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Method statement for the installation of pre-stressed

pre-cast concrete floor slabs


Site details
Contractor: The name & contact details of the contractor.
Project name and site address: Insert relevant details.
Site manager: Name, telephone number and email address.

Transfer of information from client / contractor to flooring sub-contractor


The person responsible for the provision of craneage must be agreed.
Proximity hazards such as overhead power lines, third party air space, railway lines, etc., must
be identified by the contractor, the necessary permissions obtained and the flooring subcontractor kept informed.
The structural stability of the receiving structure must be confirmed.
Structural obstructions which will foul or hinder the safe operation of the crane or safe
placing of the floor units must be removed and eventually replaced by the contractor who is
responsible for obtaining the approval of the structural engineer.

Attendances
Prior to any work taking place on site the client / contractor shall: Provide and maintain hard access roads, hard standing for the crane (a 12m x 8m
consolidated, level hard standing, capable of carrying the outrigger loads as specified in the
Lifting Plan) and stacking area / off-loading area.

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Consider the site access from the public road onto and around the site before vehicles arrive
on site, taking into account the site traffic management plan, the designated work area for
the delivery vehicles and the storage area for materials. Clearly identify and communicate this
information to the flooring sub-contractor.
Provide and maintain perimeter scaffolding of the working area, together with handrails,
guardrails, platforms or staging required for safe access and to prevent operatives from falling.
Welfare facilities shall be made available to the flooring sub-contractor.
The provision of passive fall protection must be agreed and in place this can be achieved by
working platforms, staging, crash decks, safety nets, air bags or other soft landing systems.

Work activity
Pre-start checks: The pre-start checks must cover the following areas: Crane and lifting requirements; work at height; structural stability; ground conditions; proximity
hazards and welfare facilities.
Description of the contract: Brief description of the work to be completed may include the
number of visits that will be necessary to complete the contract.
Sequence of work and method of erection:
The units will be fixed in sequence (where possible) and placed in accordance with working
drawings (see figure 1).
Fall protection from trailers is required to mitigate a fall as personnel will be required to attach
lifters to the concrete units and then clip on the relevant chains. Air bags must be erected
around the trailer.
Where airbags are not a reasonably practical solution, a pole and zip line should be erected
to the trailer and a harness with a fixed lanyard be worn to create a work restraint system. This
will provide the person on the trailer a working area of 1.5m from the centre of the trailer and it
should not be possible to reach the unprotected edge.
A ladder will be used to gain access to the trailer. The ladder will be tied to the trailer, set at the
appropriate angle and extend 1m above the working platform.

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The slinger / banksmen will choke the chains around the floor units approximately 300mm in
from each end of each unit, with the open face of the hook facing out toward the end of the
slab. Two leg chains with a minimum safe working load (SWL) of 4.25t will be used to lift the
floor units. The floor units will be lifted horizontally. Any exception to this must be carried out in
accordance with the advice given in the Precast Flooring Federation code of practice.
If a clamp is used to lift the units instead of chains, the clamp will securely grip the sides of each
unit and lift, safety chains will be placed around the clamp and slab before lifting away from
the trailer to the building, again under the control of a trained slinger / banksman.
Where necessary, units can be moved into their final position using crowbars or a small hydraulic
jack. (Other relevant requirements should be detailed eg.whether propping will be required,
where the work will commence from etc.)
Crane details: Details to be provided of the crane type (mobile or tower crane), tonnage
rating, contract lift or plant hire, name of crane supplier, general location of the crane etc.
Communication between crane operative and banksman to be by two-way radios. Only
approved lifting equipment with a current test certificate will be used. The installation foreman will
inspect the crane documents, all lifting certificates, the thorough examination report for the crane
and the record of training for the crane driver prior to the commencement of work.
Maximum component weights and crane working radius: The maximum weight/radius for each
component type must be stated and any recommendations from the crane supplier must be
considered. The appointed person must ensure the heaviest lift is within the crane safe lifting radius.
Deliveries and site access: Floor units to be delivered to the site on articulated lorries, and directed
to designate loading areas. The contractor is to be given details of the number and size of lorries
to be used and any access requirements.
Site cutting of floor units: Pre-cast concrete units should not be cut or otherwise altered on
site without consultation with the flooring sub-contractors technical department. If cutting is
authorised then a diamond tipped petrol cut off saw will be used for cutting. When cutting is to
take place appropriate PPE (see section on PPE below) will be worn and other people nearby
made aware of any hazards associated with the cutting tasks i.e. all nearby personnel must wear
PPE including eye and ear protection in addition to dust masks (to avoid inhalation of silica dust).

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Structural stability
Stability and bearings: The contractor (or the domestic client if they are acting as contractor)
must ensure that all load bearing masonry walls are fully cured and ready to receive concrete
units. No units will be placed onto bearings that the flooring sub-contractors foreman considers to
be in an unsafe or unfit condition. External brick or blockwork courses should be either level with,
or no more that 225mm below the bearing level coursework. All non load bearing walls should
be left 225mm below the level of the bearing walls so that they will not interfere with any lifting
equipment, eg. chain slings.

Personnel
Foreman: The foreman, (name of foreman) will identify himself to the site management on arrival
at site.
Slinger / signaller (banksman) erectors: The banksman and erectors names are:
Training: All operatives will be fully trained and copies of training certificates for the following
will be available for inspection: abrasive wheels; slinger/signaller/banksmen; first aid; appointed
persons.
Appointed person: Name the appointed person who will be in control of the lifting operations and
responsible for preparing the lifting plans.
Other site operations / third parties: Where co-operation and co-ordination with other site
operations / third parties is required this must be stated.

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Health and safety management and control measures


Personal protective equipment: All operatives will wear the following: - safety helmet, high visibility
vest, gloves and safety footwear.
The following PPE must be used when cutting concrete floor units:
safety glasses/goggles; ear defenders; dust mask (PP3). Water dust suppression must be applied to
the saw. All operatives and erectors will comply with any other specific site requirements.
Site rules: All operatives and erectors will be informed (via a site induction / toolbox talk) of the
contractors site rules and expected to comply with them.
Specific site hazards: Any specific site hazards must be identified and dealt with prior to placing
operations commencing on site. e.g. provide suitable protection to up-standing steel reinforcing
starter bars or provide adequate bearing for props.
Access to the work area: The provision of safe means of access to the work area is the
responsibility of the contractor / client.
Positioning of components: The foreman must give consideration to the robustness of the bearings
to withstand the standard methods of positioning to determine the need for properly designed
temporary support to the components or additional bracing of the bearings.
Work at heights: The contractor / client must provide and maintain perimeter scaffolding of the
working area, together with handrails, guardrails, platforms or staging required for safe access and
to prevent operatives from falling.
Leading edge protection: This is provided by using a passive and collective system e.g. safety
nets / air bags etc. Air bags and associated inflation equipment to be installed by flooring subcontractor.
Air bags must be installed so as to ensure appropriate coverage of the work area. The absolute
minimum coverage should be 4.8m ahead of the leading edge and 2.4m behind or to the side
where the storey height is less than 4m.

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The system must be continually monitored during the operation to ensure the air bags are fully
inflated and work suspended immediately in situations of non-compliance.
Welfare facilities: The contractor / client must provide access to welfare facilities. The flooring subcontractor will make a first aid box available.

Amendments and additional information


Amendments to the method statement: Should any part of this method statement require
amendment or alteration, this must be notified for agreement by all relevant parties prior to it
being enforced.
Communicate method statement: Communicate to all relevant parties (via a toolbox talk) and
ensure it is signed by all personnel.
This method statement was prepared by: R. Leveller.
Date: 01/03/11.
(Note - this method statement has been developed using the site specific risk assessment, the
designers residual risk register and the Precast Flooring Federations code of practice: For the
safe erection of precast concrete flooring and associated components.)

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Method statement record:


Please sign to confirm you have read and understand this method statement.

Name:

Company:

A. banksman

Floors & Co. Ltd

31/03/11

B. Slinger

Floors & Co. Ltd

31/03/11

C. Driver

Floors & Co. Ltd

31/03/11

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Signature:

T H E

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Date:

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Figure 1: First floor slab layout

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