Cleaning and repair of concrete mixers are accident prone

Concrete residues remain in the concrete mixer. The plant personnel must therefore regularly clean the mixer with the lid open or even enter the mixing plant for this purpose. The mixers also have to be maintained, for example the mixing tools have to be adjusted or replaced. Again and again, serious or even fatal accidents occur during cleaning or repair. Accidents, because the equipment is started up unintentionally. "These accident events could have been easily avoided by using personal locks to secure the main switch and regularly checking the functionality of the protective devices," says Susan Liefold. The graduate geologist and supervisor heads the Mineral Raw Materials and Building Materials Division of the German Employer's Liability Insurance Association for Raw Materials and the Chemical Industry (BG RCI). This is where the new industry rule "Production of fresh concrete" was developed, which the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) has now published. It is the second of a total of three parts of the industry rule for the concrete industry. While Part 1 deals with the production of precast concrete elements and Part 3, which will be published shortly, deals with the operation of concrete pumps and truck mixers, Part 2 is relevant for all companies in the industry. "Both companies that manufacture precast concrete and companies that use concrete pumps or truck mixers need fresh concrete."

Laws and regulations made understandable

The compendium presents legal requirements, workplace and activity-related hazards, and shows practical solutions for good occupational safety. The storage and handling of starting materials are just as much a topic as the operation of mixing plants or truck mixers.

"The production of fresh concrete in the ready-mix concrete plants is a just-in-time business and requires employees to work flexible hours in terms of space and time," says Susan Liefold. To make matters worse, plant operators also have to deal with scheduling and dealing with customers, Construction sites and central scheduling. This high workload in combination with staff shortages can lead to mental stress, which in addition to health consequences also increases the risk of accidents. Here, too, there are concrete suggestions as to what measures companies should take to provide relief. There is a wide variety of internal traffic on the company premises; for example, commercial and private customers, suppliers as well as the company's own employees use the same traffic areas with vehicles. "There are wheel loaders, trucks and truck mixers on the road, and the company premises are not always spacious and clear," the expert knows. A traffic concept helps prevent accidents, she says. "Traffic routes for people and vehicles should be clearly separated, and one-way streets, parking areas, waiting and restricted zones should be designated." Other chapters deal with the work involved in repairs and the work for the laboratory.

More info

www.dguv.de