The grout hog is a delivery system that relieves the operator from lifting and supporting the weight of grout.  There is no need to manually lift or carry heavy buckets of grout repeatedly.

Bucket handling is eliminated. Because bulks of grout are handled mechanically, with either a forklift or a crane, there is no need to manually lift or carry heavy buckets of grout repeatedly. Masons will not need to lift or carry buckets, thereby reducing the risk for developing a musculoskeletal disorder of the back and shoulders.

High hand forces are eliminated. In grout hoses, a pump is used to push grout up from ground level to the mason's work height. The mason who is directing the hose must therefore exert high hand forces to hold and control the grout hose. Because grout hogs are gravity fed from a height above the mason's work area, the pumping forces are eliminated. The high hand forces required by the mason are eliminated. Grout hogs will also reduce the mason's need to lift the grout hose from the ground.

• Safety and health experts believe there is a risk reduction.

 There have not been independent published studies measuring the effect of a grout hog on reducing musculoskeletal disorders. Regardless, safety and health experts believe that masons will be less likely to develop musculoskeletal disorders if they use grout hogs instead of bucket handling on the jobsite, reducing the exposure of continuous lifting.

Some contractors prefer to use a "bucket brigade" to deliver the grout. This process is labor intensive and time consuming requiring several masons to do the job. The amount of time and energy spent during grouting will decrease production in other tasks at the worksite. 

Using a truck to pump grout is another common method used for delivering grout. However, grout pumps are prone to mechanical failure, plug easily, and are time consuming to clean-up. 

The grout delivery system (grout hog) allows grouting to be done with only two masons: one mason guides the hose to the block cell and the other maneuvers the forklift.  Also, because the grout hog hose is shorter than the hose of a grout pump, it takes less time to clean the grout hog hose.  Multiple grout hogs may be used simultaneously to increase productivity.

• Safety and health experts believe there is an increase in productivity.

Safety and health experts believe reducing the risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders may lead to increased productivity because:

1. masons can work for longer periods with fewer breaks and less fatigue
2. there may be a reduction in lost time injuries, and
3. fewer masons are needed during grouting

EZ Grout Corporation
For purchasing information visit http://www.grouthog.com/ or contact 1-888-344-7688 or by e-mail
Other distributors: http://www.packagepavement.com and http://www.admarsupply.com/

There is a new product called self-consolidating grout (SCG) which has a flowable consistency due to the addition of polycarboxilates (chemical admixtures) to the composition. SCG fills those difficult spaces of the core and prevents the presence of voids. Also, the time to place the grout is greatly reduced compared to conventional grout. The SCG is delivered to the job site with a truck.

Dan Anton, PT, PhD, ATC and Alysha Meyers, PhD – University of Iowa

• Masonry, Tile, Cement & Plaster
  • Lay or set brick, block, stone, tile, or marble
    • Stressful hand & wrist activity
  • Mix cement, mortar, plaster, or grout
    • Construction dust
    • Lifting and Carrying (Manual Materials Handling)
    • Overhead work
    • Silica
    • Stooped postures
  • Spread, level, and smooth concrete, mortar, or terrazzo mixtures
    • Stressful hand & wrist activity