5 Concrete Safety Strategies

According to estimates, around 28,000 people who work in concrete manufacturing are injured each year. Fortunately, there are things you can do to help your employees avoid hazards when working with concrete. Here are five concrete safety strategies, based on recommendations from OSHA:

1. Minimize dust exposure.

Consider providing your employees with masks or respirators to help them avoid dust exposure when they’re mixing concrete. Additionally, advise them to rinse their eyes out thoroughly if exposed to an excessive amount of dust, and encourage them to consume food and beverages at a safe distance from where concrete is being mixed.

2. Provide alkali-resistant gloves.

This is especially crucial if your employees are working with concrete that contains hexavalent chromium, which can burn their skin. It’s also a good idea to encourage your employees to thoroughly wash any skin that comes into contact with concrete using cold water.

3. Make machine maintenance a priority.

Follow the manufacturer’s suggestions for scheduled maintenance. Make any necessary repairs promptly, and carefully clear conveyor belt jams and attend to other issues. It’s also essential to ensure that any and all necessary guards are in place before employees use machinery.

4. Avoid heavy lifting if possible.

There’s no need for employees to strain their backs if they don’t have to. Encourage them to use machines to handle lifting of heavy loads. Additionally, make sure ground areas are cleared and cleaned to help your employees prevent tripping if they do have to carry concrete.

5. Promote caution in confined spaces.

To clean truck mixer drums, your employees will need to enter into confined spaces. Make sure they know to wear their hard hats, gloves, and other protective gear when they do this. Additionally, make sure they know to leave confined spaces if they feel themselves overheating.