Concrete Pumping Risk Assessment Template

Understanding the hazards associated with concrete pumping is the best way to combat them when they arise on the job. Being aware of these dangers helps promote vigilance and a sense of responsibility to eliminate them or mitigate their effects. This is especially true in activities involving concrete pumps because they are inherently dangerous because of their complex system, use of heavy machinery, and involvement of high pressure. To ensure safety when working with them, here are some of the common hazards found when working with concrete pumps.

High-Pressure Lines

Concrete is heavy, and transferring it requires a lot of pressure, which could be dangerous. When pressure builds up, it can cause pipes to whip or burst if not managed properly. Pipe bursts can strike workers and cause injuries like blunt trauma and fractures. Ensuring the proper controls in your risk assessment, such as inspections and using the correct pipes, can prevent these build-ups.

Boom Instability

Booms commonly transport pump pipes. If the pump’s boom isn’t structured well, it can cause instability, which could result in boom collapse or tipping over. Such an incident could be dangerous for everyone in the vicinity of the boom failure. Integrating a work environment assessment in the risk assessment is one of the best safety measures to eliminate such unwanted circumstances.

Contact with Power Lines

Buildings often construct high floors by transporting concrete pipes to their vicinity to form the floor slabs. While carrying the pipe, the boom could accidentally strike live power lines, posing a risk of electrocution. It is important to map out electrical wires during the risk assessment to maintain a safe distance from them.

Concrete Splashes

Wet concrete has very high pH (approximately 12-13), similar to bleach or oven cleaners. Direct contact with your skin can potentially cause first- to third-degree burns. Hitting your eyes with cement can also cause severe irritation or even permanent eye damage. Including this information in your risk assessment can help manage these hazards by implementing engineering controls that prevent splashes from reaching personnel and equipping workers with appropriate PPE to reduce the impact of these hazards.

Pipe Blockage

There may be instances when cement is not mixed properly, resulting in clumps that could block pipes. Pump blockages are one of the major contributors to high-pressure build-up, which could potentially cause pipes to burst or whip out. Safety procedures for pump mixing, concrete transfer, and concrete pour-out must be implemented and followed with strict accordance.

Manual Handling

Activities using concrete pumps often require personnel to use their bodies to lift, transfer, and move heavy objects. Improper lifting could develop serious musculoskeletal problems, fatigue, and long-term physical problems. If possible, during your risk assessment, providing controls to eliminate this problem should be considered. This process ensures that your workforce is always complete and healthy.