OSHA's Concrete and Masonry Construction standard, 29 CFR 1926 Subpart Q (sections 1926.700 through 1926.706), protects workers from the hazards of concrete placement, formwork and shoring failures, precast and tilt-up erection, lift-slab operations and masonry wall collapse. It covers construction loads, reinforcing steel impalement, equipment and tools, and limited access zones.
Formwork collapses and premature form stripping have caused some of the deadliest construction incidents in the United States. Everyday hazards such as protruding rebar, concrete pump line failures and cement burns injure many more workers each year.
What Does Subpart Q Cover?
Subpart Q includes:
- 1926.701: general requirements, including construction loads, reinforcing steel, post-tensioning and riding concrete buckets.
- 1926.702: requirements for equipment and tools, such as mixers, pumps, buckets, trowels and masonry saws.
- 1926.703: cast-in-place concrete, including formwork, shoring, reshoring and form removal.
- 1926.704: precast concrete and tilt-up panels.
- 1926.705: lift-slab construction.
- 1926.706: masonry construction.
Who Must Comply?
All construction employers whose employees place, finish, form, shore, erect precast elements or build masonry walls are covered. That includes general contractors, concrete and masonry subcontractors, precast erectors and pumping contractors.
Key Requirements
Construction loads
No construction loads may be placed on a concrete structure or portion of a structure unless the employer determines, based on information from a person qualified in structural design, that the structure is capable of supporting the loads.
Reinforcing steel and impalement
Under 1926.701(b), all protruding reinforcing steel onto and into which employees could fall must be guarded to eliminate the hazard of impalement. Common methods include steel-reinforced rebar caps rated for impalement, wooden troughs and bending rebar so ends are not exposed. Plastic mushroom caps intended only to prevent scratches are not adequate impalement protection.
Post-tensioning
No employees, except those essential to the operation, may be behind the jack during tensioning. Signs and barriers must be erected to limit access to the post-tensioning area.
Concrete buckets and working under loads
Employees may not ride concrete buckets. The number of employees under concrete buckets being elevated or lowered into position must be limited, and routes should keep buckets from passing over workers wherever possible.
Equipment and tools
Under 1926.702, key requirements include:
- Concrete pumping systems with pipe supports designed for 100 percent overload, and compressed air hoses with positive fail-safe joint connectors.
- Concrete buckets with hydraulic or pneumatic gates equipped with positive safety latches.
- Power trowels with a dead-man control that shuts off power when the operator removes hands from the handles.
- Concrete buggy handles that do not extend beyond the wheels.
- Masonry saws guarded with a semicircular enclosure over the blade.
- Lockout/tagout on concrete and masonry equipment during maintenance.
Formwork and shoring
Under 1926.703, formwork must be designed, fabricated, erected, supported, braced and maintained to support all vertical and lateral loads that may reasonably be anticipated. Drawings or plans for jack layout, formwork, shoring and scaffolding must be available at the jobsite. Shoring equipment must be inspected before erection, and erected shoring must be inspected immediately before, during and immediately after concrete placement. Damaged shoring may not be used.
Removing forms and shores
Forms and shores may not be removed until the employer determines the concrete has gained sufficient strength to support its weight and superimposed loads. That determination must be based on plans and specifications that stipulate conditions for removal, or on appropriate ASTM standard test methods, such as cylinder tests, that show the concrete has gained enough strength.
Precast and tilt-up
Precast concrete wall units, structural framing and tilt-up panels must be adequately supported to prevent overturning and collapse until permanent connections are complete. Lifting inserts embedded in tilt-up members must support at least two times the maximum intended load, other lifting inserts at least four times, and lifting hardware at least five times. Only employees essential to the operation may be under precast members being lifted.
Masonry limited access zones
Under 1926.706, a limited access zone must be established whenever a masonry wall is being built. The zone must be on the side of the wall that is not scaffolded, equal to the height of the wall plus four feet, and run the entire length of the wall. Only employees actively building the wall may enter. Walls over eight feet must be adequately braced until permanent supporting elements are in place.
Related Hazards
Cutting, grinding and drilling concrete and masonry generate respirable crystalline silica, which is covered by OSHA's silica standard. Wet cement can cause severe chemical burns, so gloves, boots and eye protection are needed during placement and finishing. Fall protection on decks and leading edges falls under Subpart M.
Penalties and Enforcement
OSHA frequently cites unguarded rebar, inadequate shoring and premature form removal, and formwork collapses often lead to serious and willful citations. Penalties are adjusted annually for inflation.
Common Compliance Mistakes
- Using plastic scratch caps instead of impalement-rated protection.
- Stripping forms based on schedule pressure instead of test results.
- No shoring drawings on site, or field changes without approval.
- Allowing workers to stand under concrete buckets or near pump line whip zones.
- Skipping limited access zones for masonry walls.
How to Comply: Step by Step
- Plan the work. Get formwork, shoring and bracing designs and keep drawings on site.
- Guard rebar. Cap, bend or trough all protruding rebar where workers could fall onto it.
- Inspect shoring. Check shoring before, during and after each pour and document results.
- Verify strength. Use specifications or ASTM tests before stripping forms or removing shores.
- Control equipment hazards. Inspect pumps, buckets and trowels and keep workers out of hazard zones.
- Set limited access zones. Mark zones for masonry walls and brace walls over eight feet.
- Train crews. Cover formwork, rebar, silica, cement burns and PPE.
How SMS360 Helps
SMS360's Audits & Inspections module lets superintendents run pre-pour shoring and rebar protection checklists on a phone, attach photos and assign corrective actions. The Document Library keeps formwork drawings and cylinder test results accessible on site, and Training Management tracks crew training.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are plastic rebar caps OSHA compliant?
Only caps designed and tested to prevent impalement meet the requirement. Simple plastic mushroom caps protect against scrapes, not impalement.
When can forms be removed?
Only after the employer determines the concrete is strong enough, based on plans and specifications or on ASTM test methods.
How big is a masonry limited access zone?
The height of the wall plus four feet, along the entire length of the wall, on the unscaffolded side.
How often must shoring be inspected?
Before erection, and immediately before, during and after concrete placement.
