From April 2022, SafeWork NSW inspectors are targeting concreting safety in construction, with a focus on formwork and concrete placing equipment.

Formwork

Falls from heights is the primary cause of traumatic fatalities on NSW construction sites, with falls from formwork being in the top 5 serious falls reported to SafeWork.

On a construction site, formworkers and other workers are at risk of falls from formwork decks or through penetrations, formwork collapse, and falling timbers or crane loads.

Principal contractors and site supervisors have a duty to provide and maintain a working environment that is safe and without risks to health and safety, so far as is reasonably practicable. This includes working from the ground where possible, ensuring formwork is erected on solid foundations, using edge protection and covers, having exclusion zones in place to prevent unauthorised access during erection and dismantling and having a competent person sign-off before pouring concrete.

Site supervisors can use this *new* formwork safety checklist, to help keep your site safe for workers on or near formwork.

Concrete Placing Equipment

When it comes to concrete placing equipment, workers are mostly at risk of being hit by the hose or concrete spray, and the equipment coming into contact with powerlines, scaffold or a building.

Principal contractors and site supervisors should ensure safe systems of work for set-up, placement and concrete operations, safe distances to overhead power lines are maintained, pre and post start checks are undertaken and exclusion zones/traffic controls are in place.

For more Information on how to work safely around formwork and concrete placing equipment, see the SafeWork NSW website and the FIA Knowledge Channel.

Working Safely At Heights

FIA Safety Channel