Concrete Vibrators

Concrete vibrators (“stingers”) remove air pockets from freshly placed concrete. Operators stand in wet concrete holding an electric, battery or gas tool that vibrates constantly, often on decks, walls and forms with open edges.

• Construction

Types

• Internal (stinger) vibrators: a vibrating head on a flexible shaft, driven by an electric, gas or backpack motor. Used in walls, columns, footings and slabs.
• Form vibrators: clamped to the outside of forms, often for precast work.
• Surface vibrators and vibrating screeds: run across the top of slabs.

Hazards

• Electric shock: electric vibrators and cords used in wet concrete
• Hand-arm vibration: numbness, tingling and white fingers with long daily use. See Hand-Arm Vibration
• Back strain: carrying, lifting and pulling the head and shaft out of stiff concrete
• Falls: from formwork, decks and wall tops while focused on the pour
• Cement burns: wet concrete is strongly alkaline and burns skin that stays in contact with it
• Form blowouts: over-vibrating can increase pressure on forms
• Noise and exhaust from gas-powered units

Before you start

• Electric units plugged into GFCI protection
• Cords and plugs undamaged, ground pin in place, kept out of standing water where possible
• Flexible shaft casing not cracked, kinked or leaking grease
• Head tight on the shaft; motor housing intact
• Fall protection or guardrails in place on elevated decks and walls
• Plan for who handles the cord or motor so the operator isn’t dragging it

Safe use

• Use backpack-style or lightweight units, and rotate operators on long pours.
• Hold the shaft by its handle or casing, not the vibrating head.
• Let the head sink in under its own weight, then pull it out slowly; don’t use it to move concrete sideways.
• Don’t run the head in the air for long; follow the manufacturer’s guidance, since running it outside concrete can overheat it.
• Turn the vibrator off before moving it between placements, as directed by the manufacturer.
• Plan your footing; watch for rebar, holes and edges while you work.
• Don’t over-vibrate; it can separate the mix and push on the forms.

PPE

• Waterproof gloves and rubber boots, with pant legs over the boot tops so concrete can’t get in.
• Safety glasses or goggles for splashes.
• Hearing protection for gas units.

Last updated: October 2, 2026