Abstract

Accidents related to the handling of delivery chutes on cement mixers are responsible for almost half the lost workdays suffered by the almost 1 200 cement mixer operators in Québec. As part of a joint study with the Centre de recherche industrielle du Québec (CRIQ, Québec industrial research centre) and the Béton Québec group, the IRSST studied the feasibility of various approaches to preventing this type of accident.

The principal risk factors noted included the design of the supports of the various components of the chute apparatus, position of the supports and the controls, layout of the rear of the mixer, state of the systems, and work practices. Chute weight was not found to be a significant risk factor. Hazardous operations involving movable delivery chutes included chute deployment and stowing, lateral stabilisation of the chute apparatus, connection and installation of adaptors and hoses, and hose insertion and disassembly.