Concrete Pump Line and Hose Whipping

Why it matters

When a concrete pump clears a blockage, the discharge hose can whip with enough force to break a neck. Hose whipping happens when compressed air meets a slug of concrete, usually at priming, blockage clearing, or the end of the pour. The worker holding the hose is standing in the strike zone. Today we cover pump line rules that keep the hose from swinging and the crew out of its arc.

Hazards

• ⚠ Hose whipping during priming, blockages, and line cleaning
• ⚠ Workers holding or standing over the discharge hose when air hits
• ⚠ Pinch points and failing clamps on the slick line
• ⚠ Boom contact with power lines
• ⚠ Concrete blowouts spraying under pressure at couplings
• ⚠ Cement burns from concrete inside gloves and boots

Controls and safe practices

• ✓ Nobody near the discharge end during priming or blockage clearing; the operator announces both, every time.
• ✓ Use a whip check or restraint at hose connections, and inspect clamps and gaskets each setup.
• ✓ Hold the hose to the side of your body, never between your legs or overhead.
• ✓ When air is used to clean the line, use a catch basket and clear the discharge zone completely.
• ✓ Boom pumps keep 20 feet from power lines; the operator and spotter both watch it.
• ✓ Full PPE for the pour crew: safety glasses, gloves, boots. Rinse concrete off skin fast.
• ✓ Only the pump operator handles blockages, per the pump manufacturer procedure.

Crew discussion questions

1. What is the signal before priming and after a blockage on our pump?
2. Where does the crew stand when air comes through the line?
3. Who checked the clamps and whip checks this morning?
4. Where are the power lines relative to the boom on this pour?

Applicable OSHA standards

29 CFR 1926.702, 29 CFR 1926.95

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