Cement burns

a continuing calamity
BY WILLIAM G. HIME

et concrete spilled over

the tops of a construction workers boots
while he was pouring a
foundation. His socks were soon
soaked through. About 45 minutes
later he felt a slight burning sensation on both ankles. He was later
admitted to a burn center for 13
days of treatment that included
skin grafts.
A homeowner suffered secondand third-degree burns to his knees
and shins while screeding a garage
slab for 1 12 hours. The burns were
caused by alkalies in bleed water
and wet concrete absorbed by his
trousers. While he was finishing the
slab he felt only a slight skin irritation caused by abrasion. His wife,
working next to him with bare
hands, was unaffected. But he was
hospitalized for 28 days and missed
another month of work.
These two stories are composites
taken from medical literature and
my own experience to illustrate the
s e ve re nature of cement burns.
Weve known about the hazard for
more than 50 years, since 1939
when two doctors wrote a medical
journal article detailing treatment of
60 people for cement burns.
In 1982, in this magazine, I wrote
of my involvement with dozens of
cement burn cases that occurred in
the 1970s. And in the past few years
some promising signs of attention
by the industry and gove rn m e n t
agencies are apparent. The National
Ready Mixed Concrete Association
makes a cautionary decal, in both
English and Spanish, for display on
ready mix trucks. The ConsumerProducts Safety division of OSHA
has addressed how to warn homeowners of the dangers of handling

not felt for hours and may not be severe for days. By the time medical
attention is sought, a third-degree
burn often has occurred (see photos). These cement burns often
cause permanent disfigurement,
continuing pain, and mental anguish. I know of two injured parties
who attempted suicide.

Preventing cement burns

Injuries caused by cement burns are
extremely painful and disfiguring.
Scars from the original injury are still
visible eight years later.

fresh concrete. Warnings are printed

in Portland Cement Association
publications. Yet even in the past
few years, Ive testified in seve ra l
more cases involving cement burns.

How burns occur

Cement burns occur when someone, usually a homeowner but
sometimes a tradesperson, comes
in direct skin contact with fresh concrete for periods ranging from 45
minutes to a few hours. Usually that
contact is through permeable clothing. The clothing holds the caustic
cement juices in contact with the
skin where they slowly penetrate
and destroy it.
Un f o rt u n a t e l y, the burn occurs
without warningpain is usually

How can we prevent further injuries? Publicity and adequate

warnings! Ready mix companies
must present frightening warnings
to their customers. May cause irritation is not adequate. Lets
say it clearly and strongly:
WARNING: Fresh concrete can
cause severe, lifetime third-degree
b u rn s. Protect skin from exposure
by use of waterproof clothing.
The warnings must be read by, or
d e l i ve red verbally to, the user. Lay
people are especially vulnerable,
but even experienced construction
people are at risk. Virtually all the
injuries I
have investigated occurred to
people who had not been warned,
had received an inadequate warning, or were warned after the fact.
Please get the word out. I would
prefer to never see another cement
burn or write another article on the
subject.
William G. Hime is a principal of
Erlin, Hime Associates, a division of
Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.,
Northbrook, Ill. He is a chemist who
has spent 40 years in the cement and
concrete industry.

PUBLICATION #C920130
Copyright 1992, The Aberdeen Group
All rights reserved