CONCRETE SAFETY MANUAL

PURPOSE / SCOPE

Saladino Construction Company Inc., herein referred to as SCCI, utilizes concrete on most projects. This manual outlines mandatory safety protocols for all team members executing any removal, excavation, forming, pouring, and finishing operations of concrete. 

The primary objective of this manual is to eliminate jobsite injuries, maintain OSHA compliance, and mitigate risks associated with crystalline silica dust, heavy equipment, and wet concrete chemical burns.

1. Core Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) 

All team members must wear the required PPE specified for each task. Never handle wet concrete or cut cured concrete without appropriate protective barriers.

Task / Activity

Site Prep & Demo

Required PPE

Safety vest, safety glasses, steel-toe boots, work gloves, hearing protection.

Concrete Cutting

Face Mask, safety glasses plus face shield, hearing protection.

Forming & Rebar

Work gloves, safety glasses, steel-toe boots, puncture-resistant soles.

Pouring & Screeding

Waterproof gloves and boots, safety glasses.

Wet Concrete Contact: Wet concrete is highly alkaline and causes severe chemical burns. If wet concrete breaches your clothing or boots, stop working immediately, flush the area with clean water, and apply a pH-neutralizing wash or vinegar.

2. Site Setup & Demolition Safety

Utility Locating

  • Call 811 to mark underground gas, water, electric, and communication lines before breaking ground.
  • Hand-dig exclusively within 24 inches of any marked utility line.


Equipment Operations (Skid Steers & Mini-Excavators)

  • Maintain a 10-foot safety zone around operating equipment.
  • Establish eye contact with the equipment operator before entering their work radius.
  • Chock wheels and lower all buckets or attachments completely to the ground when parking equipment.


Breaking and Jackhammering

  • Clear all non-essential personnel from the immediate debris-shatter zone.
  • Wear hearing protection during all mechanical breaking operations.
  • Lift jackhammers using your legs to prevent acute lower-back strains.

3. Excavation, Subgrade & Formwork

Open Excavations

  • Protect open sidewalk or driveway drop-offs with high-visibility barricade tape or safety cones to safeguard public pedestrians.
  • Inspect soil stability daily for loose edges, cave-ins, or water accumulation.


Form Setting and Rebar

  • Cap all exposed vertical reinforcement steel (rebar) with OSHA-approved impalement caps.
  • Always wear gloves when cutting, binding, or laying welded wire mesh to prevent snap-back puncture injuries.
  • Ensure form stakes are driven securely and cut flush to eliminate tripping hazards.

4. Concrete Placement & Finishing

Ready-Mix Truck Safety

  • Assign a dedicated spotter to guide concrete delivery trucks during backing maneuvers.
  • Keep clear of the discharge chute’s swing radius to avoid pinch injuries.
  • Never stand directly underneath a concrete pump boom line or aggregate chute.


Crystalline Silica Dust Management

  • Wet-cutting is mandatory for all joint sawing and structural cutting.
  • Use integrated dust-collection shrouds connected to a HEPA vacuum if dry-vacuum methods are required.
  • Wear a properly fitted N95 filtering facepiece respirator during dry finishing or sweeping activities.

5. Emergency Action & Incident Reporting

Immediate Emergency Steps

  1. Stop Work: Cease all machinery operations instantly if an injury or structural failure occurs.
  2. Administer First Aid: Utilize the on-site first aid kit for minor cuts or immediate flushing of chemical splashes.
  3. Call 911: Dial emergency services immediately for severe trauma, loss of consciousness, or deep chemical burns.


Reporting Requirements

  • Report all injuries, near-misses, and property damage to the on-site Foreman immediately.
  • File a formal written Incident Report within 24 hours of the event.