Risk Assessment for Concrete Work — create with RAMSagent
A Job Hazard Analysis for concrete evaluates project risks during casting, reinforcement, formwork, and chipping. It covers chemical risks (corrosion), vibration (hand-arm and whole-body), noise, and heavy lifting according to Canada Labour Code Part II and COHSR.
RAMSagent aggregates vibration and noise exposure across the project to ensure daily exposure stays below the limit.
Typical risks for Risk Assessment — Concrete Work
| Risk | Description | Legal | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Burns from Cement | Wet concrete is alkaline (pH >12) and causes burns within hours. Project requirement: all operators must have nitrile gloves, waterproof coveralls, and an emergency shower within 10 seconds. | Canada Labour Code Part II, COHSR | High |
| Vibration | Chipping and poker vibrators generate hand-arm vibration. RAMSagent accumulates daily dose A(8) per operator. | Canada Labour Code Part II, COHSR | High |
| Noise | Casting, poker vibrators, and formwork regularly exceed 85 dB(A). Hearing protection and noise measurement per task. | Canada Labour Code Part II, COHSR | Medium |
| Heavy Reinforcement Lifting | Rebar bundles, spacers, and concrete elements often weigh >25 kg and require mechanical aids. | Canada Labour Code Part II, COHSR | Medium |
Applicable Regulations
- Canada Labour Code Part II Occupational Health and Safety Management
- Systematic occupational health and safety management.
- Canada Labour Code Part II Chemical Workplace Hazards
- Chapter 8 skin exposure; applies to cement, alkali, curing compounds.
- Canada Labour Code Part II Vibration
- Intervention and limit values for hand-arm and whole-body vibration.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How is the vibration dose A(8) calculated?
- The total daily vibration exposure is normalized to 8 hours: A(8)=ahv·√(T/8), where ahv is the emission value from the machine and T is the exposure time. RAMSagent performs the calculation automatically.
- Is noise measurement required?
- When the level is suspected to exceed 85 dB(A) — which is almost always during concrete casting. Measurements are included in the Job Hazard Analysis (JHA).
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