Health effectsCement can cause ill health mainly by:● skin contact;● inhalation of dust; and● manual handling.Skin contactContact with wet cement can cause both dermatitis and burns.DermatitisSkin affected by dermatitis feels itchy and sore, and looks red, scaly and cracked. Cement is capable of causing dermatitis by two mechanisms - irritancy andallergy.Irritant dermatitis is caused by the physical properties of cement that irritate the skin mechanically. The fine particles of cement, often mixed with sand or other aggregates to make mortar or concrete, can abrade the skin and cause irritation resulting in dermatitis. With treatment, irritant dermatitis will usually clear up. But if exposure continues over a longer period the condition will get worse and the individual is then more susceptible to allergic dermatitis.Allergic dermatitis is caused by sensitisation to the hexavalent chromium (chromate) present in cement.The way this works is quite distinct from that of irritancy. Sensitisers penetrate the barrier layer of the skin and cause an allergic reaction. Hexavalent chromium is known to be the most common cause of allergic dermatitis in men. Research has shown that between 5% and 10% of construction workers may be sensitised to cement and that plasterers, concreters and bricklayers are particularly at risk. Once someone has become sensitised to hexavalent chromium, any future exposure may trigger dermatitis.Some skilled tradesmen have been forced to change their trade because of this. The longer the duration of skin contact with a sensitiser, the more it will penetrate the skin, and the greater the risk of sensitisation will become. Therefore, if cement is left on the skin throughout the working day, rather than being washed off at intervals, the risk of contact sensitisation to hexavalent chromium will be increased.Both irritant and allergic dermatitis can affect a person at the same time.Cement burnsWet cement can cause burns. The principal cause is thought to be the alkalinity of the wet cement. If wet cement becomes trapped against the skin, for exampleby kneeling in it or if cement falls into a boot or glove, a serious burn or ulcer can rapidly develop. These often take months to heal, and in extreme cases will needskin grafts or can even lead to amputation. Serious chemical burns to the eyes can also be caused following a splash of cement.Inhalation of dustHigh levels of dust can be produced when cement is handled, for example when emptying or disposing of bags. In the short term, exposure to high levels of cement dust irritates the nose and throat. Scabbling or concrete cutting can also produce high levels of dust which may contain silica. Advice on the health effects of exposure to silica can be found in ConstructionManual handlingWorking with cement also poses risks such as sprains and strains, particularly to the back, arms and shoulders from lifting and carrying cement bags, mixing mortar etc. More serious damage to the back can be caused in the long term if workers are continually lifting heavy weights.Ill health prevention and health surveillanceSkin contactYou should first consider using elimination or substitution to prevent the possibility of contact with cement. Otherwise, you should apply control measures which minimise contact with the skin either directly or indirectly from contaminated surfaces in the working environment.
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