Safety checklist — Formwork
Installation and removal of formwork. Based on Québec's Construction Safety Code (CSTC) and CNESST standards.
Before work
11 items- ✓
PPE worn: CSA hard hat, steel-toed boots, safety glasses, gloves
- ✓
Work zone marked off — access restricted to authorized personnel
- ✓
Panels, shores and clamping accessories inspected — no visible defects
- ✓
Formwork plan reviewed and understood
- ✓
Bearing soil stability checked — mudsills in place if required
- ✓
Guardrails within 300 mm of the void per 2.9.1Critical
ℹ️ CSTC 2.9.1: also no-height cases (liquid, moving part, dangerous equipment), 1.2 m on a vehicle, 1.5 m with a load, more than 3 m otherwise. Harness is last resort (2.9.2).
- ✓
Shores positioned plumb and locked
- ✓
Alignment and plumbness verified with level
- ✓
All clamping accessories tightened and confirmed
- ✓
No worker under the load or in the lifting zone
- ✓
Lateral bracing in place
After work
3 items- ✓
Area cleaned — nails, debris and wood offcuts picked up
- ✓
Material stacked securely and stored
- ✓
Anomalies or near-misses reported to foreman
14 verification items — use this checklist on-site with the app
Use on-site — freePDF reports, history and team management in the app
For information only — this is not legal advice. OK Sécurité is an independent company with no affiliation to the CNESST: we are not mandated, endorsed or certified by it. Completing a checklist here does not by itself establish your compliance — your exact obligations depend on your job site and your prevention program. Where there is any discrepancy, the official text published by Légis Québec or the CNESST prevails.
More checklists — Heavy Work
More safety checklists
Risks and prevention — Formwork
Formwork is one of the most hazardous activities in heavy construction. Formwork collapses are among the leading causes of serious injuries on Québec job sites. CSTC 6.4.1 requires formwork and shoring members to be calculated for the intended loads (including fresh concrete). Plans under 2.4.1 apply where that article says so.
Before every pour, check panel plumb, shore condition, tie tightness, and base stability. Shores must rest on solid, level bearing. Stripping must not occur until concrete reaches the minimum strength specified by the engineer.
During assembly or dismantling, fall protection follows CSTC 2.9: not only more than 3 m (also 1.2 m on a vehicle, 1.5 m with a load, and no-height cases). The harness is last resort (2.9.2). Access to formwork areas must be restricted during pours, and a safety perimeter must be maintained around the work zone.
Scan to access OK Sécurité
Open the app directly on your phone to complete your safety checklists on-site.
ok-securite.com