Concrete Cutting & Coring Operators
Concrete cutters make openings for doors, windows, stairs and utilities, using wall saws, wire saws, flat saws and core drills. The work is powerful and exact, and the hazards are serious: flying blade pieces, falling slabs, buried utilities, silica dust and electricity near water.
- Construction
- Concrete
- Renovation
Scan before you cut
- Use ground-penetrating radar (GPR) or an electromagnetic scanner to find rebar, post-tension cables, conduit, pipes and embedded items before cutting or coring.
- Check drawings, and ask the engineer before cutting structural elements.
- Never cut post-tensioned slabs without scanning and a plan. A cut tendon can release huge energy.
- Mark the cut lines and keep other trades away from below and behind the cut.
Silica and slurry
- Cutting concrete makes respirable crystalline silica. Use wet cutting with water at the blade or bit, and a vacuum or dust shroud for dry work. Follow Table 1 in OSHA’s silica standard where it applies. See Silica.
- Wear a respirator as required, plus eye and hearing protection.
- Slurry is wet and alkaline. It can burn skin and make surfaces very slippery. Wear waterproof gloves and boots, and control and dispose of it as your site and local rules require. Don’t let it wash into storm drains.
Saws
- Use the right blade for the material and saw, and rated for the saw’s speed. Inspect blades for cracks, missing segments and damage. Replace damaged blades.
- Keep blade guards in place. Make sure the saw is anchored or secured to the wall or floor as the manufacturer requires.
- Know how to avoid kickback and pinching: let the blade cut at its own pace, don’t bend or twist it, and support the work so the kerf doesn’t close on the blade.
- Use remote controls where available so you stand to the side of the saw, not behind it. See Walk-Behind Saws.
Support the piece you cut
A freshly cut slab or wall section can weigh hundreds or thousands of pounds. Plan how it will be supported, lowered or lifted out before cutting: hoists, cranes, forklifts, wedges, pins or slings. Keep people out from under and in front of it. Cut in the order that keeps the piece stable. See Estimating Load Weight.
Core drills
- Anchor the drill stand firmly with an anchor bolt, vacuum base or brace. A loose stand can spin the drill violently when the bit binds. See Core Drills.
- Keep hands and clothing away from the rotating bit.
- Control the core that falls out. Plan where it goes and who’s below.
Electricity and water
- Wet cutting mixes water, power cords and metal tools. Use GFCI protection on all electric tools, and keep cords and plugs out of puddles. See GFCI and Wet Locations.
- Hydraulic saws and wire saws have high-pressure hoses. Don’t check leaks with your hand. See Hydraulic Hazards.
Noise, vibration and lifting
Cutting is loud, and saws and drills are heavy. Wear hearing protection, use carts and lifts for equipment, and set up and tear down with a helper. See Noise and Lifting & Ergonomics.
Before each cut
- Scanned and marked; engineer okayed structural cuts
- Plan for supporting, lowering and removing the cut piece
- Wet cutting or dust control set; respirator on
- Blade inspected; saw or drill anchored; guards in place
- GFCI on cords; area below and behind cleared
Standards & references
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