Concrete Admixtures and Chemical Burns

Talking points

1. Wet concrete is highly alkaline (pH 12-13) and causes chemical burns through prolonged skin contact. Portland cement in concrete is the primary irritant.
2. Concrete admixtures — accelerators, retarders, plasticizers, and curing compounds — add additional chemical hazards. Some accelerators contain calcium chloride, which is a skin irritant.
3. Wear waterproof boots, long sleeves, and chemical-resistant gloves when placing or finishing concrete. Knee pads or kneeling boards prevent direct skin-to-concrete contact.
4. If concrete gets inside your boots or against your skin, wash the area immediately with clean water. Concrete burns develop slowly — by the time you feel pain, the damage is already deep.
5. Review the SDS for every admixture before use. Some are incompatible with certain curing compounds, and some require specific PPE beyond standard concrete work gear.

Ask the crew

Has anyone here experienced a concrete burn — what happened, and how can we prevent it today?

Standards this talk is built on

• Section 5(a)(1)

A toolbox talk is a short safety briefing. It supports the training a standard requires; it does not replace it.

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