Two Steps That Should Be Taken to Prevent Injuries and Accidents When Constructing a Concrete Building
There are certain safety precautions which should be taken when using concrete to construct a building. Read on to find out what these precautions are.
Make sure the scaffolding is stable
In order to add concrete slabs or blocks to the upper floors of the new building, scaffolding must be used; this enables workers to safely carry out their assigned tasks at heights without having to use ladders or mobile access machines such as cherry pickers.
However, scaffolding which becomes unstable can cause serious accidents. If for example, there is a pile of concrete blocks on one of the platforms and the platform in question collapses, the blocks and the structure itself could fall downwards and strike those working on the ground. Due to the heavy weight of concrete, this could lead to people sustaining major head injuries and other wounds.
As such, it is important to make sure that the scaffolding used for the construction of a concrete building remains stable throughout the course of the project. The only way to do this is to inspect it regularly.
Ideally, scaffolding should be inspected at regular intervals (such as once every three days). It should also undergo additional inspections following any incidents which could result in its destabilisation (such as a particularly violent storm, for example).
The person carrying out the inspection should check that none of the scaffolding's screws have loosened and that the stair system or integrated ladder within the scaffolding system is securely fastened. They should also check the condition of the base plates and make sure that the handrails do not shift when weight is placed on them.
Take care when using concrete equipment
The equipment used to construct concrete buildings is both powerful and dangerous; things such as concrete saws and concrete grinders can harm workers if they are not used correctly. As such, it is important for those using this equipment to take certain precautions.
One of the biggest dangers associated with this type of equipment is that, during the process of sawing through or grinding a concrete slab, silica dust from the concrete can end up becoming airborne. If inhaled, silica can cause a very serious lung condition called silicosis.
In most cases, those operating this equipment can protect themselves simply by wearing a respirator mask and changing the filters on their masks regularly.
However, there is a danger that other workers in the vicinity of the equipment may breathe in some of the silica dust as they walk past. As it is not always feasible or practical to insist that everyone on a building site wear a respirator mask, those operating the equipment should take measures to protect their fellow workers. These measures might include using the equipment outdoors, in an open and well-ventilated part of the construction site, and setting up a barrier around their work area, to discourage others from coming too close to the equipment and the dust it generates.
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