The detail that matters: how the steel gets lifted, the load route, who's kept out, the erection order, what holds the frame up before it's braced, and how plant gets on site.
Fabora resources
Steel erection RAMS for UK steelwork contractors.
Erecting steel pulls a lot into one job: a crane or telehandler swinging loads, lads working off MEWPs, a sequence that has to be followed in order, and a frame that isn't stable until it's tied in. Your RAMS has to show how that actually gets done on this site, with this kit, in this order — not how it went on the last job. Get the lift plan, the access and the sequence right and the rest tends to follow.
Short answer
Strong steel erection RAMS tie the erection sequence, the lift, access and work at height, temporary stability, exclusion zones and your stop-work plan to the real site — not to a template you copied last month.
- The detail that matters: how the steel gets lifted, the load route, who's kept out, the erection order, what holds the frame up before it's braced, and how plant gets on site.
- For work at height, name the actual access — MEWP, scissor lift, tower — plus the ground it sits on, how you stop a fall, and how you'd get someone down.
- RAMS software speeds up the drafting and keeps your company detail reusable. It doesn't sign the job off — that's still on you.
General guidance, not legal advice. Every steel erection RAMS needs reviewing, editing and approving by a competent person before it goes near a site.
Practical summary
What to take from this page
Strong steel erection RAMS tie the erection sequence, the lift, access and work at height, temporary stability, exclusion zones and your stop-work plan to the real site — not to a template you copied last month.
General guidance, not legal advice. Every steel erection RAMS needs reviewing, editing and approving by a competent person before it goes near a site. For official detail, use the source links later on this page.
For work at height, name the actual access — MEWP, scissor lift, tower — plus the ground it sits on, how you stop a fall, and how you'd get someone down.
RAMS software speeds up the drafting and keeps your company detail reusable. It doesn't sign the job off — that's still on you.
Free download
Download the free template
Editable and free, with no signup. Fill it in for your job, then keep it for the next one.
Stop re-typing it every job
The template is a good start. Fabora RAMS turns it into reusable, editable RAMS you build in minutes — saved hazard, COSHH and PPE libraries, branded PDF export and revisions, instead of editing the same Word file every time.
Introduction
Why steel erection RAMS need job-specific detail
Steel erection is never one tidy task on its own. There's a lift, there's access, there's an order you have to follow, and there are usually other trades within a few metres of where you're working. The RAMS has to pull all that together for this job.
The lift and the access set the method
How does each beam, column, stair flight or platform get into position, and how do your lads reach it to bolt it up? That's the core of the method. A primary beam landing onto a column is a different job to dropping in secondary steel from a scissor lift — and the RAMS should read like it knows the difference.
Sequence is what keeps it standing
Erection order, temporary bracing and hold points are what hold a part-built frame up. Get the sequence right and stability looks after itself. Vague wording that could fit any frame is no use to the gang on the steel.
The site rewrites the controls
Ground that won't take a crane, wind, a single delivery gate, a live unit next door, permits — any of it can change how you erect. That's exactly the stuff a copied pack gets wrong.
When needed
When steel erection RAMS are usually needed
It comes down to the client, the principal contractor and the risk on the day. As a rule of thumb, if there's a lift, work at height, or you're sharing the site with anyone else, expect to hand over a RAMS before you're let on the steel.
Structural frame erection
The bread-and-butter job: columns, primary and secondary beams, bracing, frame extensions and alterations on a construction or refurb site. This is where exclusion zones and the erection sequence really earn their place.
Mezzanines, staircases and platforms
Mezzanine floors, stair flights, landings, handrail and edge protection. Plenty of lifting, plenty of working at height, and a load of bolting up — fall prevention has to be front and centre.
Secondary, bracket and remedial steel
Smaller packages — secondary steel, brackets, supports, the odd remedial job. Lower tonnage, but the method still has to match where it's going and what it ties into.
Deliveries, unloading and lifting
Wagons turning up, offloading with a crane or telehandler, slings and shackles on suspended loads, working out the load route. Any of that and you'll want proper lifting operations detail in the pack.
Working at height and access
MEWPs, scissor lifts, towers, the occasional ladder, edge protection and harness work. Whatever gets your team to the connection, the work at height side has to describe the kit you're actually using.
Hazards
Common hazards in steel erection RAMS
Name the hazards that bite on this job. "Working at height" and "manual handling" on their own tell the gang nothing — say what's actually going on and where.
The lift and suspended loads
A swinging beam, a snatched load, someone wandering under the hook. Cranes, telehandlers and hoists are where the big ones happen, so the load route, the slinger-signaller and a hard exclusion zone all need nailing down.
A frame that isn't tied in yet
Half-erected steel is the dangerous bit. Unbraced columns, connections only bolted finger-tight, a beam released before it's properly fixed — get the sequence or the temporary bracing wrong and the lot can come down. Wind only makes it worse.
Falls and falling objects
Falls off the leading edge, out of a MEWP basket, through an opening — and gear coming the other way. A dropped shackle, spanner or bolt off height will put someone in hospital, so tether tools and keep the zone below clear.
Plant, deliveries and people on the ground
Wagons reversing onto a tight site, a telehandler tracking across the slab, the crane setting up on its outriggers, all while other trades are about. Segregate people from plant or it's only a matter of time.
Site conditions on the day
Wind that puts the crane out of action, rain on steel decking, fading light, soft ground after a wet week, hot works if there's site welding. The pack should say who's watching the weather and what the wind limit is before the crane stops.
Controls
What steel erection control measures usually cover
Controls only count if they're tied to this lift, this access method and this site. Here's what a decent set tends to cover.
Name who's doing what
You need a competent erection gang, a slinger-signaller running the lifts, a supervisor on the deck, and one named person with the authority to stop the job if the wind gets up or the ground starts moving. "Competent persons as required" helps nobody on the day.
The lift plan and the gear
Back up the agreed lift: method, load weight, the slings, shackles and padeyes you're using, the load route and who's in charge of the lifting operation. Accessories get checked and any with a duff tag or damage come out of use. The RAMS should sit alongside a proper BS 7121 lift plan, not stand in for it.
Exclusion zone and access checks
Barrier off underneath the lift, keep everyone out from under the load, and agree how the slinger talks to the operator — radio or hand signals. MEWPs and scissor lifts get checked before use and set up on ground that'll take them, with the rescue plan sorted before anyone goes up in a harness.
Stability and the sequence
Build the temporary stability into the method: erection order, temporary bracing, the connections that have to be made and the hold points where you stop and check before the crane lets go or you move on. Don't treat a member as safe just because it's in position.
Briefing, weather and what stops the job
Brief the gang before they start, agree the wind limit and who's watching the forecast, and sort emergency contacts, first aid and MEWP rescue. Everyone should know the trigger to down tools — and what happens if the job no longer matches the approved method.
Lifting
Lifting operations and temporary stability
This is the heart of most steel erection RAMS. The lift and what holds the frame up afterwards are where things go badly wrong fastest, so spell them out.
The lift, start to finish
Match the planned lift: weight of the heaviest piece, where it slings, the accessories, the route from the wagon or stack to its final position, and the exclusion zone underneath. A column going up is one lift; a long primary beam that wants to spin on a single sling is another — say which you're dealing with.
Roles on the lift
Make it obvious who's running it. Who's the appointed person, who's slinging and signalling, who's keeping the zone clear, and what call stops the lift dead. If two people think they're giving signals, nobody is.
Don't let go too early
A beam landing on a column isn't stable just because it's sitting there. Bolt it up, brace it, hit your hold point and check it before the crane comes off the load or the gang moves to the next piece. That check is what keeps a part-built frame standing.
Where the lift plan lives
The RAMS supports the lift — it doesn't replace a competent lift plan or LOLER thorough examination. For the detail on accessories, planning and examination, see the LOLER and lifting operations guide linked further down.
Access
Working at height and access
How your team reaches the connection drives most of the work-at-height risk. Pick the access for this workface, not whatever was on the last RAMS.
Pick the access for the job
Match it to the height, the reach, how long you'll be up there and what's underfoot. A boom MEWP for high steel out over an edge, a scissor lift for steady work over a flat slab, a tower for a short fix. Copying the access off an older job is how you end up with the wrong machine in the wrong spot.
MEWPs and the ground they stand on
Most MEWP incidents come back to the setup. Check the ground will take it, watch for slopes, soft fill and buried services, look up for overheads, segregate it from other plant, and know the emergency lowering before anyone's in the basket.
Stop the fall, then plan the rescue
Prevent the fall first — guarded platform or basket, edge protection, the right working position. Where the job means harness and lanyard, you also need a rescue plan that gets someone down quickly. Calling 999 and waiting isn't a plan; suspension trauma doesn't wait.
HSE work-at-height guidance
The official links below include HSE's work-at-height pages — worth a read when the access, fall prevention or rescue side needs more than the basics.
Method statement
Steel erection method statement sequence
Write the method in the order the gang actually works, from pulling onto site to handing back. Here's a typical run-through you can adapt. For a fuller steelwork structure, see the method statement template guide linked below.
01. Sign in and check the paperwork
Get the gang inducted and signed in. Confirm you've got the current drawing revision, the permits, the lifting window and your site contact — and that everyone knows their job before anyone touches steel.
02. Walk the area and the setup
Walk the work area, the access routes and the laydown. Check the ground where the crane and MEWPs are going, mark out the exclusion zone, and clock which other trades are working nearby.
03. Offload and set out the steel
Offload the columns, beams, stairs and platforms on the agreed route and set them out ready to lift. Don't block access or fire routes with the stack.
04. Check the lifting gear
Look over the crane or telehandler and all the accessories — slings, shackles, chains. Check the tags and the LOLER thorough examination dates, and bin anything damaged or out of date there and then.
05. Brief the lift
Run through the lift plan with the gang: who's slinging and signalling, the signals or radios, the load route, the exclusion zone and the call that stops the lift. Last check on the wind before you start.
06. Set up the access
Position the MEWPs, scissor lifts or towers for the workface, on ground that'll take them, segregated from plant, with the rescue plan agreed before anyone goes up.
07. Erect the first steel
Lift in the first columns and beams in the planned order. Keep everyone out from under the load and land each piece carefully onto its connection.
08. Bolt up and brace
Make the connections — bolts, packers, temporary bracing — to the drawings and the method. Don't release the crane off a piece until it's properly fixed or braced.
09. Hit the hold point and carry on
At each agreed hold point, check the stability, bracing and line before the sequence continues. Then work through the rest of the frame in order, keeping an eye on the wind, the access and the trades around you as things change.
10. Snag, clear up and hand back
Walk the completed steel and check the connections, handrails and platforms against the job. Clear your offcuts, packaging and gear, close out any permits, and hand over noting any restrictions or follow-up.
Copied RAMS
Where copied steel erection RAMS fall down
A copied pack can run to pages and still be useless. It reads fine right up until the moment it doesn't match the lift, the access or the sequence in front of you. The usual culprits:
The wrong plant and lift
Last job used a 50-tonne mobile crane; this one's a telehandler off a tight yard. If the pack still names the old machine, sling arrangement and load route, it's describing a lift that isn't happening.
The wrong access and ground
Crane pads, MEWP ground, the offloading point and vehicle routes change site to site. A pack that assumes last week's nice flat slab is dangerous on this week's soft, sloping plot.
Stale drawings and a missing sequence
Copied packs love to drop the bits that matter most — current drawing revision, the erection order, temporary bracing and the hold points. Build off a superseded revision and you can put steel in the wrong place.
Out-of-date contacts and permits
Old site contacts, expired permits, different trades next door, the wrong emergency arrangements. Small-looking stuff that leaves you stuck when something actually goes wrong.
Fabora RAMS
How Fabora RAMS helps steel erectors and steelwork teams
Fabora RAMS is built for steelwork teams who'd rather be on the steel than fighting Word at the kitchen table. It gives you a solid starting point to edit around the real job.
Start from your details, not a blank page
Pull in your saved company info and an HSE-informed template, then edit it down to this job. Beats hunting through last year's files for one you can butcher.
Reusable libraries for the repeat stuff
Keep your common erection hazards, PPE, plant, lifting and access controls and method steps in a library, ready to drop in and tweak. The bits that stay the same job to job only get written once.
Edit it around the actual job
Swap in the right drawings, the access, the lift, the temporary stability, the trades next door and the emergency arrangements. The job-specific detail is the whole point — the tool just makes it quicker to get there.
Revisions, PDF and share links
Once it's reviewed and signed off, version control, a branded PDF and a share link keep issue control tidy — so the gang's working off the right revision, not one off someone's phone.
It helps you draft, it doesn't sign off
Fabora RAMS handles the structure, the reuse and the speed. The review, the suitability and the approval stay with your competent people. No tool changes that.
Final review reminder
Review, edit and approve before it goes out
Before this RAMS is issued, shared or briefed, check it against the job actually in front of you. Run through these.
Does it match this site?
Walk it against the real thing — work area, access, ground, the current drawings, permits, the lift, the weather, the trades nearby and the emergency arrangements. If the pack says something the site doesn't, fix the pack.
Update the sequence and controls
Edit the erection order, the lift, the exclusion zones, the temporary stability, the access and fall-prevention controls, the tools and the handover so they describe today's job and not a copy of the last one.
Brief the gang properly
Talk it through on site, not just hand it over. The team needs the sequence, the lift controls, the exclusion zones, the access, the hold points, the stop-work trigger and who to ring if things change.
Sign-off stays with you
Software gets you a cleaner draft, faster. The final review, the suitability call and the approval still sit with your competent person and the business. Don't issue anything you haven't checked.
Official guidance
Relevant official sources
These links point to the underlying official material. This page is a practical summary, not a replacement for those sources, competent review, or legal advice.
HSE: LOLER overview
HSE on lifting operations — planning, competence, supervision, marking, thorough examination and records.
HSE: Safe lifting by machine
Practical HSE guide on choosing the right lifting kit, attaching the load and moving it safely.
HSE: Assessing all work at height
Worth a read for the access, fall-prevention and precaution side of your RAMS.
HSE: Site rules and induction
For the bits your RAMS has to line up with — induction, site rules, traffic routes, permits and emergencies.
HSE: Planning for construction work
How your steelwork planning fits inside the wider construction phase plan on site.
HSE: Method statements and administration
HSE on using method statements to plan, record and monitor the work.
FAQ
Common questions
Short answers on practical use, review expectations, and where this guidance stops.
Important note
Final review, suitability, and approval still remain with the customer's business and the people responsible for the job.
Do steel erectors need RAMS?
On most jobs, yes. Once there's a lift, work at height off MEWPs, a part-built frame to keep stable, deliveries to offload, or you're working inside a live or client-controlled site, the principal contractor will want a steel erection RAMS before you start. Pretty much any structural frame job ticks those boxes.
What should be included in steel erection RAMS?
The scope and location, the current drawing revision, who's on the gang, the lift, the access, the hazards and controls, PPE and plant, temporary stability, exclusion zones, emergency and rescue arrangements, and a method statement that follows the order you'll actually erect in. If a reader can't picture how this frame goes up safely from reading it, it needs more on the job in front of you.
Do steel erection RAMS need a lifting plan?
If there's a crane, telehandler, hoist, an awkward load or people working nearby — and on most erection jobs there are — then yes, you need a lifting plan. The RAMS sits alongside it and references it; it doesn't replace competent lift planning under LOLER and BS 7121.
How should working at height be covered?
Around the actual access. Name the MEWP, scissor lift or tower, the ground it stands on, the edge and opening risks, how you stop a fall first, harness and lanyard where you can't, and the rescue plan for getting someone down. Generic "work at height" wording won't cut it.
Can I reuse a RAMS for a similar erection job?
Reuse the company-standard stuff, sure — but never issue it unchanged. The lift, the plant, the site access, the drawings, the temporary stability, the weather, the trades next door, the ground, the contacts and the permits all move from job to job. Edit it every time and check it before it goes out.
How does Fabora RAMS help steel erectors?
It gives steelwork teams a quicker way to draft editable RAMS — saved company details, reusable libraries for hazards, PPE, plant and method steps, plus version control, branded PDF export and share links. It speeds up the writing; the review and approval still stay with your competent person.
Related reading
Continue from here
These links keep the topic moving, either into related guidance or into the Fabora RAMS product pages.
Fabora RAMS
The product page and walkthrough — see how the editable RAMS workflow works in practice.
RAMS Checklist Generator
A free checklist to sanity-check your lift, access, exclusion zones, method steps and sign-off before you issue.
Steelwork method statement template
A fuller steelwork method statement structure — sequence, lifting, access, exclusion zones and handover.
Steel fabrication RAMS guide
For firms moving between the workshop, site work and installation support.
Toolbox Talk Topics for Welding and Steelwork
Briefing topics for the gang — lifting, access, exclusion zones, temporary stability and site interfaces.
Site welding RAMS guide
For when erection work brings in site welding, hot works, fume controls, permits or remedial welds.
LOLER and lifting operations for steelwork businesses
The wider lifting picture — equipment, accessories, planning, supervision and thorough examination.
Workshop RAMS vs site RAMS
How to split your repeat company content from the site-specific erection detail.
Hot works permits and site welding controls
For erection work that includes site welding, cutting, grinding or other hot works.
Steel beam calculator
A free tool for quick beam section lookups when you're planning a job.
Steel weight calculator
A free tool for quick section, plate and item weights — handy for working out a lift.
Stock cutting optimiser
A free tool for planning stock lengths, cuts and offcuts on the fabrication side.