OSHA has released new guidelines for employees to protect themselves from the skin problems associated with wet cement. Portland cement – concrete, mortar, plaster, grout, stucco and terrazzo – have a common trait other than their strong adhesive properties; they can be downright irritating. Employees who frequently work with these materials are at a greater risk of developing severe and chronic skin problems.
Wet Portland cement is caustic, abrasive, and can absorb the moisture in your skin and may also contain trace amounts of hexavalent chromium- a harmful toxin to the skin.
For more information on OSHA guidelines for dealing with Portland cement visit the OSHA website at http://www.osha.gov/dsg/guidance/cement-guidance.html.
