Cleaning of concrete pumping equipment

Background

There have been several recent incidents involving concrete pumping equipment.

Most recently a male, 24, was struck and seriously injured while cleaning out the concrete pumping equipment used in a concrete pour on a rural property in northeast Victoria. He later died in hospital.

Control measures

WorkSafe expects that when cleaning out concrete pumping equipment the following safety precautions are followed:

• the end-hose to be secure or removed before cleaning to prevent the hose whipping around
• the discharge end of the pipeline to be fitted with a cage to safely catch the cleaning device but at the same time, allow the concrete to flow
• all workers are to be kept clear of the discharge end while the concrete is under pressure.
• no-one attempts to dismantle the pipeline while it is still under pressure under any circumstance.