BLD/General/TBT-BLD-023
Bricklaying and Blockwork Safety
Building & Structural Works › General › Bricklaying and Blockwork Safety
Toolbox Talk
Bricklaying and Blockwork Safety
Bricklaying and blockwork are fundamental building trades but present significant manual handling, dust, chemical, and working at height hazards. Repetitive lifting of blocks and bricks causes musculoskeletal injuries, cement contact causes dermatitis and burns, cutting blocks generates respirable silica dust, and wall construction at height requires scaffold access. Applying correct techniques and using the controls available reduces the risk of both acute injuries and long-term occupational health conditions.
Key Hazards
Musculoskeletal injuries from repetitive lifting of heavy blocks and bricks
Cement burns and occupational dermatitis from prolonged wet mortar contact
Respirable silica dust from cutting concrete blocks and engineering bricks
Falls from scaffold platforms during wall construction above ground level
Control Measures
- Use mechanical aids such as block grabs and pallet trucks to reduce manual handling of materials.
- Wear waterproof gloves to prevent direct skin contact with wet mortar and cement products.
- Use water suppression or on-tool extraction when cutting blocks and bricks on site.
- Work from a properly inspected scaffold with full edge protection for all work above ground level.
- Rotate tasks between team members to reduce repetitive strain from sustained bricklaying postures.
- Apply barrier cream to hands and forearms before starting work as additional skin protection.
- Wash wet mortar off skin immediately and do not wait until the break or end of the shift.
- Store blocks and bricks at working height on scaffold platforms to minimise bending and lifting.
- Report any skin irritation, back pain, or breathing difficulty to your supervisor and occupational health.
Remember
- Bricklayers and blocklayers suffer some of the highest rates of musculoskeletal injury in construction.
- Wet cement causes chemical burns and dermatitis — waterproof gloves must be worn at all times.
- Cutting concrete blocks generates cancer-causing silica dust requiring water suppression and RPE.
- Materials should be stored at working height to reduce bending and lifting throughout the shift.
- Scaffold platforms must have full edge protection and be inspected before use for wall construction.
- Report skin and breathing problems early because cement-related conditions worsen with continued exposure.
Applicable Legislation: Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 · COSHH Regulations 2002 · Work at Height Regulations 2005 · CDM Regulations 2015
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