anywhere water has reached
  2. Check for mould and sewage contamination in wet areas
  3. Open up the wall or floor to reach the pipe, checking for asbestos first
  4. Cut out the damaged section and fit the repair, with a hot work permit if soldering
  5. Turn water back on and check for leaks under pressure
  6. Dry the area, clean up and advise on make good

Hazards to watch on burst pipe repair

The hazards most specific to this job, and the step where each one comes up.

Step 5Hot water and steamOpening hot water systems, boilers or steam lines scalds workers.
Step 2Mould and droppingsWater-damaged buildings, bird and rat droppings and dead animals hold mould and germs that cause breathing problems and infections.
Step 2Sewage and wastewaterContact with sewage spreads germs that cause stomach illness, hepatitis and skin infections.
Step 4Burns from hot surfacesTouching hot pipes, tools, bitumen, solder or freshly welded metal burns the skin.
Step 5Pressure testingA pipe, fitting or cap fails under test pressure and blows apart, hitting people nearby.
Step 4Fire from hot worksSparks and heat from welding, grinding or flame torches set fire to timber, insulation, rubbish or fuel nearby.
Very likelyLikelyPossibleUnlikelyVery unlikelyHow bad it could be: Negligible to FatalBA
Highest risk on burst pipe repair: Very high before controls (B), down to Medium after controls (A), on the United Kingdom 5 by 5 risk matrix (possible and fatal becomes unlikely and lost time injury).

What changes on your site

This example covers the job itself. Your site may add more. Add controls for any of these that apply (the builder asks you these as yes or no questions):

  • Will anyone work at height, anywhere a fall could hurt them?
  • Will anyone use a ladder or stepladder?
  • Will anyone work on a roof?
  • Is there a fragile roof, skylight or clear roof sheet?
  • Will you use a scaffold or mobile tower?

Why RAMS get rejected

Principal contractors send documents back for these reasons. This example avoids them, but check yours too.

  • The method statement is only a list of headings that repeats the risk table and never says how the work is done.
  • The method sequence does not match the risk assessment, for example the method strips the roof before the scaffold is handed over.
  • Residual risk is still High after controls with no extra measures or explanation.
  • It reads as copied: another firm, another address, or wording that does not fit UK sites. HSE warns that copying an example and adding your name does not satisfy the law.
  • Work on an older building with no reference to an asbestos survey.
  • Plant and access equipment listed with no inspection, thorough examination or competence evidence.
  • No briefing record, no revision history, or no named supervisor.

Questions

Do I need RAMS for burst pipe repair?

You must assess the risks of burst pipe repair and record the significant findings if you employ 5 or more people. On CDM sites the principal contractor will ask for RAMS before you start.

Who signs the RAMS?

The person who wrote it and the person who approved it sign and date it. Every worker signs the briefing register after it is explained to them, and the principal contractor reviews and accepts it before you start.

How long do I keep it?

Keep this RAMS, every revision and the signed briefing register with the site file for the length of the job, and keep a copy in your records afterwards.

What PPE is needed for burst pipe repair?

Usually Safety boots, Rigger gloves, Safety glasses, FFP3 dust mask, Half-mask respirator (P3 filters), Safety goggles, Coveralls, Chemical-resistant gloves, Face shield, Ear defenders, Welding gauntlets, Cut-resistant gloves. The site rules may add more, so check with the principal contractor.

More plumbing RAMS

RAMSHot Water Cylinder Replacement10 stepsRAMSDrain Jetting6 stepsRAMSBathroom First Fix Plumbing6 stepsRAMSGas Installation6 stepsRAMSToilet and Tap Installation5 stepsRAMSBackflow Prevention Testing5 stepsRAMSDrain Excavation and Repair6 steps

Related jobs in other trades

ElectricalConsumer Unit ReplacementAlso involves disturbing asbestosDemolitionSoft StripAlso involves disturbing asbestosRoofingRe-RoofingAlso involves disturbing asbestosBricklayingBrickworkAlso involves general dust

Toolbox talks for this job

Toolbox talkOverhead Power LinesToolbox talkExtension Leads and Power ToolsToolbox talkAsbestos AwarenessToolbox talkSlips, Trips and Falls

Blank RAMS template: free RAMS templates. Also for other countries: Australia (SWMS) · United States (JHA) · Canada (FLHA)

Sources