Concrete Mixer Safety

Health Effects

• According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), the dust coming from the concrete mixer can cause skin, eye and respiratory tract irritation. Wet concrete can also cause chemical burns. Long term exposure to concrete dust can cause silicosis and lung cancer. Those who get cement in their eyes should rinse them out immediately. Wash any other part of the body in contact with the cement with soap and water.

  To eliminate respiratory dangers, wear a respirator. Do not eat or drink anything near the mixer. Wear protective clothing and eye protection if working near wet cement. Anyone who gets wet cement in their eyes should rinse them out with cold water for 15 minutes and then go to the hospital. The wet cement can cause serious first, second or third degree burns. The concrete can also contain harmful hexavalent chromium.

Ergonomics

• Those working with cement mixers are often put in awkward positions that can cause injuries. Managers should assess workflow processes to ensure that they are ergonomically safe. Repetitive motions and unusual positions cause the most injuries, so workers should avoid twisting when carrying heavy loads and should always work in well-balanced positions, according to the OSHA.

Maintenance

• Workers must make sure that the concrete mixers always function properly since jams can lead to physical injuries. When performing maintenance on the mixers, technicians must ensure that the mixers are completely turned off. When cleaning inside the mixer drums, workers should receive adequate ventilation to avoid heat stress.

Load Chute Safety

• The load-out chute that releases the concrete can cause serious injuries to the workers, so workers must be fully aware when moving near it. At times, pieces of wet concrete can splash, so workers should wear protective equipment at all times when pouring the concrete. Protective equipment consists of goggles, alkali-resistant gloves, coveralls with long sleeves and full length pants and waterproof boots, according to the OSHA.

Ground Stability

• Only operate the concrete mixer when the mixer is on level ground. Unstable ground can cause the mixer to shift position, causing potential injury. When on sloping ground, the concrete will not come out of the chute as intended, potentially ruining the project and causing injury. Really unstable ground can cause the cement mixer to topple over, which can cause crushing injuries, the OSHA warns.

  When the cement mixer operates, no one should reach into the running drum. Also, do not stick any objects into the drum, since these objects can lead to splash ups and injuries. Concrete mixers must have emergency cutoff switches in the event of an emergency. Make sure that the concrete chute is always secure.