Safe Work Procedure

Safe Work Procedure · Structural Steel

Rev 1.0 · August 2026 · Canwide Steel Ltd.

This Safe Work Procedure (SWP) establishes the minimum safety requirements for the installation of reinforcing steel (rebar) in general vertical work applications — including walls, columns, piers, abutments, and similar vertical concrete structures. It applies to all Canwide Steel Ltd. employees, subcontractors, and visitors engaged in rebar placement at heights or adjacent to vertical form-work on any active construction site.

• Hard Hat
• Safety Glasses
• Cut-Resistant Gloves
• Steel-Toe Boots
• Hi-Vis Vest
• Full-Body Harness
• Shock-Absorbing Lanyard
• Hearing Protection (if required)

• Complete and review the Field Level Hazard Assessment (FLHA)
• Conduct pre-work toolbox talk / tailgate meeting
• Verify fall protection equipment is inspected and certified
• Confirm all PPE is available, serviceable, and properly fitted
• Review and understand the Fall Protection Plan for the site
• Identify all anchor points and verify
• Confirm rebar caps are installed on all exposed vertical ends
• Establish and communicate exclusion zones
• Check formwork stability with supervisor / engineer approval
• Confirm crane operator and signal person are designated
• Verify weather forecast is acceptable (wind <45 km/h at height)
• Confirm emergency response / first aid is available on site

• Inspect rebar bundles for damage, excessive rust, or contamination
• Verify rebar grade and size match structural drawings
• Inspect all slings, shackles, and lifting hardware (no damage, rated)
• Ensure rebar cutter / bender is guarded and blades are sharp
• Confirm scaffold planks / work platforms meet load requirements
• Stock adequate rebar end caps on site
• Ensure tag lines are available for all crane picks

1. Review structural drawings, fall protection plan, and FLHA with the crew before mobilising to the work area.
2. Establish barricades and/or safety tape defining the exclusion zone below and around the vertical work area.
3. Ensure safe access to the work elevation (scaffold, man-lift, wall forms with safe ladder access). Inspect access equipment before use.
4. Identify and mark all approved fall-arrest anchor points.
5. Connect personal fall arrest system before stepping onto any elevated work surface. Maintain 100% tie-off.

1. Verify rebar bundle tags against shop drawings for grade, size, and heat number prior to unloading.
2. Unload bundles using crane or forklift — never manually roll bundles off a truck. Position spreader bars to prevent rolling.
3. Stack rebar on racks or timber blocking off the ground, segregated by size and grade. Never stack higher than 1.5 m without additional lateral restraint.
4. Install rebar end caps on all cut or protruding bar ends immediately.
5. Keep access aisles clear — a minimum 600 mm (24 in) clear walkway must be maintained around all rebar storage.

1. Use only a certified rigger to prepare all crane lifts. Calculate bundle weight — do not exceed 80% of rigging rated capacity.
2. Use properly-rated wire rope slings or chain slings with sling angles of 45° or greater to the horizontal. Inspect slings before each lift for kinks, cuts, or deformation.
3. Attach tag lines to each bundle — minimum one on each end. Tag line handlers stand clear of the load path.
4. Signal person must be in clear communication with the crane operator at all times. All personnel other than the signal person must clear the exclusion zone before the pick is made.
5. Lower bundles slowly to the placement level. Do not release the crane pick until the bundle is safely landed and secured against rolling or falling.
6. Once landed, re-cap any bar ends disturbed during the lift before releasing the rigging.

1. Stay connected to your fall arrest anchor at all times.
2. Pass rebar sections through the form opening carefully, controlling the free end to prevent swinging. Call a warning ("heads up below!") before inserting any bar that may protrude below the form face.
3. Maintain rebar spacing and cover as specified on structural drawings. Use certified rebar support chairs or wire hangers — never use scrap rebar ends as spacers that could become projectiles.
4. Tie rebar intersections using approved wire ties or tying machine. Bend all wire tail ends inward toward the concrete mass — never toward the outside of the form or a walking surface.
5. Do not cut or modify rebar lengths in the field without written authorization from the engineer of record.
6. Continually inspect and re-install any dislodged rebar end caps as work progresses.

1. Use only designated, guarded rebar cutters and benders. Never cut rebar with an angle grinder without supervisor approval and face shield protection.
2. Secure the rebar firmly in the tool before cutting. Ensure the free end is controlled — post a worker to hold the free end or provide a secure rest.
3. Clear bystanders from the potential arc of flying bar ends before any cut is made.
4. Collect and remove offcuts immediately — do not allow short pieces to accumulate on walking surfaces or scaffolding.
5. Cap or clearly mark freshly cut bar ends before the piece is moved.

1. Before descending from the elevated work position, confirm all rebar is secured and no bar can roll, fall, or shift.
2. Remove all tools, wire tails, offcuts, and debris from scaffolding and form tops before leaving the elevated area.
3. Re-inspect all rebar end caps — install any missing caps before leaving the area unattended.
4. Inspect the exclusion zone below for any dropped materials. Remove prior to re-opening the area.
5. Ensure barricades remain in place if vertical rebar remains exposed and unguarded for the next day's work.
6. Complete the daily work record and note any near-misses, defects, or safety concerns in the FLHA / toolbox meeting record.

This documentation must be reviewed by all workers and signed when utilizing on site. Any additional information or hazards must be noted in the daily hazard assessment form.