Here are some concrete drilling dangers you should know about.
Working with concrete can be a dangerous job. Whether pouring, cutting, or drilling, concrete work must always be done with safety in mind. Just as on any construction site, proper preventative measures and safety procedures can help crews to avoid dangerous hazards, injury, and setbacks to their projects. There are plenty of hazards to consider when it comes to drilling concrete, from tools, to hidden hazards, and even the dust that gets kicked up into the air. Here are just 4 dangers of concrete drilling to be aware of on any concrete project.
Hidden Hazards
When working with concrete, it’s extremely important to use every tool you can to determine any buried utilities or hazards. GPR, or ground penetrating radar, is extremely valuable for this task. Using GPR to scan concrete can help engineers and crews to locate and avoid any potential dangers buried in the concrete, including rebar, electrical wires, and other types of debris trapped within the concrete.
Kickback
General construction drills just aren’t strong enough to drill through concrete. For these projects, there is specialized concrete drilling equipment will operate more efficiently and far more safely than typical construction tools. Using improper drills for concrete drilling can result in jams and dangerous kickback that can cause serious injuries to members of a construction crew. Crews that do a lot of work with concrete will typically have access to the proper equipment to make sure the job is done right and safely.
Dust
Breathing hazards are a common problem in the field of construction. Carpentry, demolition, and more can cause particles to be kicked up into the air, making it difficult to breathe or posing potential hazards to respiratory health. The same is true of concrete drilling. Dust buildup can cause choking hazards, and when it comes to concrete, crystalline silica dust can also pose a serious health hazard. Concrete drilling crews should always be outfitted with the proper masks and ventilation equipment.
Instability
Concrete is such an important material in construction because of its stability. However, while being drilled or cut, concrete structures may become suddenly unstable, posing a big potential hazard for concrete drilling crews. Determining the integrity of the structure before drilling is incredibly important for site safety.
Concrete Cutting and Coring Services from Concrete Visions
Concrete Visions has over 12 years of experience and expertise in concrete scanning and we know how to detect any problems lurking beneath the surface. We use ground penetrating radar accurately and expertly and are familiar with many other methods that can be used when appropriate like concrete x-ray and electromagnetic conductivity. We are also very familiar with the latest construction safety techniques and train all of our workers to do their work quickly, accurately, and safely. If you would like to learn more about how we can help you, give us a call at (410) 766-2210 or visit us online. For more articles and tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.