For those that work in construction, working with cement is part of the daily job. This is arguably the most commonly used building material in the world as the combination of cement, water and gravel creates a strong, durable and affordable building material. It is important to be aware of the dangers of working with wet cement, though, and this post will outline the dangers and what you should be doing to stay safe.
The Dangers of Wet Cement
Wet cement may not seem like a major hazard, especially when working on a construction site, but the dangers should not be overlooked. Cement can cause serious skin problems, such as dermatitis and burns that can cause a significant amount of pain and be debilitating. Wet cement is highly alkaline in nature, which can lead to a serious burn if it is trapped against the skin. Chemical burns to the eyes are also another serious hazard. On top of this, cement powder is a respiratory irritant that could cause lung disease.
What Steps to Take to Stay Safe
So, what steps can you take to stay safe when working with cement? First, it is a good idea to see if you or anyone else has a skin condition that could be aggravated by working with cement. It is then a case of minimizing exposure to wet cement as best you can. Wearing PPE is essential for this, including gloves that can protect the hands, goggles to protect the eyes and a mask to protect against cement powder. You should avoid having any kind of skin exposed when working with wet cement. You should also wash off any cement that is on the skin as soon as possible and use skincare products that can keep the skin healthy and strong.
What to do If You Suffer an Injury
If you ever suffer a personal injury involving cement it is important to act quickly. You should remove all protective gear and jewelry and brush dry concrete off of your skin. You should then use warm water to flush the burn and do this for around 20 minutes. You should always seek medical attention after this so that the wound can be bandaged, and you can be given antibiotics to reduce the chance of an infection. If you believe that the personal injury was not your fault, you should speak to a personal injury lawyer about making a claim.
Working with cement can be hazardous and it is important for anyone that works with construction to be aware of the dangers and what you can do to prevent an injury. In addition to this, you need to know what action to take if you are somebody else suffers a concrete-related injury to mitigate the damage.