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Temporary Floor Shoring

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Temporary Floor Shoring Installation and Removal ================================================

Date: 2025-10-09

Duration: \[DURATION] minutes

Presenter: \[PRESENTER NAME]

Location: \[LOCATION]

Objective

To provide safety guidelines for the installation and removal of temporary floor shoring, focusing on load capacity, inspection, and emergency procedures.

Introduction

Temporary floor shoring is crucial for supporting loads during construction or demolition. Improper installation or removal can lead to structural failure, injuries, or fatalities. This toolbox talk covers essential safety measures to prevent accidents and ensure a safe working environment.

Key Points

  • Design and Planning: Shoring systems must be designed by a qualified engineer, especially when exceeding certain heights or span lengths. Detailed design calculations and working drawings should be approved and signed by a civil engineer currently registered in California for all falsework or vertical shoring installations where any of the following conditions exists:
  • The height, as measured from the top of the sills to the soffit of the superstructure exceeds 14 feet.
  • Individual horizontal span lengths exceed 16 feet.
  • Provisions for vehicular or railroad traffic through the falsework or vertical shoring are made. [2]
  • Load Capacity: Ensure the shoring system can withstand all intended loads during erection, construction, usage, and removal. The minimum total design load for any formwork and shoring shall be not less than 100 pounds per square foot for the combined live and dead load regardless of slab thickness; however, the minimum allowance for live load and formwork shall be not less than 20 pounds per square foot in addition to the weight of the concrete. [2]

[2]

  • Inspection: Regularly inspect shoring equipment before, during, and after concrete placement. Look for damage or weakening, and ensure bracing is correctly installed. Erected shoring shall be inspected by a qualified person during and immediately after pouring concrete. Shoring that is found to be damaged or weakened shall be reinforced or reshored. [4]
  • Shoring Equipment: Damaged or weakened shoring equipment must be immediately removed and replaced. Vertical shoring equipment must be plumb, with a maximum allowable deviation of 1/8 inch in 3 feet. If this tolerance is exceeded, the shoring equipment must not be used until readjusted within this limit.
  • Removal Procedures: Shoring equipment must not be released or removed until approval from a qualified engineer has been received. Plan the removal of shoring equipment so that the equipment still in place is not overloaded. [1]

[1]

Hazard Identification

  • Structural Collapse: Serious injuries or fatalities due to failure of the shoring system under load.
  • Falling Materials: Head injuries, lacerations, or crushing injuries from falling objects or equipment.
  • Unstable Soil: Shoring failure due to inadequate soil support, leading to collapse.
  • Improper Installation: Weakened shoring structure, increasing the risk of collapse.

Control Measures

  • Use a qualified engineer to design the shoring system.: Ensure the design accounts for all anticipated loads and site conditions.
  • Inspect all shoring equipment before use.: Remove any damaged or weakened components from service.
  • Ensure proper bracing and connections.: Follow the design specifications for bracing and connection details.
  • Control access to the shoring area.: Limit access to essential personnel only.
  • Monitor weather conditions.: Take precautions to prevent weather conditions from changing the load-carrying conditions of the soil below the design minimum. [3]

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements

  • Hard Hats: Wear hard hats at all times in the shoring area to protect against head injuries from falling objects.
  • Safety Glasses: Use safety glasses to protect eyes from dust and debris.
  • Gloves: Wear gloves to protect hands from cuts, abrasions, and chemical exposure.
  • Steel-toed boots: Wear steel-toed boots to protect feet from crushing injuries.

Real-World Example or Case Study

In 2021, a construction site experienced a partial shoring collapse due to inadequate bracing. Several workers were injured, and work was halted for weeks. A thorough investigation revealed that the shoring system was not installed according to the design specifications, and regular inspections were not conducted. This incident highlights the importance of proper installation, regular inspections, and adherence to design plans.

Emergency Procedures

  1. Stop work immediately if any instability is observed.
  2. Evacuate the area and notify the supervisor.
  3. Inspect the shoring system by a qualified person before resuming work.

Questions and Answers

Here are some common questions related to temporary floor shoring.

  • Q: What do I do if I see a damaged shore?

A: Immediately report it to your supervisor and replace the damaged shore.

  • Q: Can I modify the shoring plan in the field?

A: No, any deviations must be approved by the qualified engineer who prepared the plan.

Summary

Recap of main points:

  • Shoring systems must be designed by a qualified engineer.
  • Regularly inspect shoring equipment for damage.
  • Follow proper installation and removal procedures.
  • Wear appropriate PPE at all times.

Report all hazards, near-misses, and incidents to your supervisor immediately.

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4 source record(s)

Sources used for this answer

[1] Construction Safety and Health Standards (MIOSHA)

Page 5

Open source document

Source excerpt

# MINIMUM SAFETY FACTORS OF FORMWORK ACCESSORIES* (cont.) ## R 408.[redacted postal code] Vertical shoring generally. (cont.) (5) Eccentric loads on shore heads and similar members or shoring are prohibited, unless the shore heads are designed for the loading. (6) Shoring equipment shall be inspected by a qualified person before erection to determine that it is as specified in the shoring drawings or plans. Any equipment found to be damaged shall not be used for shoring. (7) Before concrete is placed in the forms, all shoring equipment shall be inspected by a qualified person to determine whether it was erected as specified in the shoring drawings or plans. (8) Erected shoring shall be inspected by a qualified person during and immediately after pouring concrete. Shoring that is found to be damaged or weakened shall be reinforced or reshored. (9) Only designated employees shall be permitted on the first floor immediately under the forms during concrete placing work. (10) Shoring equipment shall not be released or removed without the approval and assurance of a qualified person that the remaining equipment will support the load. (11) Construction or superimposed loads shall not be placed on an uncured concrete pour unless either of the following provisions is complied with: (a) The strength of the concrete in the previous pour has been determined by testing to be capable of withstanding the load. (b) A qualified person indicates that the concrete has developed sufficient strength to support the load. This subrule does not apply to slip form operations and slabs built at grade elevation. (12) Reshoring shall be provided, when necessary, to support slabs and beams after stripping or where the members are subjected to superimposed loads due to the construction work done. (13) Vertical shoring shall not be adjusted to raise formwork after concrete is in place, unless specifically provided for in the design specifications. ## R 408.[redacted postal code] Meta…

[2] WAC [redacted identifier] - Requirements for cast in place concrete

Page 3

Open source document

Source excerpt

(11) When temporary storage of reinforcing rods, material, or equipment on top of formwork becomes necessary, these areas must be sufficient to meet the loads. (12) If any deviation in the shoring plan is necessary because of field conditions, you must consult the person who prepared the shoring layout for approval of the actual field setup before concrete is placed. (13) You must check the shoring setup to ensure that all details of the layout have been met. (14) The completed shoring setup must be a homogenous unit or units and must have the specified bracing to give it lateral stabili- ty. (15) You must check the shoring setup to make certain that brac- ing specified in the shoring layout for lateral stability is in place. (16) All vertical shoring equipment must be plumb. Maximum allow- able deviation from the vertical is 1/8 inch in 3 feet. If this toler- ance is exceeded, you must not use the shoring equipment until read- justed within this limit. (17) Upon inspection, you must immediately remove and replace shoring equipment that is found to be damaged or weakened. (18) You must not release or remove shoring equipment until the approval of a qualified engineer has been received. (19) You must plan removal of shoring equipment so that the equipment which is still in place is not overloaded. (20) Slabs or beams which are to be reshored should be allowed to take their actual permanent deflection before final adjustment of re- shoring equipment is made. (21) While the reshoring is underway, you must not permit any construction loads on the partially cured concrete. (22) You must not exceed the allowable load on the supporting slab when reshoring. (23) You must thoroughly recheck the reshoring to determine that it is properly placed and that it has the load capacity to support the areas that are being reshored. [Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. WSR 16-09-085, § [redacted identifier], filed 4/19/16, effective 5/20/16…

[3] WAC [redacted identifier] - Requirements for cast in place concrete

Page 2

Open source document

Source excerpt

(e) The shoring layout must include all details of the specifica- tion, including unusual conditions such as heavy beams, sloping areas, ramps, and cantilevered slabs, as well as plan and elevation views. (f) You must not use shoring equipment found to be damaged such that its strength is reduced to less than that required by WAC [redacted identifier] (1) (a) for shoring. (g) You must inspect erected shoring equipment immediately prior to, during, and immediately after concrete placement. (h) Upon inspection, you must immediately remove and replace shoring equipment that is found to be damaged or weakened. (i) The sills for shoring must be sound, rigid, and capable of carrying the maximum intended load without settlement or displacement. (j) All base plates, shore heads, extension devices, and adjust- ment screws must be in firm contact, and secured when necessary, with the foundation and the form. (k) Eccentric loads on shore heads and similar members must be prohibited unless these members have been designed for such loading. (1) The minimum total design load for any shoring used in slab and beam structures must be not less than 100 pounds per square foot for the combined live and dead load regardless of slab thickness; how- ever, the minimum allowance for live load and formwork must be not less than 20 pounds per square foot in addition to the weight of the concrete. Additional allowance for live load must be added for special conditions other than when placing concrete for standard-type slabs and beams. Shoring must also be designed to resist all foreseeable lateral loads such as wind, cable tensions, inclined supports, impact of placement, and starting and stopping of equipment. The assumed val- ue of load due to wind, impact of concrete, and equipment acting in any direction at each floor line must not be less than 100 pounds per lineal foot of floor edge or two percent of total dead load of the floor, whichever is greater. (See subsection (3) (b) of th…

[4] Construction Safety Orders (CAL/OSHA)

Page 1

Open source document

Source excerpt

This information is provided free of charge by the Department of Industrial Relations from its web site at www.dir.ca.gov. These regulations are for the convenience of the user and no representation or warranty is made that the information is current or accurate. See full disclaimer at https://www.dir.ca.gov/od_pub/disclaimer.html. Subchapter 4. Construction Safety Orders Article 29. Erection and Construction Return to index New query # §1717. Falsework and Vertical Shoring. (a) Design Loads. (1) Formwork and falsework or shoring for the support of concrete or other materials shall be designed, erected, supported, braced and maintained so as to assure its ability to safely withstand all intended loads during erection, construction, usage and removal. (2) The minimum total design load for any formwork and shoring shall be not less than 100 pounds per square foot for the combined live and dead load regardless of slab thickness; however, the minimum allowance for live load and formwork shall be not less than 20 pounds per square foot in addition to the weight of the concrete. - When the equipment listed below is used, the above figures shall be increased in all cases by the amounts shown. Worker propelled carts 10 pounds per square foot. Motorized carts 25 pounds per square foot. (3) Special consideration shall be given and the necessary additional allowances made for any unusual circumstances such as floor hoppers, concentrated piles of reinforcing steel bars, or similar loads. (4) The lateral loads for shoring to be resisted at each floor in both directions by diagonal bracing, or other means, shall be taken at not less than 100 pounds per lineal foot of floor edge or two percent of the total dead load whichever is greater. (b) Design. (1) Detailed design calculations and working drawings shall be approved and signed by a civil engineer, currently registered in California, for all falsework or vertical shoring installations where any of the following …

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