Abstract

Formworking operations are relatively high-risk activities in which the main causes of accidents are collisions with or against material, falls, high-friction contacts, and excessive exertion.

This project reviews the principal formworking techniques employed in North America, identifies the advantages, disadvantages, and safety hazards associated with each technique, and proposes strategies for the development of integrated solutions adapted to production demands of construction sites. In the initial phase of the project, a literature review was performed, and the safety characteristics of each formworking technique analyzed. Emphasis was placed on those aspects of formworking which have remained largely unchanged in the face of the otherwise rapid technological evolution of this sector. The comprehensive and integrated model of safety practices presented encompasses the planning of the work and of the site, the actual execution of the construction work, the choice of materials, equipment, tools, and personnel, and workplace organization.

Practical, directly applicable solutions are presented for each formworking technique.