How To Avoid Accidents When Pouring Concrete

A construction project is a combination of a lot of moving parts, often featuring various types of machinery and heavy loads. Whether it’s your first construction project or you’ve done countless ones before, the safety risks are always there, and if you don’t take the proper precautions, you run the risk of injury and damage to property. In this piece, the Total Concrete team are going to detail some of the ways you can prepare for pouring concrete so as to minimise safety hazards.

One of the main health risks associated with concrete work is concrete burns. As concrete is naturally alkaline and our skin is acidic, when they come into contact with each other, the reaction causes burns. There are ways to protect yourself against such issues, though, and we’ll look into them in this piece.

Be prepared

Some of the basic steps to take before commencing a concrete pour are often overlooked by people, which not only increases the risk of accidents, but also creates delays and problems for the client, the concrete company and those that live in the immediate vicinity. Some steps you can take in preparation are:

Inform your neighbours – A matter of courtesy as much as a safety precaution, informing your neighbours of the impending works in advance avoids them being surprised by the presence of trucks and the noise of the operation. Secondly, it helps to ask them to move any cars that might be in the way – this means they won’t be blocked in by concrete trucks and the trucks themselves won’t be obstructed by their parked cars.

Have the correct equipment – If the concrete company is bringing their own concrete pump to the job, then this isn’t as much of an issue. However, if you’re providing your own pump, then ensure it’s ready and in full working order in advance of the work starting. This will prevent delays and potentially dangerous malfunctions due to faulty equipment.

Appropriate clothing

Working on a concrete pour without wearing the appropriate clothing is asking for trouble. There are several items of protective clothing that you must have when undertaking a concrete pour:

• Gloves – Strong, durable and alkali resistant. These will protect the skin from burns and rashes
• Long sleeves – Wet concrete needs to be kept away from bare skin, so long sleeves should be worn
• Full length trousers – The tougher and thicker the better, these will protect your legs from wet concrete
• Strong work boots – These must be of high quality. Tuck trousers into boots for extra protection
• Safety glasses – The concrete is likely to splash somewhat when pouring, so be sure to protect the eyes with safety glasses

Correct equipment

We’ve mentioned equipment above, but in this case we mean equipment other than the concrete pump itself. If you’re using wheelbarrows, mixers, spades or any other tools for the work, make sure they’re sturdy, safe and in full working order. Avoid using equipment not fit or designed for purpose, and heavy lifting should also be avoided where possible.

Choose the right company

Choosing a reputable company is a must. Be sure to check available reviews, do your research into any potential companies and make sure the one you choose is appropriately accredited. Not only will a reputable company do a better job, you’re also more likely to be covered by insurance – if you try and get the job done on the cheap with an unlicensed company, for example, any problems that occur may not be covered by your policy.

Total Concrete are a leading provider of domestic and commercial concrete services for customers throughout Surrey and the surrounding areas. Fully qualified, experienced and professional, we’re the number one choice for your concrete needs. For more information, please contact us today.