
Blog
Safety Focus of the Week: Hazards of Concrete Construction
Concrete construction requires careful planning to address and mitigate the potential hazards.
Here are a few of the many hazards and considerations for concrete construction:
- Trench Safety – Provide an OSHA compliant excavation either sloped or shored prior to entering an excavation.
- Fall Protection – All work above 6 ft requires fall protection measures.
- Form Construction/Removal – Wear gloves to protect from pinching and cuts on hands. Wear eye protection when hammering.
- Formwork Shoring – Provide engineered systems to support the load conditions
- Small Tools – Electrical safety. Guards. Noise. Eye protection.
- Rebar Installation – Wear gloves to protect from pinching and cuts on hands.
- Manual Lifting – Know your limits. Follow proper lifting techniques. Ask for help.
- Crane Lifting – Follow standard crane operating protocol. Use proper rigging and signaling.
- Concrete Pumping – Maintain proper clearances of OH utilities. Coordinate with pump operator. Be cautious of “hose whipping”.
- Concrete Pouring/Finishing – Protect from skin contact and wear eye protection. Rubber boots when standing in concrete.
- Rebar – Use rebar caps or other protective systems
- Cement & Dry Mix Products: Protect from skin contact, wear eye and respiratory protection. Review SDS for guidelines.
- Chemical Hazards – Concrete additives and finishing products can be hazardous. Review the SDS for guidelines.
Obviously the number of potential hazards is extensive (far beyond this list) and involves specific considerations for the details of your project. A few useful document and web links are provided below for more information.
OSHA:
OSHA 1926.702 – Requirements for Equipment & Tools
OSHA 1926.703 – Cast-in-Place Concrete Construction
Portland Cement Association:
PCA – Working Safely with Concrete
Lafarge:
Lafarge Portland Cement SDS – NA042315_FINAL
American Concrete Pumping Association:
ACPA Dos & Don’ts for Pump Hose Handler
ACPA Concrete Hose Hip Warning