T01072_Con_Safety_COVER 9/10/08 5:27 PM Page 1 2008 Edition CONSTRUCTION SAFETY ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO 21 Voyager Court South, Etobicoke, Ontario M9W 5M7 Canada (416) 674-2726 • 1-800-781-2726 • Fax (416) 674-8866 [email protected] www.csao.org T01072_Con_Safety_TEXT 9/10/08 4:36 PM Page i FORMWORK Health and Safety Construction Safety Association of Ontario 21 Voyager Court South, Etobicoke, Ontario M9W 5M7 Canada (416) 674-2726 1-800-781-2726 Fax: (416) 674-8866 [email protected] www.csao.org T01072_Con_Safety_TEXT 9/10/08 4:36 PM Page ii Developed by trade labour-management health and safety committees, this manual is fully a document of accord between labour and management authorities. In the past, members of the public have used printed information that was outdated by subsequent improvements in knowledge and technology. We therefore make the following statement for their protection in the future. The information presented here is, to the best of our knowledge, current at time of printing and is intended for general application. This publication is not a definitive guide to government regulations or to practices and procedures wholly applicable under every circumstance. The appropriate regulations and statutes should be consulted. Although the Construction Safety Association of Ontario cannot guarantee the accuracy of, nor assume liability for, the information presented here, we are pleased to answer individual requests for counselling and advice. Labour-Management The Construction Safety Association of Ontario (CSAO) thanks the members of the Labour- Management Health and Safety Committees who contributed their knowledge, experience, and time in preparing this manual. In particular, CSAO thanks the members of the Carpenters Trade Labour- Management Health and Safety Committee and the High-Rise Forming Sector Labour-Management Health and Safety Committee for their work to develop this manual. © Construction Safety Association of Ontario, 2007 Revised, September 2008 ISBN-13: 978-1-894761-06-2 T01072_Con_Safety_TEXT 9/10/08 4:36 PM Page iii CONTENTS SITE PREPARATION . 1 1. The work area: excavation . 2 2. Safety of site and safe access . 4 ■ Ramps for vehicles and equipment entering and exiting open excavations . 4 ■ Worker entry and exit . 4 ■ Guardrails . 5 ■ Hoarding and site preparation . 5 3. Water control . 6 ■ Risks relating to standing water . 6 ■ Drainage/pumping water . 6 ■ Control and diversion of water . 6 ■ Electrical hazards . 7 4. Confined spaces . 8 ■ Recognizing potential hazards . 8 ■ Requirements . 9 MATERIAL HANDLING . 11 1. Storage of formwork panels . 12 ■ Safe storage methods . 12 ■ Distance to overhead powerlines . 12 2. Mechanical lifting devices . 14 ■ Types of lifting devices . 14 ■ Precautions . 14 ■ Training requirements . 14 3. Manual material handling . 15 ■ Lifting techniques and back care . 15 ■ Hazards . 15 www.csao.org CONSTRUCTION SAFETY ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO iii T01072_Con_Safety_TEXT 9/10/08 4:36 PM Page iv ASSEMBLY . 17 1. Health hazards related to formwork assembly/preparation . 18 ■ Sawdust: respiratory hazards . 18 ■ Form oil: respiratory and other health hazards . 18 ■ Prevention . 19 ■ Physical hazards associated with reinforcing steel . 19 2. Constructing forms . 20 ■ Slab, wall, and column forms . 20 ❍ Flying forms . 20 ❍ Built-in-place suspended slab forming . 22 ❍ Gang forms . 23 ❍ Prefabricated panel formwork . 24 ❍ Knock-down forming . 24 ❍ Bridge construction: cast-in-place segmental, span-by-span/stepping formwork . 25 ❍ One-sided forms . 25 ■ Typical materials used for formwork . 25 ■ Requirements for material strength . 27 ■ Types of ties and fasteners . 27 ■ Requirements for engineering . 30 ■ Attachment points on formwork . 31 3. Oiling formwork . 33 ■ Timing of application . 33 ■ Slipping hazard awareness . 33 ■ Fire hazard . 33 ■ Health and environmental hazards . 33 ■ Methods of application . 33 4. Sleeves, bulkheads, block-outs, bucks . 35 ■ Physical hazards . 35 ■ Materials . 35 ■ Cautions regarding placement . ..