Method Statement for Concrete Pouring — UK
Free UK concrete pouring method statement template — pump set-up, formwork pressure, dermatitis controls and cold-weather concreting — aligned with BS EN 13670, NHBC and HSE guidance.
UK (RAMS) example document — Two-Storey Rear Extension — 14 Birchwood Lane, Reading. Client: Mr & Mrs A. Whitfield (Private Client). Site: 14 Birchwood Lane, Reading, RG1 5JT. Scope: Construction of a two-storey rear extension (6.4m × 4.2m) to an existing semi-detached dwelling. Works comprise breaking out of existing rear elevation, trench-fill foundations to 1.0m, traditional cavity blockwork to first floor, pre-stressed concrete lintels, timber roof structure with natural slate finish, plus alterations to existing rear wall to form structural opening with rolled steel joist (RSJ 203×102 UB23). Works programmed over 9 weeks with a peak site team of 6 operatives. Hazards assessed: Manual handling — blocks, lintels, plasterboard, Working at height — independent scaffold & roof structure, Buried services strike during excavation, Collapse of excavation / trench wall, Hand-arm vibration (HAVS) — breaking out, drilling, Silica dust — cutting blocks, brick, concrete, Vehicle/pedestrian segregation — narrow domestic street.
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- Site-specific draft
- Concrete Pouring hazards baked in
- Ready for competent-person review
Built around recognised UK method statement structure — hazards, controls, sequence, PPE and sign-off. Ready for competent-person review.
Concrete looks routine until it goes wrong: a pump-pipe burst, a formwork blow-out, a cold burn from wet concrete left against skin all shift, or a worker electrocuted by a tipping pump-truck contacting an overhead line. The trade-specific risks are mechanical (pump pressures up to 70 bar, formwork pressures rising linearly with pour rate), chemical (wet concrete is alkaline at pH 12–13 and causes severe burns within hours), and logistical (overhead lines, mixer-truck reversing, pump-truck stability). A defensible concrete pouring MS names the pump, the formwork design, the pour rate, the weather thresholds and the dermatitis controls — and never treats 'pour concrete' as a single step.
When is it required?
A written MS is required for any pour involving boom pump, ground line pump, or pours larger than 5 m³, and is standard practice on any commercial pour. BS EN 13670 (Execution of concrete structures) and the Concrete Society's TR67 are the technical references. CDM 2015 reg. 19 requires the temporary works (formwork, falsework, props) to be designed and inspected by a competent temporary works engineer; the MS must reference that design by drawing number. Pumping operations must comply with CPA Concrete Pumping Group's Best Practice Guide for the Safer Use of Static, Truck-Mounted and Trailer Mounted Concrete Pumps.
What a good one looks like
A defensible concrete-pour MS names the pump (e.g. 'Putzmeister BSF 47.16 H boom pump, 47m reach'), the set-up location (with overhead line clearance distances per HSG144), the formwork design (pressure rating in kN/m², stripping times), the maximum pour rate (typically 1–2 m/hr to limit formwork pressure), the cold/hot weather thresholds (minimum 5°C ambient or warmed mix; max 30°C without retarder), the dermatitis controls (nitrile gloves, long sleeves, wash stations within 25 m, chromium-VI-reduced cement only) and the cleaning-down sequence (the most fall-into-pump accidents happen during washout). The temporary works register entry is appended.
Concrete Pouring hazards & controls
The site-specific hazards a concrete pouring MS must address, with the controls that take residual risk to an acceptable level.
| Hazard | Persons at risk | Controls | Residual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formwork blow-out / collapse | Operatives, pump crew | Temporary works design by competent engineer; max pour rate per design; pre-pour inspection signed; constant monitoring during pour; stop-work if movement observed | Low |
| Pump-line burst (up to 70 bar) | Pump operator, pour crew | Pipe clamps inspected pre-shift; pump operator CPCS A40/41; exclusion zone at every joint; no operatives below boom; emergency stop within reach of pour team | Low |
| Concrete burns / dermatitis | All in contact with wet concrete | Nitrile gloves, long sleeves, waterproof trousers; wash stations within 25m; barrier cream; chromium-VI-reduced cement; immediate change of contaminated clothing | Low |
| Pump-truck contact with overhead lines | Pump crew, operatives | HSG144 clearance: 9m for lines on wood poles, 15m for lines on metal pylons (or LV consult); banksman; pump-truck only sited where clearance is achievable | Low |
| Mixer / pump truck reversing | Operatives, public | Banksman in continuous contact; defined traffic route; pedestrian/vehicle segregation; reverse-bleepers; CCTV reversing cameras | Low |
| Cold-weather damage / hot-weather plastic cracking | Pour quality (not personal) | Min ambient temp 5°C or warmed mix to 10°C delivery; no pour if temp forecast <3°C in next 24h without protection; retarder if temp >30°C; curing blankets/sheeting | Low |
| Falls into formwork / from edge | Pour crew, vibrator operators | Working platforms with handrails on perimeter pours; MEWP for high-level boom pours; no walking on top of formwork without 600mm boards and handrails | Low |
| Vibration (poker vibrators) - HAVS | Pour crew | Vibration exposure tracked daily; rotate operators at 400 EAV points; modern low-vibration pokers preferred; ergonomic handles | Low |
Step-by-step sequence
- 1
1. Pre-pour planning & temporary works sign-off
Formwork design issued; max pour rate calculated; falsework inspected and signed off by temporary works coordinator on the morning of the pour.
- 2
2. Pump set-up & overhead line check
Pump-truck levelled on stable ground per outrigger spread; overhead line distances checked per HSG144; banksman in position; emergency stop briefed to pour crew.
- 3
3. Pre-pour briefing
Pour team briefed on this MS, the pour sequence, the stop-pour signal, the dermatitis controls and the washout location. All operatives sign the briefing register.
- 4
4. Trial pour & first 1 m³
Mix tested on arrival (slump or flow); first 1 m³ placed slowly to verify formwork response; pour rate increased only if no movement observed.
- 5
5. Main pour
Concrete placed in defined sequence (no free-fall >1.5 m); compaction with poker vibrators in 45° lifts; constant temporary-works watch; pour rate not exceeded.
- 6
6. Finishing
Power-float / tamp as spec; curing membrane / blanket within 1 hour of strike-off in hot/cold weather.
- 7
7. Washout & clean-down
Pump and pipes washed out into a designated washout pit (concrete waste is hazardous waste — Section 5 EWC 17 01 01). All PPE rinsed before removal; full skin wash for operatives.
- 8
8. Strike & make-good
Formwork struck at the times in the spec (typically 18 h sides, 7 days for slab soffit) and propped per design. Site cleared of all spillage.
Real example — 240m³ ground-bearing slab pour, distribution unit (Birmingham)
A groundworks subbie is pouring a 240 m³ ground-bearing slab (180 mm, A393 mesh top and bottom) for a new distribution unit in Birmingham. Concrete is RC32/40 from a local plant at a sustained 60 m³/hr delivery rate. The MS names the pump (Putzmeister BSF 36 boom pump, 36 m reach, sited on a temporary stone hardstanding designed by the temporary works coordinator), the overhead line check (no overheads within 30 m, confirmed), the banksman, the mixer-truck route and turning area, and the pour sequence (saw cuts to be cut within 24–48 h, pour starts at the far gable and works back toward the access). Cold-weather plan: ambient at 6 °C overnight, mix specified as warmed delivery to 12 °C, slab covered with hessian + polythene immediately after power-float, monitored to 24 h. Dermatitis controls: nitrile gloves and long sleeves enforced, two wash stations on site, chromium-VI reduced cement only, barrier cream issued at briefing. The pour completes in 4.5 hours with one pour team and a second team on finishing. Washout to a hired washout pit on the laydown area. The MS runs to 11 pages, with the temporary-works design (formwork was unnecessary — slab only — but blinding membrane sequence is appended) and the cold-weather contingency. Accepted first submission.
Or build a site-specific concrete pouring MS in 5 minutes
The free template is a blank Word document. The Riskora builder ships with the concrete pouring hazard library baked in — pick the preset, edit the site-specific bits, download a signed PDF.
Common mistakes that get a concrete pouring MS rejected
- ·Pour rate not specified — leads to formwork blow-out the moment pressure peaks
- ·No washout pit, washing concrete to the drain (an environmental offence under Water Resources Act 1991)
- ·No overhead line check before pump-truck set-up (a frequent fatality)
- ·PPE specified but no wash stations on site — dermatitis claims follow within months
- ·Pour committed without cold-weather plan; concrete frozen, slab rejected, programme blown
- ·Temporary works sign-off absent from the day's pour pack
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a temporary works design for a slab pour with no formwork?
If there is no formwork or falsework, no — but you still need a written method statement, the substrate (blinding, sub-base) must be inspected, and any kicker formwork or edge formers need to be designed and signed off.
What's the maximum pour rate?
It depends on the formwork pressure rating, which depends on the formwork type, the temperature, the slump and the height of pour. Typical column pours: 1–3 m/hr. The MS must name the rate and the formwork design must support it.
How is concrete washout handled legally?
Wet concrete and washout water are hazardous waste under EWC code 17 01 01 and cannot be discharged to surface drains or watercourses. A designated washout pit (lined, contained) is required; the solidified waste is removed by a licensed carrier.
Is there a minimum air temperature for concreting?
BS EN 13670 recommends a minimum 5°C ambient at delivery, with the concrete temperature ≥5°C through the curing period. Below this, warm the mix or postpone.
Who is responsible for the pump-truck set-up?
The pump-truck operator (CPCS A40 or equivalent) is responsible for the pump and outriggers; the principal contractor is responsible for ground conditions and overhead clearances. Both must agree the set-up before pour.
What about silica dust from dry-cutting cured concrete?
Saw-cutting cured concrete generates high levels of respirable silica. Wet-cut only, with on-tool water suppression and FFP3 RPE as backup. Cover this in the saw-cut MS, not the pour MS.
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