Wet cement is highly caustic and contains sensitizing chromium. Contact with wet cement can cause serious skin conditions including allergic reaction and caustic burns. Cement masons and others who work with wet concrete may lose work time or even be unable to continue in the trade because of cement related skin disease.

Good work practices while working with cement involve:

• Selecting proper protective equipment and using it
• Wearing long sleeves and pant legs
• Promoting hand washing by having  5 to 7 gallons of running water per worker per day.
• Not using water contaminated by cement to wash
• Not washing with abrasive soaps or solvents, including alcohol wipes or limonene based cleansers (usually have a citrus odor).
• Using cleaning products that are pH neutral
• Removing gloves correctly

Wet cement is highly caustic and contains skin sensitizing chromium. Contact with wet cement can cause serious skin conditions including allergic reaction and caustic burns. Cement masons and others who work with wet concrete may loose work time or even be unable to continue in the trade because of cement related skin disease.

To protect against skin disease from wet cement

• Select proper protective equipment and require correct use
• Require the wearing of long sleeves and pant legs.
• Provide butyl or nitrile gloves (not leather or fabric) in a range of sizes. Gauntlets must be long enough to allow taping under sleeves. Suppliers include Best Gloves and Ansell-Edmont.
• Encourage glove liner use to make gloves more comfortable
• Require daily cleaning or disposal of gloves. Disposable gloves may be your best choise.
• Ensure the disposal of gloves that are grossly contaminated, damaged or which have cement on the inside.
• Protective boots should be used if there may be significant foot contact.
• Protective knee pads should be worn if the worker will be kneel on the wet cement.
• Tape sleeves and pant legs inside gloves and boots.
• Provide a change area to change from work clothes and plastic bags to transport cement covered clothing.

Promote hand washing

• 5 to 7 gallons of running water per worker per day is required for proper hygiene. Do not use cement contaminated water to wash.
• Hands should be washed before putting gloves on and anytime they are removed.
• Provide PH neutral of acidic soap
  • Soft soaps:  Aloe Vera 80, Cetaphil, Dial, Dove, Gillette Wash, Ivory, Jergens, Lever 2000, Neutragena, Noxema, pHisoderm, Softsoap
  • Bar Soaps:  Caress, Dove, Oil of Olay
• Prohibit washing with abrasive soaps or solvents, including alcohol wipes or limonene based cleansers (usually have a citrus odor).
• Discourage the used of lanolin or skin softening agents at work or the use of petroleum jolly to treat chemical burns.
• Gloves should be thoroughly rinsed if they will be reused.
• Discourage the wearing of watches or jewelry on the job. They can trap cement underneath.

Train workers to remove gloves correctly

• Rinse gloves before removing them
• Hold hands down and loosen both gloves
• Remove the first glove only to the fingers, Palm should be covered by the cuff
• Remove the second glove with the first glove. Both gloves should slip off.
• Handle gloves only by the inside.

Skin problems are the leading cause of lost time from work.  Simple measures that become good work habits can prevent significant injuries and related delays.

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