Whether you’re pouring a driveway or installing a new walking path in the backyard, ready mix concrete can help you complete the project efficiently. Even though this material is easy to use, understanding how to stay safe while you work with it will help you finish the job. Here are several strategies to help your team avoid any injury-related setbacks.

How to Safely Work With Concrete

1. Protect Your Skin

Ready mix concrete tends to get everywhere during work, and it can irritate your skin when it hardens. To prevent this, cover your body as much as possible. Wear thick boots, pants, a long-sleeve shirt, a helmet, and gloves. Check team members for exposed skin before beginning, and hand out goggles to prevent concrete particles from getting into the eyes. If some does manage to get on someone's skin, have them immediately scrub it off with soap and warm water.

2. Lift Carefully

Even while wet, ready mix concrete is heavy. Shoveling large loads and brushing it across the pour area significantly strains back muscles if you don't lift correctly. Show your team members to squat and lift with their legs rather than bending at the hips. This will prevent back injuries that could cause intense pain and prevent them from working. When possible, use handcarts, wheelbarrows, and forklifts to reduce the workload. These devices are also faster and will help you complete the job easier.

3. Manage the Site

Pouring concrete requires close attention because it immediately begins to dry. Employees have to work without interruption, which can limit how they pay attention to their surroundings. Tripping on loose materials and stumbling onto drying concrete can cause serious injury. It also ruins the pour, which means you’ll have to redo the work.

Create a safety plan before the job and teach employees to keep the job site clear of debris. If they notice tools or materials lying around, instruct the team to place them in a designated area. This will reduce the risk that a team member trips and falls on the concrete.

If you’re organizing a project that requires ready mix concrete, contact Schreiter Ready Mix & Materials in O’Fallon, MO. This concrete supplier carries products for projects of all sizes, whether you're a homeowner or contractor. They’re a Redi-Rock® authorized supplier and offer premium materials for creating retaining walls and home hardscapes. Visit them online for more information about their products, and call (636) 240-2600 to place an order.