Safe Work Procedures for Mixing Concrete
More than 28,000 concrete workers (10 percent of the workforce) are injured in the U.S. while handling concrete, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA's numbers don't describe the severity of the injuries. The Construction Safety Association of Ontario states that concrete worker injuries can include lung irritation, severe burns, and terminal illness. Workers are especially vulnerable to injury during the mixing process. Fortunately, there are many procedures in place to prevent injuries while mixing concrete.
Other People Are Reading
-
Dress Precautions
-
Safety when mixing concrete begins with dressing for the job site. OSHA mandates a dress code of long-sleeved and long-legged coveralls, waterproof boots and duct tape to seal cuffs. The goal is to prevent the mix from touching the skin. The best coveralls for the task are single pieces with hoods. Close pants by placing the coverall legs into the waterproof boot, and use duct tape to seal the top of the boot to the coveralls.
Safety Gear
-
Concrete workers need special safety gear to prevent injuries, including gloves, protective glasses and masks. OSHA describes the necessary gloves as "alkali-resistant." Place them over the coverall sleeves and use duct tape at the point where the gloves open to prevent concrete contamination. Use a respirator mask to keep the concrete dust out of your respiratory system. OSHA suggests masks coded "P," "N," or "R-95."
-
Pouring the Mix
-
The caustic concrete dust gets into the air quickly when pouring the concrete mix into a container for mixing. To prevent that, the CSAO suggests standing upwind of the dust plume to prevent contact. The number of batches needed can also increase exposure to concrete dust and wet concrete splatter. According to the CSAO, mixing large batches prevents prolonged exposure. Other safety measures include slowly pouring the water into the concrete mix to prevent splashing and inspecting clothes for wet concrete after mixing.
Mixing the Concrete
-
Once the ingredients are in the mixing container, stir carefully to avoid splashing. OSHA urges concrete mixers to stay outside or in a well ventilated area to avoid overexposure to the concrete dust. Wash your hands after mixing and inspect yourself for concrete splatter. You must remove the clothing as quickly as possible to prevent burns.
Safe Shortcut
-
Dru Sahai of the Construction Safety Association of Ontario suggests skipping the onsite concrete mixing step because of the hazards involved. Sahai states that ready-mix concrete is safer to use, as it reduces the worker's exposure to cement dust. Splatter from wet cement is still a hazard, but ready-mix cement eliminates the risks of on-site mixing.
-
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
