Tips For Cutting Concrete Safely
MegasawConcrete Sawing, Uncategorized

Important Tips For Cutting Concrete Safely

Are you planning to cut concrete with a concrete saw? Are you aware of the safety measures when cutting concrete? Please continue reading for some important safety information.

If you are involved in any type of construction work in Australia, you know the importance of concrete in the industry.

With over $20-billion worth of construction work being done every month, the industry has never been as busy as it is today.

Due to the work overload in the industry, there is a high demand to do as much as you can as fast as possible.

This means a lot of short cuts are taken when cutting concrete. If the short cut is unsafe, you may experience disastrous consequences in the process.

That’s why you need to follow safety tips when cutting concrete including the following:

  • Follow The Local Standards
  • Check The Concrete Saw For Safety
  • Wear Safety Gear
  • Check The Blade
  • Keep The Air Clean

Follow The Local Standards

Local safety standards may change constantly. You should be aware of the latest safety standards in your locality.

You can’t expect the workers to abide by the safety standards in the area if they are not aware of the rules.

You should always check with the local authorities for the latest updates to the safety standards for concrete cutting.

If there any updates, make sure to inform all workers of the latest updates. This is important so you aren’t exposed to fines for not abiding by the safety standards in the construction industry.

Check The Concrete Saw For Safety

Make sure the concrete saw is in good condition before you decide to use it. A dull or damaged saw can injure your workers. The power cord and water pump of the saw should also be in good order.

Don’t forget to double-check the water tank before anyone uses the saw. Check the handle and guards for any signs of wear or damage.

If you find any signs of damage or wear, make sure to keep the saw away from workers and have these replaced immediately.

Wear Safety Gear

Every construction worker should have the right safety gear and equipment to protect themselves from injuries.

This is one of the most important things to do to when running a safe construction workplace.

Ensuring the protection of your workers is part of your job as a contractor, site manager or supervisor.

Long pants, protective garments, and safety boots are some of the most important safety gear you need to protect yourself when engaged in concrete cutting.

Don’t forget to wear eye goggles to protect your eyes from sharp objects when cutting concrete.

Concrete cutting involves a lot of water. Boots with weak treads are not the best for construction workers as this may cause the worker to slip and fall.

Masks and face shields are important for people who are working in the cutting area. Ear protection equipment is also important because concrete cutting involves a lot of noise.

Check The Blade

Concrete saws use diamond blades. The blade should be the right size depending on the concrete saw you use and should be sharp enough to cut the concrete.

Diamond blades come in different sizes and shapes for various purposes. If the blade vibrates too much when you switch on the machine, stop the machine and inspect the blade.

This is important to guarantee the safety of the workers on your construction site.

Keep The Air Clean

Make sure all workers have the necessary respiratory equipment in place when cutting concrete blocks.

Although water will flow over the diamond blade to reduce concrete dust, eliminating all the dust isn’t totally possible.

Where possible, you should encourage wet cuts to keep the air clean and reduce the concrete dust.

If you are looking for a specialist concrete cutting company who uses only the best practices to get the job done right, then please call us at Megasaw on 1300 920 419 or contact us through our website. 

Safety Precautions When Cutting Concrete Indoors
MegasawConcrete Sawing

Safety Precautions When Cutting Concrete Indoors

Sawing concrete is hazardous no matter what method is used. Training, supervision and safety precautions are therefore crucial when cutting concrete indoors.

Some of the hazards that are associated with concrete cutting and need to be taken into account include:

  • Inhaling silica dust
  • Exhaust fumes that are toxic
  • Kickback, pull-back or pull-in from working with equipment that exerts great force
  • Working in confined spaces
  • Structural collapses
  • Noise pollution
  • Equipment malfunctions, damage and fractures
  • Hazards associated with working in a construction environment

Standard safety precautions outlined by the OSHA Code of Practice to lower the risk of any of these hazards occurring include:

1. Safety Gear

All persons working in concrete cutting and drilling are required to wear and use personal protective clothing and equipment. The standard safety gear should include the following:

  • Safety helmet or hardhat
  • Protective footwear
  • Safety goggles and/or a face shield
  • Respiratory protection to protect against dust and/or exhaust fumes
  • Safety gloves to protect the hands and improve grip
  • Earplugs or earmuffs to protect hearing

In addition, workers must be required to tie back long hair and beards as well as to avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing and remove all jewellery.

Safety gear should meet with the required OSHA safety standards.

2. Equipment Handling And Storage

Equipment should be handled according to the manufacturer’s instructions and not be used in any way that it is not intended.

Manufacturers are required to provide detailed instruction manuals for the handling and use of concrete cutting equipment.

Any person using the equipment should receive adequate training and practise with the equipment – especially before handling the equipment in an indoor environment.

Equipment should be stored according to manufacturer’s instructions and locked away out of harms way when not in use.

Saw blades should be removed and the equipment detached from a power supply before storage.

Equipment should be checked for damage or any problems that could affect the operation or be hazardous when it is removed from storage.

3. Identifying Hazards And Assessing And Controlling Risks

Identifying any hazards that may exist before concrete cutting begins can help reduce or eliminate the risks.

There are 27 hazards that have been identified and included in the Code of Practice for masonry and concrete cutting.

However, other risks, especially those that are associated with indoor masonry cutting, should also be taken into account.

Once a hazard has been identified, it is necessary to determine the risk of injury or safety that it poses. Measures should then be taken to control the risk.

Eliminating the risk or hazards entirely is preferable to reducing the risk that a specific hazard poses.

4. Implementing Safety Procedures

Safety procedures should be developed and enforced that put in place control measures to eliminate risks and hazards.

These procedures should be reviewed and updated regularly at regular health and safety meetings.

The outcome of these meetings should be communicated to every person involved in a project involving masonry or concrete cutting.

Detailed records should be kept of maintenance and repairs to equipment. Any hazards that have been identified as well as the measures that have been taken to control the risks should be recorded.

A record of injuries that were sustained and how they were caused also needs to be recorded.

It is also critical to select a person who is ultimately responsible for developing and implementing safety procedures as well as ensuring that adequate training is provided for the use of equipment.

It is important to note that this is just an outline of the hazards, risks and safety precautions that should be taken when cutting concrete indoors.

As we can see, there are many things to consider when choosing a reputable and experienced concrete cutting service.

If you are looking for a specialist concrete cutting company who uses only the best practices to get the job done right, then please call us at Megasaw on 1300 920 419 or contact us through our website. 

8 Step Cutting Breaking Removing Concrete
MegasawConcrete Removal

8 Steps For Cutting, Breaking And Removing Concrete!

Do you have a concrete cutting or removal project? Did you know that concrete cutting, breaking, and removal isn’t as easy as you may think? Please read below for more information.

Breaking and removing street pavement to give way to a new concrete pavement is usually done by big-time contractors with the right technology and equipment.

However, if you have a minor domestic concrete cutting project such as repairing water or drain leaks in your yard, you need to know how to deal with such a situation.

Even if you decide to hire a professional concrete cutting service for such a minor project, you should still know about the basic steps for cutting, breaking, and removing concrete.

Here are 8 steps for cutting, breaking, and removing concrete in your home or garden.

  • Prepare The Site
  • Have The Right Tools
  • Use Safety Equipment
  • Lay Out The Area
  • Cut The Concrete
  • Break The Concrete
  • Remove The Concrete
  • Complete The Work

Prepare The Site

The specific site should be cleared of all clutter before cutting concrete. Try your best to clear as much dust and debris from the site.

The passage should be clear enough so that you can easily remove the broken concrete by following the appropriate safety procedures.

Have The Right Tools

Make sure you have the right tools when you plan to cut concrete in your home or yard.

You should have an electric concrete cutter with a diamond blade, a large pry bar, a sledgehammer, a shovel, a bolt cutter to cut the wire mesh, a jackhammer, and a demolition saw for rebars.

Use Safety Equipment

Concrete cutting is a dirty job that can affect your respiratory health. You should have the right safety equipment ready for such a project.

Here is some of the safety equipment you need – Goggles, thick gloves, chalk for line marking, ear protective gear, dust mask, work boots, and thick clothes to protect you from tiny fragments of concrete may fly around at different directions.

Lay Out The Area

Use a straight-edge piece of wood and coloured chalk to mark the area you’re cutting. The line marks should be wide enough so that you can clearly see them, even from a distance.

Cut The Concrete

Set up the concrete saw to cut at a 50mm blade depth over the guideline.

When you start the cutting of concrete, don’t forget to spray the surface area around the blade with water to prevent the concrete dust from becoming airborne.

This will also prevent the concrete cutting blade from being overheated. However, you need to ensure that water is not sprayed on the electric saw.

Once you complete the line cut, you can adjust the blade in the cutting saw to 100mm and repeat the steps.

Break The Concrete

Once the cutting is done, position the jackhammer to break the concrete slabs. The weight and movement of the jackhammer will be enough to break the concrete.

Make sure you remove the first few broken pieces of concrete to make room for the next pieces to fall off.

If the concrete pieces are supported by wire mesh, you may have to use the bolt cutter to cut the mesh.

Remove The Concrete

You need thick gloves to manually load the broken concrete pieces into sacks that are easy to carry. Use the shovel to scoop the tiny fragments of concrete into the sack.

Make sure you follow all the safety procedures when removing concrete from the site.

Complete The Work

If you are still not satisfied with the depth of the cutting once you initially clear the area, you may use the jackhammer to level the area. Repeat the process until you are satisfied with the results.

If you are looking for a specialist concrete cutting company who uses only the best practices to get the job done right, then please call us at Megasaw on 1300 920 419 or contact us through our website. 

Concrete Cutting Safety Measures
MegasawConcrete Cutting

Essential Safety Measures Taken During Concrete Cutting

Are you practising the correct safety measures when cutting concrete? Concrete cutting can be dangerous so please read below for some safety tips when you’re cutting concrete.

With over $20-billion worth of construction work performed in Australia every month, the demand for concrete cutting has never been stronger than it is today.

Concrete cutting can be harmful to your health when the proper safety measures are not followed. There are many safety measures that you need to take when cutting concrete blocks.

Here are some of the most essential safety measures you should take during concrete cutting.

  • Update to local standards
  • Communicate with your team
  • Personal protection equipment
  • Keep the air clean
  • Check the concrete saw and blade

Update To Local Standards

Local safety standards in Australia are constantly being updated.

You should be aware of the latest safety standards in your locality to provide a safe environment for the concrete workers on your team.

You can’t expect the workers to follow the safety standards in your locality when you are not up to date with the latest regulations yourself.

Check with the local authorities about the latest rules and regulations you need to follow when operating a concrete cutting facility in the area.

If you don’t do this, you may unwittingly get fined for not following the proper safety regulations.

Communicate With Your Team

Communication is crucial to the success of your concrete cutting operation.

You and your team of concrete cutters should be up to date with the latest regulations in the area when performing such an operation.

It doesn’t matter what the size of the job is or whether you’re using a ring saw or other types of saws for the job, you should sit together with your team and explain all the risks of concrete cutting and how these risks can be minimised.

When your team knows how to operate safely, they will follow the proper rules and regulations and be safe at all times.

Proper training is important when it comes to safety issues. You should make sure all the workers in your team are properly trained on the safety measures when cutting concrete.

Personal Protection Equipment

All workers of your concrete cutting project should wear the right personal protection equipment. They should be well protected as part of their job.

You should be protected from head to toe when engaged in a risky vocation like concrete cutting. Sturdy boots and garments are important to protect your body, feet, and arms.

Even if concrete cutting saws have water flowing from the blade to keep the dust away, gloves and goggles will protect your hands and eyes during the cutting process,

You should also avoid using boots with worn-out treads because they can result in slips and falls.

Anyone in the vicinity should also be protected with face shields because chips and shards can be thrown out from the concrete cutting site.

Concrete cutting involves a lot of noise so ear protection equipment is also important to prevent noise pollution.

Keep The Air Clean

Water will be flowing over the blade of the concrete saw to reduce concrete dust. However, some concrete dust and smoke are inevitable when cutting concrete blocks.

Make sure everyone has respiratory equipment to protect themselves from the concrete dust. You need to manage dust to promote lung health and safety.

A wet cut can reduce the amount of dust from the cutting process but if you are using the dry cut method, you should ensure anyone in the vicinity wears masks and respiratory devices to protect themselves from the concrete dust.

Check The Concrete Saw And Blade

Check the concrete saw and blade for safety any time you are working with such tools, especially hand saws. A dull or damaged saw shouldn’t be used for cutting concrete.

Check the power cord and water pump before starting the work.

Use a sharp diamond blade that is the appropriate size for the job to also minimise any further accidents or unnecessary waste of power or equipment.

If you are looking for a specialist concrete cutting company who uses only the best practices to get the job done right, then please call us at Megasaw on 1300 920 419 or contact us through our website.