Portable Cement Mixers
Portable mixers turn sand, cement and water into mortar and concrete on small jobs. A turning drum, a gear ring and a heavy cement bag can crush a hand or hurt a back, and dry cement dust and wet mix attack lungs and skin. Treat the mixer like any machine with a rotating hazard.
- Masons
- Concrete Laborers
- Landscapers
- Homeowners
Types
- Electric drum mixers on a stand, usually 1/2 to 1 horsepower.
- Gas-powered mixers for sites without power.
- Towable mixers and mortar (paddle) mixers. See Industrial Mixers.
Main hazards
- Entanglement and crushing: reaching into a rotating drum, or getting a hand or shovel caught at the drum rim and gear ring.
- Electric shock: damp conditions and long cords. Use GFCI protection. See GFCI Protection.
- Carbon monoxide and fire from gas engines running indoors or in enclosed spaces. See Carbon Monoxide.
- Back injuries from lifting 80- to 94-pound bags and heavy loads. See Lifting & Ergonomics.
- Silica and cement dust when dumping dry cement and sand. See Silica.
- Cement burns and dermatitis from wet mix on skin. See Corrosives.
- Tipping when the mixer is on soft or sloped ground or loaded unevenly.
- Noise and vibration.
Safe use
- Set the mixer on firm, level ground and block the wheels. Keep the work area clear.
- Check guards, the drum lock, the cord and the switch before starting. Plug electric mixers into a GFCI. Keep gas mixers outdoors.
- Wear safety glasses, waterproof gloves, long sleeves and waterproof boots, and a respirator when handling dry cement. See Respiratory Protection.
- Add water first, then aggregate and cement slowly to reduce dust. Open bags low and away from your face. Use bagged, pre-mixed products where possible.
- Never reach into the drum while it is turning or put a shovel or hoe into it. Stop the mixer, unplug it or shut off the engine and disconnect the spark plug before cleaning or clearing a jam. See Clearing Jams.
- Use lifting aids and teamwork for heavy bags. Don't twist while lifting.
- Wash off wet mix promptly. Clean the drum while the mix is soft, using water, not by pounding.
- Store the mixer with the drum tilted down and secured, and cover the controls.
Cement mixer checklist
- The mixer is level, blocked and guards are in place
- It is on a GFCI (electric) or outdoors (gas)
- I never reach in a turning drum and I unplug before cleaning
- I wear eye, hand, foot and respiratory protection
- I wash off wet cement and lift bags safely
Standards & references
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