Construction Solutions - Masonry, Cement & Plaster - Laying or setting brick, block, stone, tile or marble



Hazard Analysis


	Work Activity:	Masonry, Cement & Plaster
	Task:	Laying or setting brick, block, stone, tile or marble
	Hazard:	Skin contact with chemicals

Problem:

Cement contains hexavalent chromium, which causes allergic dermatitis. Cement Masons who work with tile often handle strips that are treated with with epoxy resins for decorative or strengthening purposes and use epoxy adhesives to bond tiles to the substrate. Epoxy resins also cause dermatitis: they are used as bonding agents in waterproofing, and in grout. Prolonged contact with wet cement will cause skin irritation and burns. Other masonry materials are irritating to the skin, and increase the likelihood of developing an allergy.

Risk Description:

Dermatitis and other skin disorders.

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The skin is the single largest organ. It covers 20 square feet of surface. The skin's purpose is to protect the body from outside substances, chemicals, and bacteria. The skin has two layers. Together both are less than 1/8-inch thick. The epidermis (outer layer) is only 1/250th of an inch thick. The dermis is only 1/50th to 3/25ths of an inch thick.

Workers who are exposed to portland cement and portland cement containing products can get occupational skin disease. The occupational skin disease can include irritation, irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis and caustic burns.

Worksite materials can cause skin problems. Some materials ‘insult’ and injure skin. Some pass through it into the bloodstream. Examples of these materials are:

Portland cement

alkaline

hygroscopic

Sensitizers in workplace materials may cause an allergic response. The reaction may be local or widespread. Sensitization is an immune response. The immune system fights a foreign substance. Usually, the material causes no change on first contact. Once a person is sensitized, small amounts can trigger a strong reaction. Many people cannot tolerate further exposure.

Possible sensitizers used by construction workers include: hexavalent chromium (Cr₆₊ ) in cement, chemical admixtures in concrete, epoxies, additives in rubber gloves, and other trace metals in cement products.

Hexavalent chromium (Cr₆₊) is a sensitizer. It is an important cause of allergic contact dermatitis. Cement’s alkalinity increases skin absorption of this soluble chromate. Some studies show that Cr6+ penetrates the skin and enters the bloodstream.

Epoxy resins also cause allergic contact dermatitis. Finished resin systems are used in masonry for concrete bonding, waterproof coating, as tile adhesives and in grouts.

Worksite cleaners too often are caustic and abrasive. They also may contain sensitizers like lanolin, limonene, or perfume and irritants like alcohol.

Worksite conditions can determine whether a worksite material will cause skin problems.

How long does the material contact the skin?
How often does a worker use the material?
Is there mechanical trauma or abrasion of the skin (a break in the barrier)?
Is the material trapped or occluded to the skin with gloves, creams, lotions, petroleum jelly, or barrier creams?
Are there adequate hygiene facilities?

Environmental factors can cause skin problems directly or they can work with other factors to increase skin problems:

Heat causes sweating. Sweat dissolves chemicals and brings them into closer contact with the skin. Heat increases blood flow at the skin surface and increases absorption of materials into and through the skin.
Cold dries the skin and causes microscopic cracks. Cold changes blood flow at the skin surface and leads to loss of feeling.
Humidity increases sweating. High humidity keeps sweat from evaporating. Extremely low humidity can dry skin as sweat evaporates.
Sun burns and damages skin. Sun can increase absorption of chemicals. Sun reacts with some chemicals to cause photosensitization.

Individual factors can affect work-related skin problems. These include:

pre-existing dermatitis
genetic predisposition
knowledge
attitude
personal behavior/workpractices

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Level of Risk:

Exposures are of such a magnitude and character that a significant number of workers risk developing serious long or short term health effects.

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Assessment Info:

Important tools you can use to measure the risk for dermatitis include:

Observations and reports of work/personal practices
Symptoms checklist
pH tests of surface skin

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Here are some tools you can use to measure the risk for dermatitis, and find ways to reduce the risk. You might also think of other tools.

Observations and reports of work/personal practices
Symptoms checklist
pH tests of surface skin

Consider comparing your group of workers with themselves before and after beginning a program to reduce dermatitis (see solutions). Use written checklists. Watch your employees work and take reports from them of what they do to are compare a group before and after. Which best practices are the employees currently doing? Which are they failing to do? Keep a written record of observations. Have employees complete a symptoms checklist of the skin problems they currently have, with no names attached. Ask them to do a pH test of surface skin. Once you have a baseline record, then begin the effort to reduce skin problems. Take the same measurements periodically to assess progress. The results can help you adjust the efforts.

Best Practices Checklist

___ 1. Wash with clean running water and pH-neutral soap.

___ 2. Wear correct gloves.

___ 3. Wash before putting on gloves.

___ 4. Wash again whenever gloves are removed.

___ 5. Use disposable gloves or clean reusable gloves daily.

___ 6. Remove gloves properly.

___ 7. Wear glove liners.

___ 8. No jewelry at work.

___ 9. Long sleeves buttoned or taped inside gloves.

___ 10. Rubber boots with pants taped inside for concrete work.

___ 11. Never let cement remain on skin or clothes.

___ 12. Avoid barrier creams

___ 13. Avoid skin softening products at work.

___ 14. Change out of work clothes before leaving jobsite.

___ 15. See a doctor for any persistent skin problem

Symptoms Checklist

___ 1.

Check if you had at least one skin problem during the last 12 months

___ 2.

Check if you currently have the skin problem.

___ 3.

If you have a skin problem, check all the words that apply

___ redness

___ burning

___ blisters

___ fissures

___ oozing

___ bumps/papules

___ scaling or peeling or dead skin

___ other (describe):

___ stinging

___ pain

___ itching

___ bleeding

___ rash

SURFACE SKIN pH TESTING

Palm	pH ___	Palm	pH ___
Between Fingers	pH ___	Between Fingers	pH ___
Back of Hand	pH ___	Back of Hand	pH ___
Date	______	Date	_____

pH indicator papers make it easy to get reasonably accurate measurement of pH on skin surfaces, car interior surfaces, and other places. To test skin or dry surfaces, moisten the indicator in distilled water. Then apply it to the test surface. To test a liquid, dip the indicator in the liquid. Full range indicator papers (pH 1 to 14) work best for cement.

Normal skin is pH 4.5 to 5.5, meaning it is moderately acidic. Contact with wet cement changes skin pH to alkaline. At alkaline pH, skin barrier repair is slowed, damage is prolonged, and skin problems are worsened. Testing skin pH will help determine if the worker or workers are at risk for contact dermatitis.

References

An Employer's Guide to Skin Protection

NIOSH Skin Page

Working with Epoxy Resins in Construction

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Solutions:

For Designers

For Manufacturers

For Contractors

Protecting Your Skin from Chemicals
Easy-Hold Glove for Mud Pans
Good Work Practices for Working with Cement
Worker Rotation

For Workers

Protecting Your Skin from Chemicals
Good Work Practices for Working with Cement
Worker Rotation

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