Engineering Information Program (Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute)

Safety should never be taken for granted... Adhering to fundamental formwork practices will assure safe, quality, and economical formwork for the job.

Some safety practices to start a checklist:
    • Total commitment to safety awareness.
    • Plan safety into every project.
    • Establish and enforce a formal written policy on safety that involves everyone and includes training.
    • Use, skilled, experienced and trained workers.
    • Follow manufacturers recommendations.
    • Provide and plan for the "unexpected."
    • Monitor all construction operations.
    • Monitor pour rate and sequence for compliance to specifications.
    • Check surface of foundation where formwork rests.
    • Check for required bracing.
    • Monitor and check shoring and reshoring.
    • Vibrate properly.
    • Remove formwork in accordance with standard practices.
    • Check and monitor concrete strength.
    • Inspect formwork for damage before, during, and after use.

CONCLUSIONS

Safety should never be taken for granted. There have been many words written about safety in the past and there will be more written in the future. Some of the better articles about formwork safety are listed at the end of this report. They should be standard reading for all concrete construction people.
Additional sources of information are forming organizations, trade associations, and formwork suppliers. All of these have a wealth of knowledge that they are anxious to share with the industry.

This report is not a comprehensive thesis about formwork safety, but does point out critical items and practices that need attention. Keeping informed and knowledgeable about standard practices will help keep the workplace safe. Vince Lombardi won five championships by stressing the fundamentals of blocking and tackling. Adhering to fundamental formwork practices in concrete construction will assure safe, quality, and economical formwork for the job.

RECOMMENDED READING

    1. Sommers, Paul H., "Better Construction Practices For Greater Formwork Safety," Concrete International, May 1982, pp 31-39.
    2. "General Objectives in Formwork Building," Formwork For Concrete, 5th Edition, American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI.
    3. "OSHA Revises Concrete Construction Safety Rules," Concrete Construction, December 1988, pp 1079-1090.
    4. "Guide to Formwork for Concrete (AC1 347- 94)," AC1 Manual of Concrete Practice 1997, American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI, 1997.
    5. Grecco, Nicholas A., "Formwork," Concrete Industry Bulletin, Concrete Industry Board, New York, NY, Summer 1990, pp 20-23.
    6. Stivaros, Pericles C. and Halvorsen, Grant T.,"Shoring/Reshoring Operations for Multistory Buildings," AC1 Structural Journal, V 87, No. 5, September-October 1990, pp 589-596.
    7. Hanna, Awad S. and Sanvido,Victor E., "Interactive Vertical Formwork Selection System," Concrete International, April 1990, pp 26-32.
    8. Feld, Jacob, "Concrete Formwork Failures," AC1 Journal Proceedings V 72, No. 7, July 1975, pp 351-355.
    9. Hurd, M. K., "Formwork Safety Goes Beyond Codes & Standards," Concrete International; April, 1985.

ENGINEERING INFORMATION PROGRAM-JUNE 1997

Engineering Information Program

Published semi-annually
-U.S. and Canada $25
all others $50 per year.

Published by:
Concrete Reinforcing
Steel Institute
933 N. Plum Grove Road
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Phone: 847.517.1200
Fax: 847.517.1206
E-mail: info@crsi.org
www.crsi.org

Engineering Information Program - June 1997 - Formwork Safety - Page 4