Concrete Masonry

Let's review some of the safety requirements for concrete and masonry construction. Do not place any loads on any portion of a concrete structure until your employer has determined that it is capable of supporting those loads. This determination must be based on information provided by someone who is qualified in structural design [1926.701(a)].

All protruding reinforcing steel, onto and into which someone could fall, has to be guarded to eliminate the hazard of impalement. (Note: It should be understood that the little plastic end caps commonly found on rebar do not prevent impalement; they are there primarily to prevent injuries from occurring while handling there bar. And the orange caps without the steel embeds may not prevent an impalement injury.)

Do not ride on or in concrete buckets. A loaded bucket weighs about as much as a full-sized pick-up truck -- you certainly wouldn't want to be under one if it fell. Employees are not permitted to work under concrete buckets while they are being raised or lowered into position -- so make sure that you don't. Plan the route for elevated concrete buckets so that as few employees as possible are underneath them.

Formwork must be designed, fabricated, erected, supported, and maintained so that it is capable of supporting all loads, vertical & horizontal, that may be applied to it

If a masonry wall over 8 ft. high is not adequately supported by itself or another structure then it has to be braced to prevent it from tipping over or collapsing. You have to keep that bracing in place until the wall is permanently supported by the rest of the structure. A limited access zone must be established before starting to construct a masonry wall. The zone must be 4 ft. wider than the height of the wall, run the entire length of the wall, and be on the unscaffolded side of the wall. Only those employees who are actively engaged in constructing the wall may enter the zone. The limited access zone must remain until the wall is adequately supported to prevent overturning or collapse.

WET CONCRETE CONDUCTS ELECTRICITY, SO BE ALERT WHEN USING BULL FLOATS; CONTACT BETWEEN THE FLOAT HANDLE AND ELECTRIC WIRES COULD BE DISATROUS.

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