Safety checklist — Concrete sawing and drilling
Sawing, coring and drilling in concrete. Compliant with Québec's Construction Safety Code (CSTC) and CNESST standards.
Before work
13 items- ✓
PPE worn: hard hat, splash-proof glasses, hearing protection, anti-vibration gloves
- ✓
Check for electrical/gas/water conduits in cutting zone (detector or plans)Critical
ℹ️ Piercing a live conduit = risk of fatal electrocution
- ✓
Blade or core bit inspected — no missing or cracked segments
- ✓
Cooling water supply functional and connected
- ✓
Work zone marked off — protect bystanders from debris
- ✓
Cutting equipment secured or anchored to support
- ✓
Respiratory protection N95/P100 if dry cutting or silica dustCritical
ℹ️ Crystalline silica OEL: 0.05 mg/m³ — CNESST zero tolerance since April 2024
- ✓
Continuous water spray on blade to suppress dust and cool
- ✓
Never force the blade — let the tool work at its own pace
- ✓
Watch for smoke or overheating — stop immediately if abnormal odor
- ✓
Cutting slurry collected — do not discharge into drains
- ✓
Maintain safe distance from rotating blade
- ✓
Check stability of cut piece before completing the cut
After work
4 items- ✓
Equipment cleaned, blade removed and stored
- ✓
Slurry and concrete debris collected and properly disposed
- ✓
Openings created protected or marked if fall hazard
- ✓
Cut edges inspected — deburr if sharp
More checklists — Heavy Work
More safety checklists
Risks and prevention — Concrete sawing and drilling
Concrete sawing and coring produce dust rich in crystalline silica, a recognized carcinogen. RSST sets a time-weighted average exposure value (TWAEV) of 0.1 mg/m³ for silica. Wet cutting and industrial HEPA vacuums are standard to reduce exposure.
Diamond blades spin at high speed, creating risks of breakage, projection, and kickback. The operator must verify blade condition, water flow, and workpiece stability before each cut. Sawing zones must be barricaded to protect bystanders.
Diamond drilling into structural slabs can compromise structural integrity if reinforcing steel is cut. GPR or X-ray scanning is recommended to locate rebar before coring.
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