Concrete is a major part of construction worldwide. While the basis of concrete hasn’t changed much over time, innovation in the construction industry has dramatically altered the way we build and pour concrete.
Over the years, regulations have had to adapt to:
• New construction methodologies
• Updated safety rules
• The use of larger machinery
• Environmental and sustainability concerns
The cost of pouring concrete has also evolved, as men pushing wheelbarrows were replaced with machines.
One major problem in today’s concrete pouring is how and where to wash the concrete pump. Workers back in the 1930s only had to wash their hands and a wheelbarrow. Today, the costs are far more varied and often hidden:
• Fines from water runoff into drains
• Slipping hazards from concrete slurry
• Overweight skip bins with concrete wrapped in plastic
• Crane time and labour costs
Different sites and builders handle these issues differently, but many overlook the hidden costs. As a result, concrete pouring is sometimes still treated as if it were done in the 1930s, with a “she’ll be right mate” approach.
Next Steps
Over the coming posts, we will show different methods of cleaning the concrete pump used in today’s construction industry, highlighting problems identified through feedback from builders.
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