The itching, the rash, the blisters—work-related skin problems, while usually not life threatening, cause significant discomfort—and lost workdays—for thousands of workers each year. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that skin problems account for 10 to 15 percent of work-related diseases. Of these, some 25 percent or more are related to work with portland cement or concrete containing portland cement. Also, according to the Center for Construction Research and Training, lost workdays for skin problems in masonry trades in the United States are 2.5 times the national average, and concrete workers report lost workdays at a rate that is seven times the average. Because OSHA estimates that nearly one million workers each year are exposed to portland cement hazards, it recently issued a guidance document, Preventing Skin Problems from Working with portland cement, to address what it sees as a significant workplace hazard.

What Is Portland Cement?

Portland cement is a construction material that is made by heating clay and limestone in a kiln and then pulverizing the resulting baked material. It is a basic component of concrete, stucco, mortar, plaster, grout, and terrazzo. The primary constituents of portland cement are calcium silicates. It is also made up of calcium sulfate; magnesium oxide; aluminum, potassium, and iron compounds; and trace amounts of hexavalent chromium (a skin toxin). When mixed with water, portland cement becomes highly alkaline (caustic), with a pH of between 12 and 13. Portland cement is also hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture—including moisture from skin. Its caustic nature, hygroscopic and abrasive qualities, and the presence of hexavalent chromium combine to make Portland cement a major skin irritant.

As mentioned earlier, portland cement is a construction material. As such, workers who are at highest risk of exposure to wet portland cement include bricklayers, carpenters, cement masons, concrete finishers, construction laborers, plasterers, tile setters, and ready-mixed concrete truck drivers. Exposure to wet portland cement can cause caustic burns and either allergic (from hexavalent chromium) or nonallergic (from the caustic, abrasive, and drying properties of the cement) dermatitis, which is characterized by itching, redness, swelling, blisters, and scaling.

Skin problems related to wet portland cement can be avoided by using proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and practicing good hygiene.

Use Proper PPE

Employees who work with wet portland cement should wear waterproof boots that come up high enough on the legs so that cement cannot get into the boots. They should also wear well-fitting gloves made of waterproof material such as butyl rubber or nitrile. Cotton or leather gloves should not be worn because liquid can penetrate them. Long sleeve shirts with the sleeves duct taped to the gloves are also recommended to prevent exposure to the arms. Eye protection should be worn, especially during mixing, to protect from splashes. Workers should use waterproof knee pads or dry knee boards when kneeling on wet cement.

Whenever cement powder gets into boots or gloves, they should be cleaned; and if they can't be cleaned, they should discarded because perspiration can make the powder wet—and, thus, caustic. Barrier creams should not be used in place of gloves because they do not adequately protect against the hazards of portland cement.

Practice Good Hygiene

After working with portland cement, workers should wash hands, forearms, and other potentially exposed skin areas with a slightly acidic (pH of less than 7) or neutral (pH of 7) soap. Over-the-counter liquid soaps—such as Gojo, pHisoderm, Softsoap, Noxema, Cetaphil, Dove, Ivory, etc. —tend to be closer to neutral than the majority of bar soaps. Check with a pharmacist or obtain the manufacturer's material safety data sheet to determine a soap's pH.

If wet portland cement gets on skin, an acidic wash (such as a dilute vinegar solution or buffering solution) can be used to neutralize the caustics in the cement and prevent burns. Do not use abrasive or citrus cleansers or alcohol-based hand sanitizing gels to wash. Also refrain from using lanolin, petroleum jelly, or other skin softening products—they can seal cement residue into the skin and can also make the skin more susceptible to the absorption of contaminants. In addition, do not use these products in an attempt to treat caustic cement burns. Contact a healthcare professional on how to properly treat a caustic burn or dermatitis caused by portland cement.

Workers who have cement dust on their clothing should remove it before leaving the jobsite. Also, if a member of a worker's household has especially sensitive skin, it is a good idea to launder the work clothes separately.

Portland cement-related dermatitis and caustic burns are more than simply irritating consequences of the job. In addition to causing uncomfortable skin problems for workers, they can cause unnecessary disfigurement, lost workdays, medical costs, and even skin problems for other household members. Using proper PPE and hygiene practices can help to reduce or eliminate these problems.