Concrete construction safety rules

An employer must ensure that construction loads are only placed on a concrete structure after a determination—based on information from a person qualified in structural design—that the structure or portion of the structure can safely support those loads. See the Construction loads requirement in 1926.701(a) and the general 1926.701.

• The person providing the information must be qualified in structural design (for example, a licensed engineer or similarly qualified designer).
• The employer is responsible for acting on that information before placing construction loads.

The qualified person should provide information showing the structure (or portion) is capable of supporting the specific construction loads, and the employer must use that information to decide whether to place loads there. See 1926.701(a).

• Typical useful information includes load calculations, safe load capacities, and any necessary temporary shoring or bracing requirements.
• If the designer identifies limits or the need for shoring, the employer must follow those requirements before placing loads.

All protruding reinforcing steel onto and into which employees could fall must be guarded to eliminate the hazard of impalement. See Reinforcing steel in 1926.701(b) and the general 1926.701.

• Common guarding measures include installing steel rebar caps, wooden covers, or other physical barriers that prevent contact with the exposed ends.
• Guards should be secure and visible; temporary guards should remain in place until permanent protection is installed.

Only employees who are essential to the post-tensioning operations may be positioned behind the jack during tensioning. See 1926.701(c)(1) and the general 1926.701.

• Nonessential workers must stay clear of the jack area during tensioning to reduce the risk of injury from equipment failure or flying parts.
• Employers should define who is "essential" and limit access accordingly through supervision and controls.

Signs and barriers must be erected to limit employee access to the post-tensioning area during tensioning operations. See 1926.701(c)(2) and the general 1926.701.

• Use clear signage and physical barriers (fencing, cones, barricade tape, or temporary guardrails) to prevent unauthorized entry.
• Combine barriers with trained attendants or lockout/tagout-style controls where appropriate to enforce the restricted area.

No — employees are not permitted to ride concrete buckets. See 1926.701(d) and the general 1926.701.

• Riding buckets is explicitly prohibited because buckets can shift, tip, or drop, creating a serious fall and crushing hazard.
• Employers should use designated man-lifts or other approved personnel-hoisting equipment if workers must be elevated.

No — employees are not permitted to work under concrete buckets while the buckets are being elevated or lowered into position. See 1926.701(e)(1) and the general 1926.701.

• Keep all workers clear of the vertical path of a bucket during hoisting operations to prevent injury from falling buckets or spilled concrete.
• Supervisors should enforce exclusion zones and use spotters or signals to ensure no one enters the hazard area.

To the extent practical, elevated concrete buckets must be routed so that no employee, or the fewest number of employees, are exposed to hazards associated with falling concrete buckets. See 1926.701(e)(2) and the general 1926.701.

• Plan lift paths before operations begin to avoid routing buckets over work areas, walkways, or occupied zones when possible.
• When routing over personnel cannot be avoided, schedule lifts when areas are clear, use exclusion zones, and minimize the number of people exposed.

Employees applying a cement, sand, and water mixture through a pneumatic hose must wear protective head and face equipment. See 1926.701(f) and consult OSHA's interpretation on employer PPE hazard assessment at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-03-28 for guidance on how employers should evaluate and select PPE.

• Protective head equipment may include hard hats; face protection may include full-face shields or facepieces that prevent impact and splatter exposure.
• Employers should pair this 1926.701(f) requirement with a job-specific hazard assessment to select appropriate types and fit of head and face protection.

An employer must prevent employees from being under suspended concrete loads by following the prohibitions and routing requirements in 1926.701 — specifically, prohibit riding buckets, forbid working under buckets while they are being moved, and route buckets to minimize exposure. See the general 1926.701, 1926.701(d), and 1926.701(e).

• Establish and enforce exclusion zones under hoisted loads.
• Plan lift paths to avoid work areas and reduce the number of exposed workers as required in 1926.701(e)(2).
• Train workers on hazards and safe work practices for concrete placing operations.

No — 1926.701(c)(1) permits only employees essential to post-tensioning operations to be behind the jack; non-essential employees must not be permitted there. See 1926.701(c)(1) and the general 1926.701.

• "Essential" should be limited to personnel whose presence is required for safe operation (for example, the operator and a signal person).
• Employers should enforce the restriction with barriers, signage, and supervision as described in 1926.701(c)(2).

Acceptable methods to guard protruding reinforcing steel include installing protective rebar caps, using substantial wooden or metal covers, or erecting barriers to prevent falls onto the exposed ends; the guarding must eliminate the impalement hazard. See 1926.701(b) and the general 1926.701.

• Rebar caps should be snug-fitting, durable, and designed for impact to prevent displacement.
• When covers or caps are impractical, provide guardrails or other fall-prevention systems so workers cannot fall onto the protruding steel.

Supervisors should ensure that employees are not under buckets while they are being lifted or lowered, that lift paths are planned to minimize exposure, and that exclusion zones and signals are used to keep workers clear of hazards. See 1926.701(e)(1), 1926.701(e)(2), and the general 1926.701.

• Use spotters, trained signal persons, or lift coordinators to control movement.
• Establish and enforce exclusion zones; communicate lift routes and timing to affected crews.
• If a route must cross work areas, schedule lifts when areas are cleared or use physical barriers to separate workers from the path.

Yes — an employer must assess the workplace for hazards and select appropriate PPE before assigning head and face protection for pneumatic hose operations; OSHA's interpretation explains the employer duty to perform a hazard assessment and document it when PPE is required. See 1926.701(f) and OSHA's PPE hazard assessment interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-03-28.

• The hazard assessment should identify the head/face hazards (impact, splatter, particulate) and specify the appropriate type of protection (hard hat, face shield, full-face respirator, etc.).
• If PPE is required, the employer must maintain a written certification of the hazard assessment per OSHA guidance cited in the interpretation.