Weekly Safety Training Topic No. 2627
Impalement hazards
Impalement hazards create the potential for serious injuries on the jobsite. Rebar, concrete form pins and sharp objects are common impalement hazards.
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Mushroom style caps are often installed on rebar. However, this type of protection only protects against cut and scratch hazards. In some circumstances, the force of a fall can cause rebar to push through a plastic mushroom style cap and still impale a worker, or the worker can be impaled by the rebar and the cap together.
- The OSHA Directorate of Construction released a memo about this issue which included the following statement, “Manufacturers of the mushroom caps agree that those CAPS were designed to provide SCRATCH PROTECTION ONLY and were never intended to prevent impalement, even at grade.”
- When capping rebar, rebar caps designed to provide impalement protection, such as those containing steel reinforcement, should be used when impalement hazards a present or something with comparable strength.
Be aware that rebar and other objects on the jobsite can create impalement hazards:
- Concrete form pins that are exposed above the form.
- Utilities stubbed out vertically.
- Scrap material or stored material with sharp edges.
- Protruding nails and screws.
Additional information
OSHA Letters of interpretation:
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The information and recommendations contained in this “Weekly safety training topic” have been compiled from various sources believed to be reliable and represent the best current opinion on the subject. The Builders, a chapter of the AGC, in no way guarantees, insures or warrants the absolute correctness or sufficiency of any information contained within. The Builders expressly disclaims all liability and assumes no responsibility therewith. For more information, please call 816.55.4158.