Write a risk assessment for Reinforcement concrete and beam work

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# CONCRETE PLACEMENT (cont.) ## GENERAL PROVISIONS WHEN WORKING WITH CONCRETE (cont.) - rock and sand and is often present in the aggregate used in concrete. Breathing in concrete dust can also cause nose and throat irritation, chronic bronchitis, and occupational asthma. - Full-length pants and shirts: You'll want your body fully covered to reduce the risk of skin irritation and concrete burns. Full-length clothing helps protect your skin from chemicals. • Use the right tools: To reduce the amount of respirable concrete dust in the air, use tools designed specifically for dusty work environments. Use exhaust- ventilated tools, such as hand-held cutting saws or concrete hammer drills, that can remove dust at the source whenever possible. You can also employ tools fitted with a water supply to help tamp down dust and reduce inhalation. Ensure that tools are cleaned properly and replace them when worn out. Doing so makes them more efficient, reduces the risk of contamination or corrosion, and lowers the chance of injury. • Washing stations should be available: Any location where concrete mixing or pouring occurs should have eyewash stations. Best practices include providing workers with a small bottle of approved eyewash solution that they can use to irrigate the eyes immediately as they make their way to the emergency washing station. The site should also have general washing-up stations available. These stations should include clean water, clean towels, and non-alkaline soap. Washing immediately after exposure helps prevent skin irritation and burns. ## REFERENCES WAC [redacted identifier] - Concrete Concrete Forms Shoring and Masonry Construction Worker Severely Burned by Wet Concrete (wa.gov) Chapter 296-840 WAC - Respirable Crystalline Silica Silica (wa.gov) Concrete and Concrete Products - Overview | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (osha.gov) OSHA 3124-12R-03 - Preventing Skin Problems from Working with Portland Cement

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CPWR TOOLBOX THE CENTER FOR CONSTRUCTION RESEARCH AND TRAINING TALK # Wet Concrete Wet concrete is alkaline and causes skin irritation. With continuous contact, it can burn the skin, and chromium in the cement can cause allergic reactions. Such contact can lead to stinging pain, itching, blisters, scabs, dead skin, and swelling. Allergic reactions can end careers. ## Jon's Story Jon, a construction worker, had been on a project for about a month. One of his tasks was to mix wet concrete. Jon did not know that his employer should have given him protective gloves and boots, and he did not know he needed them. By the end of the month, he had several burn marks on his hands. Jon went to the doctor and learned that his injuries were so bad that he could not work for a few months until his wounds healed. - Have you or someone you worked with ever suffered a burn or skin reaction from working with wet concrete? If so, what happened? - What could the worker have done to avoid the injury caused by contact with wet concrete? ## Remember This ➤ To protect skin from wet concrete, wear protective clothing and gear: - o Coveralls with long sleeves and pant legs - o Waterproof boots high enough to prevent concrete from flowing in - o Alkali-resistant gloves - o Safety glasses. ➤ Pull sleeves down over gloves and tuck pants inside boots; use duct tape at the top of boots to keep concrete out. ➤ To reduce potential contact with wet concrete during mixing, use ready-mixed concrete instead of mixing on site, when possible. ➤ Use a dry board or waterproof kneepads to protect knee fabric from becoming soaked when kneeling on fresh concrete. ➤ Remove jewelry such as rings and watches because wet concrete can collect under them. ➤ If skin comes in contact with wet concrete, wash it immediately with pH-neutral soap and clean water. DO NOT use the water in the bucket. DO NOT use hand sanitizers. - At home, wash your work clothes separately. How can we stay safe today…

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# Carcinogens (cont.) ## Code of Safe Practices (cont.) B. It must be specific to the employer's operations. 1509(b) C. It must be posted at each job site office or be readily available at the job site. 1509(c) D. Workers, when first hired, shall be given instructions regarding the hazards and safety precautions and directed to read the Code of Safe Practices. 1510(a) E. Supervisors shall conduct "toolbox" or "tailgate" safety meetings, or the equivalent, with their crews at least every 10 working days to emphasize safety. ## Competent Person A competent person is defined in 1504(a) as one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions that are unsanitary or dangerous to employees. The competent person has authority to impose prompt corrective measures to eliminate these hazards. Some SOs identify specific requirements for the competent person's training, knowledge, abilities, and duties. The following is a list of CSOs that require the use of a competent person: asbestos 1529(0); (2) excavation 1541, 1541.1; (3) cadmium 1532(b); (4) fall protection 1670, 1671.2; (5) bolting and riveting 1716; (6) pressurized worksites 6075; (7) lift-slab construction operations 1722.1(i); (8) permit-required confined spaces 1952(a); and (9) silica 1532.3(g)(4). ## Concrete Construction Injuries and illnesses common to the concrete construction industry are as follows: - Burns, rashes, and skin irritations from exposure to cement dust or wet concrete. - Silicosis, a respiratory disease caused by inhaling silica dust from exposure to concrete dust during such operations as concrete cutting, drilling, grinding, or sandblasting. - Broken bones, lacerations, and crushing injuries caused by falls from elevated work surfaces; impalement by rebar or other objects; and impact from falling objects, form and shoring failure, and structural failure of components of the project. Because the hazards associated with concrete …

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- WAC [redacted identifier] General provisions. (1) General. All equipment, material and construction techniques used in concrete construction and masonry work must meet the applicable requirements for design, con- struction, inspection, testing, maintenance and operations as prescri- bed in ANSI A10.9-1997, Concrete and Masonry Work Safety Requirements. (2) Construction loads. You must not place any construction loads on a concrete structure or portion of a concrete structure unless the employer determines, based on information received from a person who is qualified in structural design, that the structure or portion of the structure is capable of supporting the loads. (3) Vertical loads. Vertical loads consist of a dead load plus an allowance for live load. The weight of formwork together with the weight of freshly placed concrete is dead load. The live load consists of the weight of workers, equipment, runways and impact, and must be computed in pounds per square foot (psf) of horizontal projection. (4) Lateral loads. Braces and shores must 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 value of load due to wind, impact of concrete, and equip- ment 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. Wall forms must be designed for a minimum wind load of 10 psf, and bracing for wall forms should be designed for a lateral load of at least 100 pounds per lineal foot of wall, applied at the top. Walls of unusual height require special consideration. (5) Special loads. Formwork must be designed for all special con- ditions of construction likely to occur, such as unsymmetrical place- ment of concrete, impact of machine-delivered concrete, uplift, and concentrated loads. (6) You must check form supports and wedges dur…

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# CEMENT & CONCRETE PRODUCTS™ (cont.) ## SECTION VII - PRECAUTIONS FOR SAFE HANDLING AND STORAGE (cont.) QUIKRETE GHS SAFETY DATA SHEET # CEMENT & CONCRETE PRODUCTS™ ## 7.1 Handling Precautions for safe handling: Ensure good ventilation/exhaustion at the workplace. DO NOT BREATHE DUST. In dusty environments, the use of an OSHA, MSHA or NIOSH approved respirator and tight fitting goggles is recommended. Wear appropriate PPE (See section 8). Do not mix with other chemical products, except as indicated by the manufacturer. Do not get in eyes, on skin or clothing. Good housekeeping is important to prevent accumulation of dust. ## 7.2 Storage Requirements to be met by storerooms and receptacles: No special requirements. Information about storage in one common storage facility: Not required. Further information about storage conditions: Keep out of the reach of children. Keep container tightly closed and prevent exposure to humidity. Do not allow water to contact the product until time of use to preserve product utility. SECTION VIII - EXPOSURE CONTROL MEASURES I PERSONAL PROTECTION 8.1 Components with limit values that require monitoring at the workplace: Hazardous Components CAS No. PEL (OSHA) TLV (ACGIH) <table><tr><th>Hazardous Components</th><th>CAS No.</th><th>require monitoring PEL (OSHA) mg/M³</th><th>workplace: TLV (ACGIH) mg/M³</th></tr><tr><td>Silica Sand, crystalline</td><td>[redacted postal code]-60-7</td><td>0.05</td><td>0.025 (resp)</td></tr><tr><td>Portland Cement</td><td>[redacted postal code]-15-1</td><td>5 (resp) 15 (total)</td><td>10 (resp)</td></tr><tr><td>Lime</td><td>[redacted postal code]-62-0</td><td>5</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Pulverized Limestone</td><td>[redacted postal code]-65-3</td><td>5 (resp) 15 (total)</td><td>10 (resp)</td></tr></table> ## 8.2 Exposure Controls Use ventilation adequate to keep exposures below recommended exposure limits. ## 8.3 General protective and hygienic measures Keep away from foodstuffs, beverages a…

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# Formwork-Stripping forms These are some injuries that workers have experienced while stripping formwork. 1. A worker strained the tendon in his left forearm while stripping and moving forms. 2. A worker fell six feet from a scaffold platform and severely injured his leg. 3. A worker was struck by a piece of plywood, which hit his hard hat and twisted his head. ## Explain dangers Formwork stripping is one of the most dangerous operations in concrete work. Hazards can include the following. ## FALLS - Panels and other materials could fall and strike workers during stripping. • Stacked materials could fall and strike workers. • Workers could fall when formwork breaks free or if forms are being stripped at dangerous heights. • Materials could fall to lower levels and injure workers or pedestrians. - Poor housekeeping can cause slips and trips. ## STRUCK-BYS • Workers could be struck by loose concrete, rubble, debris, or over-pour left on columns, walls, and other structures. These hazards could also result in eye injuries. - Sharp edges on formwork, protruding nails, snap ties, conduit, and bolts can cause pinches, cuts, scrapes, abrasions, and other injuries. - Protruding rebar can cause cuts, abrasions, and impalement. ## MSDs • Workers can injure their joints, muscles, and bones from reaching, prying, pulling, pushing, lifting, and carrying heavy forms, panels, and other components. ## Identify controls • Maintain signs and barriers to prohibit unauthorized entry into the stripping area. • Ensure that exposed rebar is properly capped to avoid cuts, abrasions, and impalement. - If guardrails must be removed, make sure everyone working in the area uses a fall protection system. Don't take shortcuts. - Only strip what you can clean up during the same work shift. - Ensure bracing is sufficient before breaking formwork from concrete. • Never climb partially stripped formwork to reach high areas. Use a work platform. • Make sure that wor…

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# Formwork-Placing concrete ## Explain dangers When it comes to placing concrete, the most important consideration is to ensure that formwork and falsework are complete. Some of the major hazards associated with placing concrete include - Overloading formwork and falsework, especially if concrete piles up in one location or is poured too fast - Working at dangerous heights near perimeters of decks, stairs, and shaft openings, or accessing platforms on wall and column forms - Electrocution and shock if power tools, extension cords, and other electrical equipment are used near wet concrete or other wet areas. Concrete buckets and concrete pumps can also make contact with overhead powerlines. - Overhead powerlines, being struck by equipment, and pinch points when receiving concrete pumps or buckets • Skin burns, severe allergic reactions, and dryness if skin is exposed to wet concrete, if clothing becomes soaked, or if concrete enters your boots • Slips and trips due to poor housekeeping - Cuts and impalement when rebar is not properly protected with caps. ## Identify controls - Have guardrails in place around perimeters, stairs and shafts, and work platforms on walls and column forms. . Ensure that formwork has been inspected by a professional engineer or by a competent worker designated by the professional engineer before the placement of concrete. - Make sure all rebar that is not part of the pour is properly capped to avoid cuts, abrasions, and impalement. - Before pouring, have extra shores and other materials readily available in case of an emergency. • Inspect forms before the pour to ensure they are free of debris. - Ensure the area around the pour is clean to avoid slips and trips. - Always follow the specified pour rate, techniques, and procedures. - Monitor the condition of forms before pouring and as concrete is placed. Bulging, slipping, uplifting, sagging, etc., are signs that the pour should be stopped immediately. - If …

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# OSHA QUICK CARD™ ## Protect Yourself Construction Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) ## Eye and Face Protection - Safety glasses or face shields are worn any time work operations can cause foreign objects to get in the eye. For example, during welding, cutting, grinding, nailing (or when working with concrete and/or harmful chemi- cals or when exposed to flying particles). Wear when exposed to any electrical hazards, including working on energized electrical systems. - Eye and face protectors - select based on anticipated hazards. ## Foot Protection - Construction workers should wear work shoes or boots with slip-resistant and puncture-resistant soles. • Safety-toed footwear is worn to prevent crushed toes when working around heavy equipment or falling objects. - Hand Protection - Gloves should fit snugly. - Workers should wear the right gloves for the job (examples: heavy-duty rubber gloves for concrete work; welding gloves for welding; insulated gloves and sleeves when exposed to electrical hazards). - Head Protection • Wear hard hats where there is a potential for objects falling from above, bumps to the head from fixed objects, or of accidental head contact with electrical hazards. - Hard hats - routinely inspect them for dents, cracks or deterioration; replace after a heavy blow or electrical shock; maintain in good condition. - Hearing Protection - Use earplugs/earmuffs in high noise work areas where chainsaws or heavy equipment are used; clean or replace earplugs regularly. For more complete information: Occupational OSHA Safety and Health Administration U.S. Department of Labor www.osha.gov (800) 321-OSHA OSHA 3260-09N-05

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# CONCRETE AND MASONRY SAFETY ## Date Posted: 05/29/2024 Concrete is a common building material used regularly in the construction industry. Concrete generally made by combining cement, sand, aggregate (small stones), and water. Some applications of concrete necessitate adding other materials that could adversely affect health if improperly handled or appropriate precautions are not taken. Additions may include alkaline compounds (such as lime) that are corrosive to human tissue. Crystalline silica can be abrasive to the skin and cause lung damage, and small quantities of chromium can cause allergic reactions. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), over 250,000 people work i concrete or masonry trades. Over 10 percent of those workers (28,000) experienced a job-related injury or illness, and 42 died in just a year. ## HAZARDS WORKING WITH CONCRETE • Eye, skin, and respiratory tract irritation from exposure to cement dust. • Inadequate safety guards on equipment. • Ergonomic risk (overexertion and awkward postures). - Slips, trips, and falls. • Chemical burns from wet or dry concrete. - Confined spaces • Noise exposure ## DIFFERENT PHASES OF WORKING WITH CONCRETE PRESENT DIFFERENT RISKS Forming risks: Concrete forming is the process of creating solid frames to hold the concrete in place as it sets after being poured. Most concrete projects require forms before you even order or mix the concrete. You need use structurally sound forms to hold the concrete in place and avoid collapse. Risks during this stage include: to • Workers falling during steel fixing (tying rebar) and the erection of formwork. • Collapse of the formwork. • Materials falling during the striking of formwork. • Silica dust exposure. • Manual handling of materials such as formwork, reinforcing bars (rebar), etc. • Skin irritation. Mixing risks: Cement dust released during bag dumping or concrete cutting can irritate the skin. Moisture from sweat …

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# General Requirements for Positioning Systems (cont.) damage, and other deterioration, and defective components shall be removed from service. 10. Positioning systems and components shall be used only for employee protection and not to hoist materials. ## Formwork and Reinforcing Steel Section 1926.501(b)(5) requires that employees on the face of reinforcing steel must be protected from falling 6 feet or more to lower levels by personal fall arrest systems, safety net systems, or positioning devices. After OSHA published this as a final rule, the National Association of Reinforcing Steel Contractors and the International Association of Bridge, Structural and Ornamental Iron Workers asserted that because of the way the rebar is transported to a work location (workers carry the rebar by cradling it in their arms), it was not feasible, or would create a greater hazard, to constantly connect and disconnect fall protection devices while climbing the rebar assemblies. For this reason, and because rebar assemblies are similar to a fixed ladder, OSHA has allowed workers while constructing rebar assemblies to climb without fall protection up to 24 feet. Once employees reach their work location, or climb above 24 feet, they must use fall protection as specified by the standard. Fall protection while working off of concrete forms can be achieved with the use of a retractable lanyard. The system can be installed before lifted into place, and then retrieved with the use of a tagline attached to the snaphook (picture courtesy DBI/Sala). 41

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# RE-BAR & IMPALEMENT HAZARDS Date Posted: 05/13/2025 ## Re-bar & Impalement Hazards Steel reinforcing bars, also known as re-bar, pose a common safety hazard on construction sites. These thin steel bars can stick out from construction projects and cause injuries to workers who can cut or scratch themselves on their sharp ends. In addition, workers who stumble or fall onto the exposed steel bars can be pierced or impaled on them, which can lead to severe internal injuries and even death. Rebar and other protrusions on a worksite should be guarded or covered to prevent impalement hazards. Moreover, it is crucial for workers to be protected from falling through hazard elimination so that they are not exposed to an impalement hazard or by wearing proper fall protection equipment when working above rebar or other sharp protrusions. According to WAC 296-880 and WAC [redacted identifier], all protruding reinforcing steel onto and into which workers could fall must be guarded and protected. This includes work situations where rebar or other impalement hazards are below grade or in a basement. ## RE-BAR AND OTHER IMPALEMENT HAZARDS Impalement hazards are not limited to protruding re-bar. Any projection on the job site that is an impalement risk must be guarded, including, but not limited to: - Unprotected vertical re-bar dowels. - Using the wrong protective caps for impalement hazards. • Improper or lack of fall protection methods at any height over an impalement hazard. • Concrete formwork pins protruding. • Concrete footing re-bar protruding into walking spaces. • Horizontal re-bar protruding from concrete foundation work. • Re-bar scraps are left lying about the job site. • Protruding pipes, conduit, or bolts stubbed out through floors or walls. - Reinforcing wire. • Stored materials. - Debris. • Any other projection that presents an impalement risk. ## GUARDING AND PROTECTING FROM RE-BAR HAZARDS It is crucial to take precautions against rebar i…