Comparison of human safety risks between old and new concrete mixing plant

Abstract

One of, if not the most important service sector today is construction. It is constantly changing, both in terms of materials and workforce. That is why it is important to monitor it from a health and safety perspective. New materials, products and equipment are regularly introduced to the market, and it is essential not only to review them in advance, but also to monitor their continued use from a safety perspective. From the point of view of building materials, if we look only at the increased battery production and the construction of the halls required for this, reinforced concrete, of which thousands of m³ are produced every year, has an absolute advantage. The production of a simple reinforced concrete element is a very long process, from the raw material extracted to the delivery of the finished product to the construction site. In the 21st century, it has become clear to us that the future lies in robotisation and the constant introduction of electronics. The more machines, the more hazards. As in any other factory, the improvements in the plant under review are being made in parallel with the need to ensure safety at work. Newly installed and/or commissioned machines and equipment are subject to preliminary and periodic inspections and maintenance. This is no different for the concrete mixing plant of the company under investigation, which is constantly being improved and refined in order to develop the most efficient and safest production technologies. The aim of our work is to illustrate the new Italian-made concrete mixing plant installed when the existing mixer was replaced in the 1990s, and to show how this improvement and the use of modern technology have enabled the company to reduce the risks and make the plant safer from the point of view of health and safety.