concrete – Indiana Constructors Inc

Concrete Safety – Concrete Burns

Posted on 2021-05-012025-04-10 by Jim Wood

Health Hazards

Along with quartz (crystalline silica), dry concrete contains calcium oxide. When it’s dry, calcium oxide can potentially cause respiratory irritation. The more serious hazard is when you add water to the concrete mix. When water mixes with calcium oxide, it forms calcium hydroxide, which is extremely alkaline (caustic) with a pH of 12 to 13.

Skin contact with calcium hydroxide can result in red, irritated or blistered skin. Calcium hydroxide contact can cause second- or third-degree burns that can form slowly over hours or days. Wet concrete is also hygroscopic, drawing water away from anything that holds moisture, including wet clothing or skin.

If your skin or eyes have been exposed to wet concrete, you need to take immediate action to reduce the severity of the injury:

Immediately wash the exposed area with clean water for approximately 20 minutes. Add vinegar to the water to help neutralize the alkalinity. Never use a water/vinegar solution to rinse the eyes.
Flush eyes with clean water and get immediate medical attention.
Remove and replace any wet PPE or clothing.
Wash all exposed skin areas, even if you are not aware of contact. Concrete burns can take hours to form.
Seek professional medical attention immediately and provide the medical personnel with the product Safety Data Sheet (SDS).

Personal Protective Equipment

You must wear PPE to protect the skin and eyes from contact with concrete containing calcium hydroxide.

Safety glasses –create a barrier between your eyes and wet concrete with appropriate eye protection.
Chemical-resistant gloves – protect the hands with PVC, nitrile or neoprene gloves.
Rubber boots – prevent contact with the feet, ankles and calves. Take additional measures to prevent concrete from entering over the top of the boots.
Knee pads or boards – knees and lower extremities are susceptible to concrete exposure during finishing activities. Wear knee pads or use knee boards to prevent contact.

DO NOT DELAY in getting medical treatment if your skin is exposed to wet concrete. Delaying treatment can mean the difference between a mild burn and a severe injury.

Download a printable PDF and recording form here.

Concrete Pumping Safety

Posted on 2020-09-012025-04-10 by Jim Wood

Hose blowouts and hose whipping are serious hazards that can cause injuries while workers are pumping concrete.

Air trapped in a delivery line can cause hose blowouts and/or hose whipping. When the air is released, the end of the hose can whip and cause injury to workers in the area. Air in the delivery system itself is not the hazard. But when that air becomes compressed due to a blockage, it stores energy. The risk of a hose blowout or hose whipping happens when that energy discharges.

To minimize the risk during concrete pumping work, ALL personnel should be cautious and maintain a reasonable distance from the discharge hose when:

Restarting equipment after moving.
Priming the equipment.
There is air in the delivery line.
There is a blockage.

Establish a controlled-access zone around the pumping area to eliminate the potential of the hose striking a worker in case it gets away from the operator.

If you encounter a blockage, move the boom away from the pour to a safe location and re-establish flow before moving the boom back to the pour.

Additional safety measures include:

Ensure the pump operator has inspected the delivery pipe, and it isn’t cracked or worn.
Maintain visual contact with the operator or signal person.
Use a single-ended hose on the discharge.
Use guide/tag lines to guide the hose while pumping. Do not hug the hose.
Do not place yourself between the hose and a fixed object.
Maintain a 20-foot minimum approach distance from all overhead, energized, uninsulated powerlines with voltages of 0.1kV to 350kV.
For voltages exceeding 350kV, the minimum approach distance is 50 feet.

Download a printable PDF and recording form here.

Concrete Paving & Bid-Well Safety

Posted on 2020-09-012025-04-10 by Jim Wood

When working around Bid-Well, Gomaco or other types of concrete slip form pavers, workers need to follow basic safety measures to prevent injuries.

Emergency Stop Button

Workers must be familiar with the location of the emergency stop button.
Most emergency stop buttons are magnetic.
Test emergency stop buttons daily prior to use and position them near the hazard/point of operation.

Daily Inspection

A competent person must inspect the equipment daily before use to ensure it’s in good operating condition and all safety mechanisms are functioning properly.

Slips, Trips & Falls

Workers must be aware of slip, trip and fall hazards during concrete paving.
Watch for tools, materials and string lines that can cause trip hazards.
Walking on rebar mats with boots covered in wet concrete can create a slip and fall hazard. Watch your foot placement and avoid openings in the rebar mats. Walk where the rebar is joined or tied together.

Chemical Burns

Wet concrete can cause chemical burns.
Wear gloves and boots when working around wet concrete.
If your skin comes into contact with wet concrete, wash it as soon as possible.

360 Awareness

Maintain constant awareness of all moving equipment in the work area.
Be aware of incoming and outgoing dump trucks, concrete trucks and other vehicles.
Train operators and other employees to recognize the hazards of the concrete paving process.

Caught-In/Between – Rotating Augers

Properly guard all moving and rotating parts. Inspect equipment before use to ensure guards are in place and undamaged.
Workers should not wear loose clothing, jewelry or PPE that could be entangled in a rotating auger.
Walk around. Do not cross under a concrete paver when it’s in operation.
Stop the equipment and shut off the auger(s) during any cleaning operations.

Download a printable PDF and recording form here.