Concrete Delivery and Discharge Safety

Concrete delivery involves heavy mixer trucks arriving, manoeuvring, and discharging wet concrete at the pour location.
A fully loaded concrete mixer truck weighs approximately 32 tonnes — a reversing truck strikes with unsurvivable force.
Banksmen must guide all concrete truck movements on site, particularly during reversing near the pour location.
Discharge chutes extend from the rear of the mixer and swing during positioning — workers must stand clear until secured.
Wet concrete is highly alkaline with a pH above 12 — it causes severe chemical burns to skin and eyes on contact.
Concrete mixer drums rotate continuously — entanglement with the drum, chutes, and moving parts causes serious injury.
Slump testing and cube sampling must be carried out safely — the sample area must be clear of truck movements.
Delivery scheduling prevents multiple trucks queuing on site, creating congestion that blocks access and emergency routes.
Wheel washing on departure prevents concrete and mud from contaminating public roads — a legal and safety requirement.
Communication between the truck driver, banksman, and the pour team must be maintained throughout every delivery.

Reversing crush	A 32-tonne mixer truck reversing on site cannot be stopped by a human body — banksman guidance prevents fatal crush injuries.
Cement burns	Wet concrete causes burns that develop slowly and may not be felt immediately — by the time pain begins, the damage is deep.
Chute swing	Discharge chutes swing with considerable force during positioning — standing in the swing path causes impact injuries.

Do

Don't

DON'T allow concrete trucks to reverse on site without banksman guidance.
DON'T stand in the swing path of discharge chutes during positioning.
DON'T handle wet concrete without waterproof gloves, boots, and eye protection.
DON'T allow multiple trucks to queue uncontrolled at the site entrance.
DON'T take concrete samples in areas where trucks are manoeuvring nearby.
DON'T approach rotating mixer drums or moving parts on the delivery vehicle.
DON'T leave concrete on your skin — wash it off immediately before burns develop.
DON'T let trucks leave site without using the wheel wash facility.
DON'T start a delivery without communication between driver, banksman, and pour team.
DON'T let drivers proceed without a briefing on the traffic management plan.

See also: Concrete Pour Safety | Delivery Vehicle Management

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