Safety First: Tips for Working with Wet Cement Mixtures

Though many people in the construction industry work with cement day in and day out, it is surprisingly not well-known that cement can actually be harmful to work with and can cause painful burns if it comes into contact with the skin.

Known as either a ‘cement burn’ or ‘concrete burn’, this is a type of chemical burn that occurs when the chemicals in cement (notably quicklime) react to water molecules and sweat in your skin. Due to these chemicals being highly alkaline, the resulting reaction can break down your skin tissue and cause the burn, which becomes worse the longer the cement stays in contact with your skin.

Thankfully, there are some precautionary measures you can take to avoid the chances of being hurt by cement. Read on to see our top safety tips.

Wear Appropriate Clothing and PPE

High boots and gloves are essential when working with cement, including full length trousers and tops that can be tucked into these so that no skin is exposed. Special alkali-resistant boots and gloves are especially recommended, since these will protect your hands and feet (which are most likely to get cement on them) by resisting the caustic chemicals in the cement.

Safety goggles and a face mask are also recommended, with these offering extra protection from concrete dust. The chemicals in this dust could not only irritate the eyes, but if inhaled can cause nose and throat irritation as well as chronic bronchitis and occupational asthma with prolonged exposure over time.

Have a Washing Station Available

Though it may sound out of place to have a washing station at a building site, considering that it’s a given that you’ll get a bit mucky throughout the day, this is imperative when working with cement. Should you get cement on your skin, it should be washed off immediately to avoid prolonged contact that can cause the burn to develop and worsen.

This is also useful should any cement or concrete dust irritate your eyes, since it will allow you to rinse them out with clean water.

Washing stations should consist of clean water, clean towels and non-alkaline soap.

Use the Proper Tools

As we’ve mentioned, concrete isn’t only harmful when it’s in a wet cement mixture, but when it has hardened concrete dust can also present a health risk. As such, it is important to use the proper tools when working with concrete.

Any cutting or drilling tools should be exhaust-ventilated, which means they will remove the dust as you are working with them, reducing the amount of respirable dust in the air.

Ready Mix Concrete Delivery

Now that you know how to work with wet concrete and cement mixtures safely, you can go ahead and use it for your domestic or commercial project. If you’re in need of high-quality ready mix cement, then look no further than us here at Forth Valley Concrete.

We supply premium concrete mixes for both DIY and commercial use. Our mixes are always manufactured to an exceptional quality, though additional additives are available depending on your requirements.



Get in touch with us today for more information.