After a recent accident that involved a pumper’s legs being caught in a hopper between the agitators, WorkSafe WA issued a safety alert to builders and pumpers. The alert urges construction workers to be aware of the need to manage risks if they operate or contract the operation of a concrete pump on a construction site.
WorkSafe WA has identified the following contributing factors that are of concern:
• Job step for accessing the hopper for clean-out purposes is not adequately reflected within SWMS
• Hopper design, which makes cleaning with water from the outside difficult
• Micro switch which was not designed to fail to safety
• The primary factor causing injury to drivers/operators is a lack of maintenance of equipment leading to failure of interlocks of the grate over the hopper, a recognised high-wear area
• Design between the water and agitator controls, which are very close
• Inadequate instruction, lack of operator training, and supervision are factors in other incidents.
To reduce the risks in concrete pumping operations, WorkSafe requires the following action:
1: The employer or person in control of the workplace must ensure all vehicle-mounted concrete boom pump operators’ hold a High-Risk Work Licence.
2: Workers must be trained in using safe work procedures and be adequately supervised.
3: SWMS to address the danger of entering the hopper, and ways to diminish/reduce the need to enter the hopper.
4: The employer should:
• Ensure all drivers/operators are adequately trained.
• SWMS are conducted and the need to enter the hopper is fully explained and understood; and
• Ensure the hopper is fitted with a secured hopper grate, or that the hopper grate is interlocked with an emergency stop button.
5: A risk assessment on all tasks must be done by the employer or person in control of the workplace.
