Formwork safety still in focus

Has your formwork been planned and constructed correctly? In 2020, WHS inspectors visited workplaces across the state and identified issues with the design and maintenance of the formwork, with half of the problems relating to design and maintenance. This year, inspectors are revisiting and specifically looking at jump forms.

To prepare for the inspections, make sure all your documentation is in order and readily available. This includes the project documentation, engineer certification, and formwork drawings, design information and certification for all materials used on modular systems, wall and column forms, and for maximum loads from stacked materials.

And don’t forget you will also need evidence of pre-pour inspections and documentation to support the stripping of the formwork. Design variations need to be certified by a formwork designer or engineer and you need evidence of this.

Once all your paperwork is in order, you need to ensure your formwork, stripping, back-propping, and crane and load handling systems are all consistent with the documentation, and that you have a safe system for installing the frames. Remember that all the components need to be well maintained, in good condition and have been installed correctly, and that access to and from the formwork is safe and consistent with specifications and instructions—there needs to be two forms of emergency access and egress to the formwork.

Further information

Keep your workers safe by making sure your formwork systems and structures comply with the Formwork code of practice 2016 (PDF, 1.32 MB). Queensland is the only jurisdiction with a formwork code of practice.