Potential Hazards Associated with Concrete Core Drilling and How They Can Be Mitigated

Core drilling contractors are the go-to tradespeople when you need to drill through hard, concrete surfaces like concrete walls, floors and ceilings. These professionals know how to get the job done quickly and efficiently, but more importantly, they are well-aware of the dangers related to the job, and what needs to be done to ensure the safety of workers.

There are many inherent health and safety hazards associated with concrete core drilling. Here's a rundown of some common ones and how each can be controlled to mitigate work-related health and safety hazards:

The potential for injury caused by core drill itself.

Because it comprises moving components, the equipment used for core drilling can pose serious safety hazards to its operators as well as those working around or near the jobsite if it not properly used and/or maintained. To minimise the risk of workplace injuries, core drilling contractors only allow trained and authorised personnel to operate the equipment. These operators know what work guidelines and procedures to follow so as to ensure safe operation of the equipment. Aside from that, the contractors will make sure that all core drilling equipment is properly inspected and maintained so that they can be in good working order in times of need.

The potential for disease caused by inhalation of concrete dust.

The dust generated when concrete is being core drilled is a major health hazard. Concrete dust contains a substance known as crystalline silica, which may become airborne and result in a disease called silicosis if inhaled in large quantities. Core drilling contractors can mitigate this risk by providing their workers with personal protective equipment like respiratory masks and adopting safe working techniques like wet drilling (drilling with water). By drilling with water, drilling contractors can significantly reduce the amount of silica particles that circulate in the air. That way, workers will be less exposed to the risk of contracting respiratory illnesses like silicosis.

The potential for injury caused by projectiles.

It is not just concrete dust that becomes airborne during core drilling operations — small pieces of concrete also do so when the drill's blade comes into contact with hard concrete surfaces. Core drilling contractors often provide personal safety equipment such as safety goggles for the eyes, face shields for the face, helmets for the head, and full-length aprons for the rest of the body to minimise the potential for injury caused by these projectiles.

Now that you are aware of what a core drilling contractor can do to ensure concrete drilling jobs are performed safely, you should consider hiring one when you need a concrete drilling job done.