Concrete Pump Trucks & Placing Booms
Concrete pumps push concrete through steel pipe and rubber hose at high pressure, often from a boom that reaches over the work. The biggest dangers are the boom touching power lines, the truck tipping on poor outrigger setup, and the end hose whipping when air or a blockage clears.
- Concrete & masonry
- Equipment operators
- Laborers
Setup
- Firm, level ground: know the soil and what’s under it. Stay back from excavations, trenches, retaining walls and buried tanks or utilities.
- Outriggers fully extended as the maker requires, on outrigger pads sized for the ground. Never set them on unsupported pavement edges or loose fill.
- Power lines: keep the boom and hose at least the minimum clearance (10 feet for lines up to 50 kV, more for higher voltage). Use a spotter when the boom could get close. See Overhead Power Lines.
- Inspect boom pipe, clamps, hoses and wear parts before pumping. Worn pipe can burst.
End hose whip
The flexible end hose can swing violently when the pump starts, when air pockets pass through, or when a blockage clears. It can knock workers off their feet or off a deck.
- Don’t stand near the end hose when pumping starts or restarts; wait until concrete flows steadily
- Don’t kink, fold or put the end hose over your shoulder
- Don’t attach extra hoses or a reducer to the end hose unless the pump maker allows it
- Don’t hold the end hose near an unprotected edge without fall protection
Blockages and line pressure
Never open a clamp, pipe or hose while the line is under pressure. Reverse the pump to relieve pressure as the maker’s procedure says, and confirm it’s relieved before opening anything. Stand to the side when opening a line. Concrete and pipe pieces can blast out with deadly force.
Cleanout
- Cleaning with compressed air is especially dangerous; follow the maker’s procedure exactly, use a catch basket, and keep everyone clear of the line end.
- Use the proper cleanout ball or sponge, and never look into a pipe end during cleanout.
Hose crew checklist
- Hard hat, safety glasses, waterproof gloves and rubber boots (wet concrete burns skin)
- Agreed hand signals or radios with the pump operator
- One person directs the operator
- Clear path and good footing; no tripping over rebar while moving the hose
- Fall protection at open edges
- Know the plan for blockages: stop, call the operator, stay clear
See Concrete Work for concrete burns and other hazards.
Standards & references
- 29 CFR 1926.702(e): Concrete pumping systems
- 29 CFR 1926.1408: Power line safety for equipment
- American Concrete Pumping Association
- See also: When Equipment Contacts a Power Line
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