Job Hazard Analysis: Slab pour and finishing

A general example for this task. Your JHA should reflect your crew, equipment and site — review it with a competent person before work starts.

Steps, hazards and controls

1. 1. Pre-pour walkdown: check forms, rebar, access paths, and washout area.

   • Impalement on exposed vertical rebar.High
     • Bend down or cut off rebar ends that are not needed for the pour.
     • Cap all remaining vertical rebar with impalement-rated caps or wood troughs.
     • Foreman walks the slab and confirms every rebar end is protected before the first truck arrives.
   • Trips and falls over rebar mats, wire mesh, chairs, and form stakes.Medium
     • Lay plywood walk boards over the rebar mat for main travel paths.
     • Clear scrap, tie wire, and cords from the slab edges and access paths.
     • Wear boots with good tread and walk, do not run, on the mat.

2. 2. Position ready-mix trucks and set up the concrete pump.

   • Workers struck by backing ready-mix trucks or the pump truck.High
     • Plan one truck route and a turnaround so trucks back up as little as possible.
     • Use one assigned spotter who stays in the driver's mirror view; drivers stop if they lose sight of the spotter.
     • Check that the back-up alarm works on every truck.
     • Crew stays out of the path between the truck and the slab; wear a Class 2 hi-vis vest.
   • Pump boom or truck contacting overhead power lines.High
     • Set the pump where the boom cannot reach the lines; if not possible, have the utility de-energize or cover the lines.
     • Keep the boom and anything held at least 10 ft from lines up to 50 kV, more for higher voltage.
     • Assign a dedicated spotter to watch the boom near lines.
   • Pump outrigger sinking or tipping on soft ground or near an excavation edge.Medium
     • Set outriggers on full cribbing pads on firm, level ground.
     • Keep outriggers back from excavation edges as the pump operator directs.

3. 3. Place concrete from the chute or pump hose.

   • Pump hose whip or blowout when the line clogs or air enters.High
     • Only the assigned hose man handles the end hose; nobody stands in front of or straddles the hose.
     • Keep the end hose from kinking or folding over.
     • Clear clogs only after the pump is stopped and line pressure is released.
     • Agree on hand signals with the pump operator before the pour.
   • Wet concrete on skin or in eyes causing cement burns.Medium
     • Keep a portable eyewash and clean water at the slab.
     • Wear waterproof gloves, rubber boots with pants over the tops, and long sleeves.
     • Wash concrete off skin right away; change clothes soaked with concrete.
     • Do not kneel in wet concrete without waterproof kneepads.
   • Hands caught between the swinging chute and the truck or forms.Medium
     • Move the chute only by its handles; keep hands off hinge points.
     • Tell the driver before swinging or adding chute sections.

4. 4. Rake, screed, and consolidate with a vibrator.

   • Back and shoulder strain from raking and pulling the screed.Medium
     • Use a power or laser screed on larger slabs.
     • Place concrete close to its final spot to cut down on raking.
     • Rotate rakers and screed operators during the pour.
   • Electric shock from a damaged cord on the electric vibrator.Medium
     • Plug vibrators and cords into GFCI protection.
     • Inspect cords before use and tag out any with cuts or missing ground pins.
     • Keep cord connections out of water and wet concrete.
   • Heat stress during long pours in hot weather.Medium
     • Schedule pours for early morning in hot weather.
     • Provide cool water, shade, and rest breaks; drink a cup every 15–20 minutes.
     • Watch each other for dizziness, confusion, or heavy sweating that stops.

5. 5. Bull float, edge, and power trowel the slab.

   • Bull float or trowel handles contacting overhead power lines.High
     • Look up before adding handle sections and keep handles at least 10 ft from lines.
     • Use fiberglass handles, not aluminum, near lines.
   • Carbon monoxide from gas power trowels in enclosed or partly enclosed areas.High
     • Use electric, battery, or propane trowels with proper ventilation indoors.
     • Open doors and run fans to move exhaust outside.
     • Use a CO monitor indoors and stop work if anyone gets a headache or dizziness.
   • Contact with spinning trowel blades or loss of control of the machine.Medium
     • Check that the guard ring is in place and the kill switch works before starting.
     • Only trained operators run the trowel; keep others out of its path.
     • Shut off the engine before changing blades or leaving the machine.
   • Noise from power trowels.Medium
     • Keep trowel mufflers in good repair.
     • Wear earplugs or earmuffs while trowels are running.

6. 6. Saw cut control joints.

   • Breathing respirable crystalline silica dust from cutting concrete.High
     • Use a walk-behind or early-entry saw with continuous water feed to the blade; never dry cut.
     • Check water flow before and during cutting; stop if water stops.
     • Indoors, add ventilation; wear a respirator if the silica exposure control plan requires it.
     • Keep other workers away from the saw slurry and mist.
   • Blade contact or kickback from the concrete saw.Medium
     • Keep the blade guard in place and use the right blade for green or cured concrete.
     • Start the saw with the blade raised and keep feet clear of the cut line.
   • Noise and exhaust from gas-powered saws.Medium
     • Use electric or battery saws indoors.
     • Wear hearing protection while cutting.

7. 7. Apply curing compound, wash out tools, and clean up.

   • Skin, eye, and breathing exposure to curing compound or sealer.Medium
     • Choose a water-based curing compound when the job allows.
     • Read the SDS and label before use; spray with the wind at your back.
     • Wear chemical-resistant gloves and safety glasses while spraying.
   • Cement burns from washout water and slurry.Low
     • Wash out chutes and tools only into the lined washout area.
     • Keep waterproof gloves and boots on until cleanup is done.
   • Trips and strains from carrying screeds, hoses, and tools.Low
     • Coil cords and hoses and stack tools away from walkways.
     • Use two people for long screeds and heavy pump hose sections.