TRF/Site Traffic/TBT-TRF-013

Concrete Mixer Truck Safety

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Concrete Mixer Truck Safety

Toolbox Talk Record

Ref: TBT-TRF-013  |  Issue: 1  |  Date: March 2026
PresenterProject
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What?

  • Concrete mixer trucks deliver ready-mixed concrete to site and discharge through a rotating drum and chute system.
  • A fully loaded mixer truck weighs approximately 32 tonnes, creating serious ground loading and collision hazards.
  • Reversing mixer trucks have extensive blind spots — a banksman must guide all reversing movements on site.
  • Concrete chute extensions swing during discharge and can strike workers standing nearby.
  • Drivers climbing on and off the truck to adjust chutes are exposed to slip and fall hazards from wet concrete.
  • Washout water from the drum and chute is highly alkaline and must be collected in designated areas.
  • Delivery routes on site must be planned to avoid soft ground, overhead cables, and pedestrian zones.
  • Overloading site access roads with multiple mixer trucks queuing can damage the road surface.
  • Communication between the pour team and the driver is essential for safe discharge and movement.
  • Drivers must receive a site-specific briefing covering routes, discharge areas, and safety rules.

Why?

Pedestrian strikesMixer trucks reversing on site with poor rear visibility are a leading cause of fatal pedestrian collisions.
Concrete burnsWet concrete is highly alkaline — skin contact during discharge causes chemical burns if not washed off.
Ground failureA 32-tonne mixer truck on soft or poorly prepared ground can sink, overturn, or collapse surfaces.
Do Don't
  • Brief every mixer driver on site routes, discharge points, and safety rules at the gate
  • Use a trained banksman to guide all reversing mixer truck movements on site
  • Plan delivery routes on firm ground avoiding soft areas, overhead cables, and pedestrians
  • Collect all washout water in a designated containment area — never discharge to drains
  • Wear gloves and eye protection when standing near the chute during concrete discharge
  • Keep pedestrians clear of the mixer truck during all movements and discharge operations
  • Ensure the discharge area has safe standing positions away from the swinging chute
  • Confirm ground conditions can support the fully loaded truck weight before it enters site
  • Maintain communication between the pour team and driver throughout the discharge
  • Allow the driver three-point contact when climbing on and off the truck to adjust chutes
  • DON'T allow mixer trucks to reverse on site without a banksman in attendance
  • DON'T stand in the blind spot behind or beside the truck during any movement
  • DON'T touch the concrete chute or drum without gloves — wet concrete causes burns
  • DON'T discharge washout water onto the ground or into surface water drains
  • DON'T route mixer trucks over soft ground, manholes, or underground voids
  • DON'T allow drivers on site without a gate briefing on routes and rules
  • DON'T let pedestrians walk beneath the extended chute during discharge operations
  • DON'T queue multiple trucks on site access roads without traffic management
  • DON'T climb on the mixer truck to look inside the drum while it is rotating
  • DON'T rush the driver to discharge faster — the pour team controls the pace

See also: Delivery Vehicle Management | Concrete Delivery and Discharge Safety

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