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Workers in the construction industry pump concrete for work activities such as manufacturing pre-cast and tilt-up concrete panels, concrete formwork, slab construction and concrete paving.
Health and safety risks for workers can occur when working with wet concrete and setting up and using concrete placing equipment.
Concrete pumping has caused serious incidents in recent years through:
- Concrete boom failure
- Contact between booms and overhead powerlines
- Whipping of delivery hoses
- Hazardous moving parts
PCBU specific duties
As a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), you have a duty to manage the risks of concrete pumping. You must:
Provide your workers with any information or training needed to protect them from risks involved with their work. You must ensure that information, training or instruction provided is suitable and adequate for:
- The nature of the work carried out by the worker
- The nature of the risks associated with the work at the time, and
- The control measures implemented.
- Ensure that workers have the relevant high-risk work licence before they operate concrete placing booms
- Prepare and complete a safe work method statement if concrete pumping is undertaken:
- On or near energised electrical installations or services
- On, near or next to an in-use road or railway
- In an area where there is any movement of mobile powered plant, or
- Involves tilt-up or precast concrete
For more information on SWMS, please refer to Safe Work Australia’s information sheet on SWMS. To learn more about how to prepare a SWMS, click here to access our interactive SWMS tool.
For more information
Model Code of Practice
Other resources
