Concrete and Masonry Work Safety

Many contractors perform some type of concrete work from equipment slabs to structural concrete systems. Most OSHA regulations that may apply to concrete work are found in other Subparts of the Code of Federal Regulations (such as Personal Protective Equipment).

Concrete/Masonry Safety Manuals

However, there are some general safety methods common to all concrete work which OSHA specifies in Subpart Q- Concrete. In this article, the basic tool requirements for concrete work, and limited access zones for masonry work will be outlined:

Tools and Equipment

The following are highlights of the more common requirements for concrete tools and equipment.

Before using bull floats, because of their long handles, a careful review of the area being worked should be done to determine if any electrical equipment or wires are close. If so, the bull float handle is required to be insulated, be of non-conductive material, or shortened to a safe working length.
Masonry saws are required to have a semicircular guard which can retain blade fragments in the event of blade breakage. This guarding requirement is for all tools.
Tremies, or other concrete conveyances are required to be secured with wire rope (or equivalent) in addition to the regular couplings and connectors.
When repairs or maintenance work is performed on concrete pumps, mixers, compressors, etc. The equipment is required to have the power source locked out with a "Do Not Start," or similar tag at the lock.
Workers are not allowed to ride the concrete bucket, or backhoe bucket.
When concrete buckets are used, no workers shall be allowed to work directly under the bucket while the bucket is being raised, or lowered into position.
Also, concrete buckets shall be routed so that the fewest (preferably no) workers are located under it's path.
When placing or tying vertical reinforcing, any work performed while on the steel, and above 6 ft. Shall have the workers using positioning devices for fall protection. A positioning device would be a safety belt (or harness) with a lanyard that would not allow a fall greater than 2 ft. While safety belts are being phased out for fall protection use elsewhere, belts are still allowed for positioning devices since the forces arising from a 2ft. fall are not that great. Using a positioning device, the worker climbs along the reinforcing steel into position, then snaps a lanyard in place on each side of the belt before working.
Reinforcing steel, when ends are exposed at a location which could cause injury if a worker would fall onto or into the ends shall be protected. Plastic end caps are commercially available for this purpose, however, in some areas protecting the worker with a board laid flat over the rebar ends is preferred.
Reinforcing steel for walls, columns, and other similar vertical structures shall be braced to prevent overturning or collapse.
Roll reinforcing mesh shall be turned over (curl down), or have it's end secured to prevent mesh from recoiling.
Concrete formwork shall be designed, fabricated, erected, supported, braced, and maintained so that it will be capable of supporting any loads (vertically and horizontally) that may reasonably be placed upon it.
Concrete formwork shall not be removed unless in accordance with plans/specification conditions, or when none are present, then by using test cylinder results to verify adequate concrete strength.

Violations found for concrete work are not near as frequent as for other work. Protecting rebar ends is the most common violation found by OSHA, with lack of blade guards on concrete cutting equipment being another frequent violation found.

Another common general requirement under concrete work applies to building masonry walls. Whether your firm builds masonry walls, or you have them built on your jobsites, you should understand the special requirements for a "Limited Access Zone."

Masonry Construction

The following are highlights of the requirements for masonry work.

Limited Access Zone: Before work is started on a masonry wall, a limited access zone is required to be established. The zone shall run the length of the wall and shall extend out from the base of the proposed wall the height of the wall plus 4 ft. (see diagram). Therefore, a proposed wall 50 ft. long by 20 ft. high would have a limited access zone 50 ft. long by 24 ft. wide.
This access zone shall be located on the side of the wall that is not scaffolded.
This access zone shall only be occupied by workers who are actively engaged in constructing the masonry wall. No other work may be performed while the wall is being built within the zone limits.
When the masonry wall passes 8 ft. in height, bracing shall be installed to prevent overturning or collapse, unless there exists a means of supporting the wall without bracing (such as an adjoining wall). Bracing installed shall remain in place until other permanent supporting elements such as adjoining walls or roof structures are in place.
When the masonry wall is properly braced, the limited access zone may be withdrawn.

Training

While there are no specific references to training in this Subpart section, safety training and discussion with your workers in the above regulations would be necessary before working on concrete or masonry construction.