Cement & Concrete Training Guide
(Taken from the "Tailgate Meetings that Work : A Guide
to Effective Construction Safety Training" series) |
|
Robin Baker, Robert
Downey, Mary Ruth Gross, Charles Reiter
Labor Occupational Health Program
(LOHP) School of Public Health,
University of California, Berkeley Ca.
These tailgate/toolbox
talks were developed for use under California OSHA regulations. The
complete set is available from the Labor Occupational Health Program
at UC Berkeley. For ordering information, visit the website (www.lohp.org)
The American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)
has adapted these talks to apply to federal OSHA regulations. To contact
ACGIH, visit its web site (www.acgih.org). |
Before you begin
the meeting...
- Does this topic
relate to the work the crew is doing? If not, choose another topic.
- Has the crew
completed basic Hazard Communication training? It will help them
understand this topic.
- Did you read
this Training Guide and fill in the blanks where the
appears? (To find the information you need, look over the Safety Walkaround
Checklist for this topic.)
- Did you bring
labeled containers and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) for a few
of the adhesive and resin products used on the site?
Begin: Cement
and concrete are so common on a construction site that you probably dont
think much about them. Theyre just part of the job. But did you
know that cement and concrete dust can cause lung damage? Did you know
that you can get an allergic reaction from skin contact with cement? Without
protection, cement and concrete can be bad news.
You or a crew member may want to add a personal story about cement
or concrete hazards.
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Next discuss
with the crew where cement and concrete work will be done at this
particular job site:
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
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ASK
THE CREW THESE QUESTIONS:
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After each question,
give the crew time to suggest possible answers. Use the information
following each question to add points that no one mentions.
1. Whats
in cement that can be harmful?
- Different cements
have different ingredients. Many of them contain substances that can
be hazardous, like silica, lime, gypsum, nickel, cobalt, and chromium
compounds.
2. What illnesses
can you get if you breathe too much cement dust?
- Chronic bronchitis.
- Silicosis
from the crystalline silica (quartz) used in many cements.
- Cancer
from the small amounts of chromium compounds found in some cements.
(Scientists are still debating whether the silica in cement dust may
also cause cancer.)
3. What are the
symptoms of silicosis?
- Acute
silicosis can occur after a few weeks of very high exposure (for example,
in sandblasters). Symptoms are shortness of breath, coughing, fever,
and weight loss.
- Chronic
silicosis is rarely seen in workers with less than ten years of exposure.
It permanently damages your lungs.
- Silicosis also
increases your chance of getting tuberculosis.
4. Is it dangerous
if you get cement dust or wet cement on your skin?
- Yes. Getting
cement dust or wet cement on your skin can cause burns, rashes,
and
other kinds of skin irritation. Lime, found in most cements, is often
the cause.
- Some workers
slowly become allergic to cement if they have skin contact with
it over a
long period of time.
- Cement dust and
wet cement can also irritate your eyes.
5. How can you
find out the ingredients in the particular cement youre using?
- If you can, get
a bag and check the label. You may find a list of ingredients,
a safety warning, or both.
- Read the Material
Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for the product. MSDSs are required by
law. Theyll tell you the ingredients and possible health hazards.
Everyone working on the site has a right to see MSDSs.
- When you work
with cement you often use other chemicals tooform oils, curing
agents, bond breakers, and retardants. Remember to check their MSDSs.
|
On this job,
you can get MSDSs from-
Give the
name and location of the person to see:____________
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Let's
look at some MSDSs for cement products we use on this job.
|
Show the
crew the sample MSDSs you brought to the meeting. Explain them briefly.
_________________________________________________
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(MSDSs
are covered in more detail during basic Hazard Communication training,
which everyone on the crew should already have completed.)
6.
What about concrete? Can concrete dust also harm you?
- Yes. When concrete
is cut, drilled, or broken up, the dust has all the same hazards as
the dust from new cement. The only difference is that, since it isnt
a new product,
there will be no label or MSDS to check. So play it safe.
7. How can you
protect yourself from breathing cement and concrete dust?
- Stay out of dusty
areas if you can.
- Wet down the
work to keep dust out of the air.
- Use power tools
with HEPA filters when youre cutting or drilling concrete.
- Use a special
HEPA vacuum to clean up dust, not dry sweeping.
- Wear a respirator
with HEPA cartridges if theres a lot of dust in the air.
(Respirators are covered in more detail in a separate Training Guide.)
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On this job,
the precautions we will be taking are:___________
________________________________________________
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8. What are some
things you can do to protect your skin and eyes from cement?
- Dont get
wet or dry cement on your skin or in your eyes. If you do, immediately
wash it off with a lot of water.
- Wear goggles,
or safety glasses with side shields, to protect yourself from splashes.
- Wear boots
and other protective clothing if necessary.
- Wear gloves.
Use a type which are impermeable the cement cant get through
them. Leather or cloth work gloves wont protect you.
- The company is
required to supply the personal protective equipment (PPE) you need
and train you in its use. (PPE is covered in more detail in a separate
Training Guide.)
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On this job,
the protective equipment you'll need is:___________
_________________________________________________
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Explain: Most
of the safety measures weve talked about are required by Cal/OSHA.
We have to take these precautionsits the law. For example,
Cal/OSHA says we must make sure no one on the site is exposed to more
than 10 milligrams of cement dust per cubic meter of air, averaged
over an 8-hour shift. This is called the permissible exposure limit
(PEL) for cement dust. But there are lower limits if the dust is
very fine and easy to breathe deep into the lungs. The limit is also lower
if the dust contains toxic substances like chromium. I have a Checklist
of the Cal/OSHA regulations on cement and concrete. If youd like
to know more, see me after the meeting.
(Only if applicable.)
Besides the Cal/OSHA regulations, we have some additional company rules
to prevent back injuries.
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Discuss
company rules:_______________________________
__________________________________________________
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Ask:
Do you have any
other concerns about cement or concrete? Do you see any problems on our
job? (Let the steward answer first, if there is one.)
What about other jobs youve worked on? Have you had any experience
with
cement or concrete that might help us work safer on this job?
GENERAL
SAFETY DISCUSSION
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This is a time
to discuss all safety concerns, not just today's topic. Keep your notes
on this page before, during and after the safety meeting.
Are you aware
of any hazards from other crews? Point out any hazards other crews
are creating that this crew should know about. Tell the crew what you
intend to do about those hazards.
Do we have any
old business? Discuss past issues/problems. Report progress of
investigations and action taken.
Any new business?
Any accidents/near misses/complaints? Discuss accidents, near misses,
and complaints that have happened since the last safety meting. Also recognize
the safety contributions made by members of the crew.
Please remember,
we want to hear from you about any health and safety issues that come
up. If we don't know about problems, we can't take action to fix them.
To complete the
training session:
- Circulate Sign-Off
Form.
- Assign one
or more crew member(s) to help with next safety meeting.
- Refer action
items for follow-up. (Use the sample Hazard Report Form in the
Reference Section of this binder, or your companys own form.)
Date Prepared:_________________________ |
By:_______________________ |
Project
Name/No.______________________ |
Location:__________________ |
NAMES
OF THOSE WHO ATTENDED THIS SAFETY MEETING
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Tailgate
Meetings That Work : Collection
Published in June, 1994 by: Labor Occupational Health Program, School
of Public Health, 2515 Channing Way, University of California, Berkeley,
CA 94720. Phone: (510) 642-5507.
Permission is granted to duplicate these materials for non-profit educational
purposes, provided that copies are not offered for sale.
This paper appears in the eLCOSH website with the permission of the author
and/or copyright holder and may not be reproduced without their consent.
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