Safe Concrete Mixing and Pouring

• Skin burns from wet concrete or cement
• Silica dust exposure during dry mixing or cleanup
• Strains from lifting bags, forms, tools, or hoses
• Slips and trips on wet or uneven surfaces
• Pinch points around mixers, forms, chutes, and tools
• Struck-by hazards from trucks, buggies, pumps, or equipment

Concrete work can look routine, but mixing and pouring involve chemical, physical, and equipment hazards. Wet concrete can burn skin, dry materials can create dust exposure, and the work often involves heavy lifting and moving equipment.

Wet concrete and cement paste should be kept off skin and out of boots, gloves, and clothing. Prolonged contact can cause serious chemical burns even if it does not hurt immediately.

PPE should match the task. Workers may need gloves, eye protection, long sleeves, rubber boots, respiratory protection, or other protection depending on mixing, pouring, finishing, and cleanup conditions.

Dry cement, sand, and cleanup dust can create respiratory hazards, including silica exposure when cutting, grinding, sweeping, or handling dry materials. Dust should be controlled using wet methods, ventilation, or approved collection methods when needed.

Manual handling should be planned. Bags of mix, forms, wheelbarrows, hoses, rebar, and tools can cause strains when workers lift awkwardly, twist, or rush through repetitive tasks.

The pour area should be kept organized. Wet surfaces, hoses, cords, uneven ground, rebar, forms, stakes, and tools can create trip hazards during a time when workers are focused on moving and placing concrete.

Workers should stay aware of trucks, pumps, buggies, chutes, mixers, and other moving equipment. Concrete operations often involve tight spaces, backing equipment, limited visibility, and changing worker positions.

Concrete safety depends on preparation and cleanup. Protect skin, control dust, manage lifting, maintain footing, and keep communication clear while the pour is active.

• Keep wet concrete off skin and out of boots and gloves.
• Use proper PPE for mixing, pouring, and finishing.
• Control dust from dry cement and silica-containing materials.
• Use safe lifting practices for bags, tools, and forms.
• Keep hoses, cords, and tools out of walking paths.
• Watch for trucks, pumps, mixers, and buggies.
• Clean up safely without creating dust or slip hazards.

• What PPE is needed for today’s concrete work?
• Could wet concrete contact skin or collect in boots or gloves?
• How will dust be controlled during mixing or cleanup?
• Are trip hazards present around the pour area?
• How will workers stay clear of trucks, pumps, mixers, and chutes?