Portland Cement (wet & dry)
COSHH assessment
A COSHH assessment for portland cement (wet & dry) on a UK construction site: what it does to people, how it gets into them, the controls that stop it, the PPE for what is left, and what to do when it goes wrong. Copy it into your assessment and change what does not fit your job.
Hazards to health
Strong alkaline (pH 12-13), chemical burns, allergic contact dermatitis (chromate sensitisation), severe eye damage, irritant dermatitis. WEL 1 mg/m3 respirable, 10 mg/m3 inhalable (EH40/2005).
Routes of exposure
Skin contact, Eye contact, Inhalation
Control measures
- Use chromate-reduced cement only (CE marked).
- Pre-mixed mortars where practicable.
- Mechanical mixers with dust hoods.
- LEV at silos and bagging stations.
- Damp-down before clean-up, no dry sweeping.
- Wash facilities (warm water, pH-neutral soap) within 5m.
- Skin checks under health surveillance for repeat handlers.
PPE for what is left
- Nitrile or PVC gauntlets sealed at the cuff, Chemical splash goggles, FFP3 dust mask when mixing dry powder, Long sleeves and trousers, Knee pads when laying
Emergency procedures
- Skin: remove contaminated clothing immediately, irrigate with clean water for 20 minutes minimum, seek medical attention for any reddening or burn (cement burns can develop hours later).
- Eyes: irrigate with sterile saline or clean water for 20 minutes holding eyelids open, urgent A&E.
- Inhalation: fresh air, A&E if persistent cough or wheeze.
Questions people ask
Do I need a COSHH assessment for portland cement (wet & dry)?
If the substance is hazardous to health and your work exposes people to it, yes. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, regulation 6, require a suitable and sufficient assessment before the work starts, with the significant findings recorded if you employ five or more. The safety data sheet is an input to the assessment, not a substitute for it. Guidance, not legal advice.
What is the difference between a safety data sheet and a COSHH assessment?
The data sheet is the manufacturer describing the product in general. The assessment is you describing how your people use it on your job: how much, how often, for how long, in what ventilation, with what controls. Two firms using the same tin can have very different assessments.
What is a WEL?
A Workplace Exposure Limit, the maximum airborne concentration averaged over a reference period, set in HSE document EH40. For this substance: WEL 1 mg/m3 respirable, 10 mg/m3 inhalable (EH40/2005).
Is PPE enough?
No. COSHH puts PPE last: eliminate the substance, substitute for something less harmful, control at source with ventilation and enclosure, then organise the work to reduce exposure, and only then PPE for what is left. An assessment that jumps straight to gloves and a mask is the kind an inspector questions. Guidance, not legal advice.
How often should it be reviewed?
When the product, the method, the quantities or the people change, if there is any sign the controls are not working, and at least every year or so regardless. Health surveillance may be required where exposure could cause an identifiable disease, such as dermatitis or occupational asthma.
The COSHH assessment writes itself
Pick the substance in the SiteLynx RAMS editor and the COSHH assessment fills in with the hazards, controls and PPE, alongside the HAVS and noise assessments for the tools you chose. Signed on site on a phone. 14 days free.
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