Workplace Burns | Preventing Chemical Burns with PPE

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• Concrete mix components
• Effects of wet concrete on skin
• Long-term skin exposure to wet concrete
• Types of workplace burns
• Treating chemical burns
• How to prevent concrete chemical burns

Concrete is one of the world’s oldest and most-used building products. You see concrete everywhere from the foundation in your home to the bridges you drive over daily. Many people refer to concrete as cement, but that is not quite correct. Cement is a powdered component where concrete is the hardened, finished product.

For concrete to solidify to that incredibly strong and permanent substance, concrete actually cures through a chemical reaction. It is this chemical process that presents a danger for exposed concrete workers; the components involved can cause severe chemical burns.

At Construction Fasteners & Tools, we care about our customers. That’s why we want to help you put your safety first and understand the potential health risks when dealing with concrete. Fortunately, concrete is relatively safe, provided you understand its basic properties and take proper precautions to prevent chemical burns with PPE, or personal protective equipment.

The Concrete Chemical Curing Process

To understand the dangers of workplace burns from concrete or cement chemicals, it is necessary for you to know what concrete is and why it presents a health and safety hazard. Wet concrete is caustic and is a leading cause of workplace chemical burns. Preventing burns in the workplace is straightforward. You can easily achieve this as long as you and other workers understand the concrete curing process and what chemicals are at work.

Although wet concrete does dry out while turning from a malleable, semi-liquid mixture to a rock-hard state, what occurs is that water is absorbed by a chemical reaction occurring between compounds in the mix. This chemical process is called hydration. Major compounds in the dry cement powder bond with water molecules and form a hydrated product, commonly called concrete.

Some water does evaporate, but this is something that concrete placers attempt to avoid. Evaporating or dehydration reduces the amount of water you need to create and maintain the chemical reaction and slows or even stops the process before the desired hardness is achieved. Dehydrated concrete is weak, crumbly and may fail under structural loads.

Five Main Concrete Mix Components

Concrete mixes can be highly complex when needed for certain applications. In fact, concrete mixing can be a high science that takes years to learn. No matter what use or strength a specialized concrete mix is designed for though, nearly all concrete mixtures are composed of five main components:

• Portland Cement Powder: This is a generic term and applies no matter what the brand name of the cement powder is. Portland cement is a carefully measured dry blend of silica, calcium compounds, alumina and iron oxide which is cooked in a kiln.
• Lime: Lime is an alkaline substance made from crushed limestone. Lime is high on the pH, or potential for hydrogen, scale and this is what causes wet concrete to be highly corrosive and dangerous to human skin. Lime is a crucial component that works to ignite the chemical process when Portland cement and lime are exposed to water.
• Water: Water is the catalyst that starts the concrete curing process. Concrete is very temperature-sensitive, meaning that the water you add needs to be a certain water temperature to ensure the mix won’t freeze if too cold or flash if too hot. Both freezing and flashing are detrimental to success.
• Aggregates: All concrete mixtures need a filler so that the chemical bonding of water, lime and Portland cement have some bulk or mass. Pure lime and Portland cement will cure with water, but the finished product has little substance. It will be weak and flaky. Common concrete aggregates are gravel, crushed stone and sand.
• Admixtures: These are additional components placed in the concrete mixture for a specific purpose. Fiber mesh is an admixture that gives concrete added strength. Calcium is often used to heat concrete mixtures on cold days. On the other hand, retardants are added to slow reactions in hot weather. Plasticizers are another good example of concrete admixtures. They give finished concrete a smooth and glossy look.

Once the specific measures of Portland cement powder, lime, water, aggregates and admixtures are thoroughly mixed, calcium oxide reacts with water to produce highly alkaline calcium hydroxide. Within minutes, the concrete mix pH level increases drastically. This creates a corrosive and caustic material that is chemically toxic to your exposed skin, eyes, mouth and throat.

What Happens When Wet Concrete Touches Skin

When high-pH wet concrete touches your skin, it can cause serious damage. The ongoing chemical process is looking for all the moisture it can get. When curing concrete touches your face, hands, feet or eyes, it will microscopically draw moisture from your body. This slowly creates skin damage. Many people who suffer chemical burns from wet concrete are not even aware of this damage until long-term damage is done. That is why it is so important to wash wet concrete off immediately when it comes into contact with any part of your unprotected body.

Your skin pH is generally around 5.5, which is neutral on the acid-alkaline scale. Wet concrete pH spikes to 12 or even higher, depending on the chemical mixture ratio, which is a much stronger base (alkaline). It is this massive pH difference that causes wet concrete to chemically burn your skin when the two come in contact. The longer the contact between your skin and the fresh concrete the deeper and more serious your burn will be.

When planning chemical burn prevention in the workplace, you need to be aware of three specific hazards in wet concrete. Risk of injury to you and your workers depends on the amount of skin exposed and the duration of exposure as well as individual tolerance. Here are three substances to know about and what their main side effects are:

• Alkaline Components: Primarily this is calcium oxide that is the main chemical structure in lime. It is highly-corrosive to human tissue like your skin and especially your eyes.
• Crystalline Silica: This is a basic component found in trace amounts within aggregates and is a glassy substance originally produced by high heat in volcanic eruptions. Crystalline silica is abrasive to your skin when wet. When dry or in powder form, it is very damaging to your lungs and respiratory system.
• Chromium: Trace amounts of the heavy metal chromium are present in all wet concrete mixtures. Even though chromium is only present in small amounts, it is highly active. Many workers suffer immediate allergic reactions to the chromium in wet concrete. Some people’s long-term exposure reactions are so severe that they cannot tolerate working with concrete.

Long-Term Skin Exposure to Wet Concrete

You may be thinking that you have worked around concrete for years and never had a bad reaction or any type of burn from having wet concrete splash or splatter on your skin. If that’s true, then you probably did not have the wet mix against your skin for any length of time. You probably also never had wet concrete get in your eyes, which is exceptionally dangerous.

There are many variables to consider about chemical burn safety in your workplace. Some of the main factors that determine the severity of wet concrete chemical burns are:

• Your Personal Skin pH Level and Individual Tolerance: Some people are naturally more resistant to wet concrete touching their skin. Others are highly sensitive to the point of having severe allergic reactions.
• Amount of Wet Concrete Touching Your Skin: It goes without saying that the more wet concrete contacting your exposed body, the higher your risk of suffering a chemical burn. Your best protection is to limit exposure by completely covering as much of your person as possible when working with wet concrete. This includes using PPE like gloves.
• Length of Time Wet Concrete Stays on Your Skin: If wet concrete is washed off immediately after touching your skin, there is far less chance of suffering a chemical burn. No exact timeframe denotes how long you have before the wet concrete on your skin becomes dangerous, but it’s safe to say that exposure of five minutes or more puts you in at high risk for damage.
• Age of the Wet Concrete: Concrete mixes in their early-cure stage are much more aggressive than a mix that is nearly cured. For example, you’re less at risk when contacting mature mixes than ones fresh from the truck or pumper. Early setting concrete is actively hydrating and will immediately draw moisture from your skin, where older concrete pours have a slow hydration rate.

Types of Burns

There are three main types of workplace burn injuries. All have different causes and contributing factors. All three can cause serious and permanently disabling damage to workers.

• Thermal burns: These are caused by direct heat application. This can be from an open flame touching your skin or from standing too close to a high heat source.
• Electrical burns: These are from being exposed to high-energy electric current. In simple terms, these burns are from electrocution. The severity of electrical burns comes from the amount of voltage multiplied by amperage.
• Chemical burns: This type of burn come from exposure to caustic or corrosive materials. Wet concrete is a perfect example of a substance that can cause chemical burns.

Drilling deeper into burn classifications, there are three different categories of burns. These categories apply to chemical burns as well as thermal and electrical.

• First-degree burns: These affect your outer skin layer. They can usually be treated with on-site cleaning and light first aid attention.
• Second-degree burns: These types of burns involve your middle skin layer. They are painful and usually require secondary medical attention.
• Third-degree burns: These types of burns are more serious; they destroy your outer skin and attack your deep layer. These burns often require hospitalization and a much longer recovery period.

Treating Concrete or Cement Chemical Burns

Clean and cool water is your best line of defense when treating a concrete chemical burn. It is extremely important to wash off wet concrete as soon as possible. If you wait until you are experiencing pain, redness or blistering, then the damage has been done and flushing the burn no longer works.

Make sure you also strip off any contaminated clothing. Wet concrete that has saturated fabrics will sit against your skin and add to your danger. This includes any garment that directly holds setting concrete. Wet gloves are particularly notorious for amplifying concrete chemical burns if they are not made of the proper resistant material.

Neutralizing the alkaline reaction is important. It’s vitally important to reduce the high pH back to a neutral level as soon as possible. One of the best and simplest treatments is household vinegar. It’s acidic and safe to use on your skin and will quickly return your pH to a proper balance.

Preventing Wet Concrete Chemical Burns

The best way for you to prevent wet concrete chemical burns is to avoid coming into contact with it at all. Unfortunately, that’s difficult to do if you’re like the thousands of construction workers who pour wet concrete to earn a living. Even if you are a homeowner who only handles wet concrete for your weekend projects, you are just as susceptible to chemical burns if you are accidentally splashed or spattered with active concrete.

You can help prevent wet concrete exposure by using your proper PPE or personal protective equipment. You need to cover up as much exposed skin as possible. You also need to know what the right type of PPE is and how to wear it properly. Lastly, you need to properly clean this equipment and store it when not in use.

The best pieces of PPE to use when you are working around concrete are not expensive or complicated. PPE for concrete workers is readily available and should be in every concrete worker's workplace inventory. This includes basic items like:

• Coveralls: Safety overalls and disposable coveralls are the front line defenders for skin protection against excessive concrete. Proper coveralls should cover your entire torso, neck, legs and have long sleeves. Many concrete workers duct tape their wrists and ankles to prevent wet concrete from creeping into these gaps.
• Eye Protection: Everyone who works with wet concrete should have proper eye protection. Eye contact is extremely dangerous, but can easily be avoided with any type of safety glasses, goggles or even full face shields. Glasses can also be impact-resistant and incorporate side shields.
• Gloves: Hand protection is vital when placing wet concrete. Not just any type of glove is suitable, though. You should invest in gloves designed for chemical protection like nitrile coatings or gauntlets made of latex rubber.
• Hardhats: You need head protection from more than just bumps and drops. A properly fitted hard hat will save your scalp. Wet concrete caught in your hair is tough to get out without stopping your job.
• Footwear: Concrete workers who stand directly in wet placements like slabs or walks must be protected by proper rubber boots. Regular leather work boots are porous and will let wet concrete seep through and compromise your feet. Safety rubber boots designed to work in wet concrete are excellent, inexpensive insurance.
• Respirators: Wet concrete can also pose a hazard to your respiratory health if you breathe it in. Full respirators are mandatory when handling dry concrete powder or when cutting already formed concrete materials. For everyday protection, simple dust masks are often a good choice.

Partnering with a Personal Protective Equipment Supplies

Chemical burn protection in the workplace is easy to achieve when you have the right knowledge of how concrete hydration works and what happens when you are exposed to wet concrete. Immediate washing is the main treatment, but the best treatment of all is to prevent wet concrete from burning you in the first place.

That’s why it’s important to partner with a safety supplier who handles all types of PPE, including products designed for concrete work. Construction Fasteners & Tools is your one-stop shop for all your PPE needs. We are passionate about helping you with contractor-approved safety products as well as a vast assortment of fasteners and tools.

We have easy online ordering process and can fill your request the same day you order it. For orders over $200, we’ll give you free shipping. That’s part of our commitment to outstanding customer service. Browse through our extensive inventory of safety supplies today.