Checklist for safe

construction of formwork
BY PAUL H. SOMMERS
CHIEF ENGINEER
ALGERNON BLAIR INC.

Those who do not learn from the mistakes of the past

are condemned to repeat them. The 1981 World of Con -
crete seminar, “Lessons from Formwork Fa i l u re s ,” will
deal not only with catastrophic collapses, but with the
costly, more numerous breakouts, bulges and misalign -
ments that are also serious failures in the forming process.
Here a seasoned contractor shares his checklist for safe
formwork—just one of many avenues to improved con -
crete construction.
afety in formwork is twofold: safe working con-
S
ditions for the workmen, plus adequate design
and construction to ensure safety of the struc-
t u re. To accomplish this re q u i res planning
ahead to establish construction methods, rates of pour
and work sequence. It re q u i res proper design of the
formwork and execution of the construction in accor-
dance with the design. It requires prudent judgment in
the loading of the forms and placement of the con-
c re t e. It requires knowledge of formwork and under-
standing of safe form removal and reshoring practices.
When these requirements are met, a safe structure can
be built.
FORMWORK WORKING DRAWINGS
The formwork drawing is an important step to safety.
By preparing adequate working drawings, the contractor
can foresee problems, eliminate hazards on paper, and
make corrections with an eraser, not a wrecking bar. The
working drawings give the carpenter in the field a clear
picture of what is required and how to achieve it. The fol-
lowing checklist indicates necessary information on safe
limits of form design and sufficient detail to eliminate
onsite improvising.
❏ 4. Planned pour sequence and schedule
❏ 5cluding
. Complete formwork details and dimensions, in-
pouring pocket and cleanout details
❏ 6ta. ilCo nstruction, control, and expansion joint de-
s
❏ with
7. The complete plan for shoring and reshoring,
bracing and other details
❏ the
8. Maximum shore loadings for the mudsills, and
assumed soil bearing values used in sill design
❏ 9or. Enregsihnoering,
er/architect approval of plan for shoring
wherever required by codes or
specifications
OVERALL SAFETY
All too often the safety of the workplace has been
overlooked. It was because of this indifference to safety
on the part of many companies that the federal Occu-
pational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) came into being.
While enforcement is necessary, voluntary compliance
is preferred. Listed below are some minimum require-
ments particularly applicable to formwork jobs.
❏ ed
1. Safe working areas and safe passageways provid-
to and from the work areas—this means: safe
working scaffolds, ladders, runways, ramps and
crossings
❏ 2.t0 Continuous good housekeeping maintained
keep the work areas and passages safe

❏ f1.ormTypes and strengths of materials to be used in the ❏ openings

3. All exposed perimeter edges and all floor
guarded
work

❏ 2. Construction loads for which the formwork is de ❏ for adequacy without crowding
4. Amount of work space for each worker checke

signed, including permissible concentrated form

loads, if any ❏ fomen,
5. Safety training provided for foremen and sub
and safety orientation for unskilled workers
❏ 3. Limits on rate of pour and concrete temperature or new employees
❏ p6.loyees
Safety practices of skilled workers or longtime em- ❏ 5.andAlllength
wall ties checked for proper strength, spacing
reexamined

❏ 7.woProvisions made to keep new or unskilled ❏ 6.with

Resistance provided against uplift for top forms
sloping faces
rkmen away from potential danger spots

❏ 8.forAdequate personal safety equipment provided ❏ 7.staWales checked for proper spacing, with joints
ggered from one tier to the next
all workers

❏ 9rechecked
.Safe power tools provided, and safety features ❏ tinuous
8. In double-member wales, one member left con-
as part of routine maintenance across form ties at splices

❏ lets
10. Safe temporary electrical power cables and out ❏ 9.ousAdequate lap provided between forms and previ-
construction, and any connecting hardware
installed in accordance with OSHA and local
requirements carefully secured

❏ 11. Fo rm w o rk rigging inserts or connections ❏ 10.

ing
Rate of pour not to exceed that shown on work-
drawings
checked to be sure they are correctly installed, and
rigging periodically reexamined for wear and correct
positioning
❏ 11. Experienced form watchers at work during the
concrete placement

❏ 12. All loose hanging forms removed during strip-

❏ 12. Care in vibrating when penetrating an earlier lift
ping operations
SUPPORTED FORMS AND SHORING
❏ 13. All loose material stored on open upper floors
Construction in accordance with the working draw-
tied down or otherwise secured
ings is as imperative as it is for all other formwork. Be-
❏ 14. Exposed nails from all stripped lumber removed cause beam and slab forms carry a heavy load of con-
or bent crete on slender supports one or more stories high, they
❏ bent
15. Exposed form ties projecting into the work area are potentially unstable and vulnerable to accidents if
proper procedures are not followed. Note the heavy em-
or removed
phasis on bracing in the following list.
❏ and
16. Toward the end of the day, additional inspection
supervision of work performed, to counteract ❏ 1.beSuitability of mud sill sizes for shore loads and
carelessness due to fatigue aring value of soil; working drawings checked for
guidance
❏ 17. Watch maintained at all times for fires in form-
❏ 2.er Soil firmly compacted under mud sills and prop-
work, but especially at the close of the work day
drainage provided to prevent ponding of water in
❏ tem
18. Above all inspection to see that the forming sys- the area
is complete in all details before placing concrete
❏ b3.ilSoil, if unstable, removed and replaced with sta-
WALL FORM SAFETY ized material under the sills; mudsills not sup-
ported on frozen ground
Wall forms should be constructed in accordance with
the working drawings, with thoughtful attention given to ❏ b4.eGround level slab completed wherever possible
the points listed below. fore shoring is erected for supported slabs
❏ 1. Lateral bracing provided as shown on the draw-
❏ ous
5. Individual shores laced both ways with continu-
ings, firmly attached to the forms and to points of
support runners, and shoring system braced laterally

❏ 2.loads;
Blockouts braced to resist vertical and lateral ❏ 6.properly
bulkheads braced to resist lateral pressure
and spreading of walls
❏ 3.forms
Offsets, pilasters, edge forms and single-faced
checked to see that they are adequately tied
and braced
❏ i4.ngExterior corners of forms tied to prevent spread-
Timber shoring checked to see that it is sound,
sized, plumb and not butt spliced; hard-
wood wedges checked to see that they are tight and
safety nailed to prevent slippage from vibration
❏ s7.hProvision of patented clamps on adjustable wood
ores; clamps firmly locked into place and safety
nailed; direction of splice alternated for greater sta-
bility

❏ s8.hoFreedom from damage of tubular welded frame

ring; pins installed and fully braced
❏ f9.rame
Special bracing provided for tall tubular welded
shoring

❏ at10.points
Proper bearing provided for stringers and joists
of support

❏ 11. Ledgers or stringers either firmly attached to

shores or bridged to prevent ove rt u rning from later-
al forces

❏ i12. Deep joists laterally braced to prevent overturn-

ng
❏ 13. On sloping slab or beam forms, extra bracing
added to resist lateral forces

❏ 14. On supported forms, localized concentrated

loads prevented unless forms were specifically de-
signed for such loads

❏ 15. Columns poured at least one day ahead of slabs

for added lateral stability

❏ 16. Pour sequence schedule shown on formwork

drawings followed to prevent eccentric loadings

❏ 17. High drops from concrete buckets pre ve n t e d ,

and ponding of concrete on supported forms pro-
hibited

❏ buggies
18. Sudden starts or stops with powered concrete
avoided

❏ 19. Concrete slabs allowed adequate time to develop

strength before removal of shores or reshores (Tem-
perature and admixtures also have an important ef-
fect on strength development.)

❏ 20. Reshores fitted firmly in accordance with work-

ing drawings, but not wedged so tight as to preload
the floor

❏ tion
21. No construction loads placed on new construc-
while reshoring is in progress

Editor’s note:
The foregoing check list is part of a report developed by the
author for presentation at the recent ACI Formwork and
Shoring Conference. The complete text has been submitted
to the American Concrete Institute for publication.

PUBLICATION#C810111
Copyright © 1981, The Aberdeen Group
All rights reserved