When working with Concrete Safety comes First …
If prepared correctly concrete is both long-lasting and durable, however like with any building materials there are health and safety precautions that must be adhered to at all times in order to avoid injury when working with it.
Concrete Safety – Always Wear Protective Clothing …
It goes without saying but you should always wear suitable clothing when working on any building site.
Wet concrete can be potentially hazardous if the proper precautions aren’t taken due to it’s strong alkaline properties. This means it can cause chemical burns and irritation to the skin if there is prolonged contact. In order to prevent the chances of skin irritation you should always wear long sleeves, eye protection and boots when working with concrete.
Should you get any on your skin or in your eyes, you should rinse immediately with clean water and seek medical attention if conditions get worse.
Cement burns may not be felt until some time after contact so even if you don’t get any immediate symptoms you should still take precautions.
Limit Exposure To Cement Dust …
Cement dust is a pretty toxic substance, especially if inhaled in large quantities. You should take particular care when emptying large bags of cement or when sanding/cutting concrete as this can release large clouds of dust.
In some cases you may need to wear a respirator or mask when working around cement dust in order to prevent the inhalation of silica particles which can cause severe lung problems and breathing difficulties.
It is also always advised that you don’t leave any food and drink around when working with concrete as it can easily become contaminated.
General Precautions When Working On Site …
Finally, in general there are many dangers to take into consideration when working on a construction site.
Just a few of the more common hazards are …
Don’t forgot you are likely to be working around lots of large and heavy machinery so hard hats will need to be worn at all times and on-site health and safety regulations will need to be adhered to.
If you’re using pumps and mixing trucks then adequate exclusion zones should always be provided in order to prevent accidental injury.
Another thing you should be aware of on site is the risk of straining your back when lifting heavy objects. When lifting you should always make sure you bend your legs rather than your back and if you can’t lift something on your own without straining then don’t be afraid to ask for help.
If you’re working with wet concrete you should also be aware that surfaces could be slippery so you should always take the necessary precautions to avoid accidents.
For any further advice about the do’s and don’t’s of working with concrete simply Contact Us.
