Cement May Contain Hazardous Substances Including

Hazardous materials in wet concrete and mortar include.

Cement may contain hazardous substances including.

Wet cement is highly alkaline in nature. Exposure to cement dust can irritate eyes nose throat and the upper respiratory system. Cement can cause ill health by skin contact eye contact or inhalation. First let s consider what is waste.

Cement can also cause chemical burns to the eyes. Manufacturers publish material safety data sheets that explain the properties dangers and safe working conditions for the potentially hazardous substances they produce. The portland cement association forecasts the u s. Risk of injury depends on duration and level of exposure and individual sensitivity.

Concrete and cement dust health hazards. A wide variety of irritating substances may be responsible including solvents detergents in cleaning agents mmmf epoxy resins isocyanates cement oils and greases. Whether you are mixing up a batch of concrete using cement in other ways or drilling into concrete materials you may be exposed to cement and concrete dust. Cement market will continue to grow in the coming years so the number of workers exposed to cement at work will remain high.

These substances can enter the unprotected body by inhalation skin absorption ingestion or through a puncture wound injection. Skin contact may result in moderate irritation to thickening cracking of skin to severe skin damage from chemical burns. The product may be pure or diluted. Waterproof rubber boots are essential in working with wet concrete.

In extreme cases these burns may need a skin graft or cause a limb to be amputated. By taking proper precautions to protect the skin though workers should be able to stay safe. Most sites contain a variety of chemical substances in gaseous liquid or solid form. A serious burn or ulcer can rapidly develop if it is trapped against the skin.

Maintenance workers with a known high. Cement may not be the most dangerous substance an employee can encounter at work but it is especially hazardous to the skin. Weaker irritants including water may result in irritant contact dermatitis eczema. It might not be possible to eliminate cement and concrete but it is possible to use cement and concrete safety by controlling.

Hazardous substances come in many forms including gases vapors fumes dusts and mists and construction jobsites have more than their fair share of these substances. Silica exposure can lead to lung injuries including silicosis and lung cancer. Cement and cement based products can harm the skin in a number of ways. Preventing exposure to toxic chemicals is a primary concern at hazardous waste sites.