Pump hose, buckets, and the pour

The end hose on a concrete pump is the most dangerous rope on the job. When the line plugs or air gets trapped, pressure builds and the hose can jump, whip side to side, or blast concrete and rocks. The person on the hose should hold it at waist level, keep a firm stance, and never sit on it, straddle it, or wrap it around a body part. Nobody stands at the end of the hose during startup, after a plug is cleared, or when the operator is cleaning out. Keep your eyes on the hose and listen for the operator. Pipe supports and clamps on the line must be solid, and every coupling must be closed and pinned before the pump starts.

Never try to clear a plug while the line is under pressure. The pump operator relieves pressure first, then the line is opened. Stand off to the side of any clamp being opened, not in front of it. Hand signals or a radio between the hose person and the operator must be agreed before the pour. Wear eye protection, gloves, and boots that keep concrete off your skin. Watch your footing on a deck covered in hoses, rebar, and wet concrete. The hose can drag you backward toward an edge if you lose your stance.

When we pour with a crane bucket, nobody works under the bucket while it is moving up or down. Route the bucket so it passes over the fewest people. Check that the gate has a working safety latch so it does not dump early. Never ride the bucket. Guide it with your hands only after it is low and slowed, and keep your feet clear of where it will set down. Before any boom or bucket moves, look up for power lines. When finishing near overhead lines, the bull float handle must be nonconductive or insulated. Metal handles near wires have killed finishers. If you see a line too close, stop and tell the foreman.