touchmixers
A small orange concrete mixer turning on a garden patio beside a wheelbarrow, a shovel and a pile of sand
AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or place.

SAFE MIXING

Wet cement
bites.

A barrow of concrete looks harmless.

But wet cement is highly alkaline. If it gets trapped against skin, inside a glove or a boot or under a knee, the Health and Safety Executive warns that a serious burn can develop quickly. A few simple habits keep it off you.

KEEP IT OFF and wash it off fast

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THE SHORT ANSWER

Keep it off,
wash it off.

Cement harms skin in two ways: burns and dermatitis.
The dust matters too.

BURNS

Trapped means trouble

HSE says a serious burn or ulcer can rapidly develop if wet cement is trapped against the skin. Burns often take months to heal.

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GLOVES

Long and waterproof

Gloves should be waterproof and suitable for alkaline substances, and long or tight at the cuff so cement cannot get inside.

What to wear

DUST

Powder and cutting

Cement powder irritates the nose and throat. Cutting or drilling hardened concrete can make dust that may contain silica.

See the numbers
Hands being rinsed under an outdoor garden tap, with a bar of soap on the ledge and a bucket below
AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or place.

FOUR HABITS FROM HSE

Dress for
the mix.

HSE's advice is written for building sites, but the same habits suit a weekend patio or a garden wall.

  1. Wear the right gloves

    Waterproof gloves suitable for alkalis, long or tight at the cuff. Cement trapped inside a glove can itself cause a burn.

  2. Trousers over boots

    Wear wellington boots for big pours, high enough to keep cement out, with trousers over the top.

  3. Wash it off fast

    Wash cement off skin as soon as possible with warm water and soap, then dry the skin. Rinse cement out of eyes straight away.

  4. Check the bag date

    Use cement before its shelf date: the ingredient that lowers the risk of allergic dermatitis only works for a limited time.

TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING

Why the trade
takes it seriously.

One figure for skin allergy,
one for the dust from cutting.

5–10%

Construction workers sensitised to cement

HSE cites research suggesting 5% to 10% of construction workers may be sensitised to cement. Plasterers, concreters and bricklayers are especially at risk.

SKIN ALLERGY · HSE

500+

Construction deaths each year

HSE says over 500 construction workers are believed to die from exposure to silica dust every year.

SILICA DUST · HSE

The allergy comes from hexavalent chromium in cement. Manufacturers add an ingredient to lower it, but it only works for a limited period, as shown by the shelf date on the bag.

A QUICK TASK CHECK

What are you
doing today?

Pick a job to see the main risk HSE describes and how to reduce it. The bar shows how serious the risk is.

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Using ready-mixedLess dust

HSE suggests pre-mixed concrete or mortar as a way to avoid exposure to cement powder altogether.

Emptying cement bagsDust and lifting

Emptying bags can raise high levels of dust that irritate the nose and throat. Lifting and carrying bags also strains backs and shoulders.

Mixing or trowellingSkin contact

Handling wet mortar and cement is a main cause of dermatitis. Wear suitable gloves and long sleeves, and wash off splashes promptly.

Kneeling on wet concreteBurn risk

Wet cement trapped under a knee can burn. HSE advises waterproof trousers or knee pads, or a kneeling board, and as little kneeling as possible.

Cutting set concreteSilica dust

Cutting or drilling dried concrete and mortar can produce dust that causes serious lung disease. HSE treats it as a construction dust risk.

Sources: HSE, Construction hazardous substances: Cement; HSE Construction Information Sheet 26; HSE, Construction dust.

Based on HSE guidance on cement and construction dust. General information, not medical advice.

Hands in long waterproof gloves smoothing wet mortar with a steel trowel
AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or place.

TWO KINDS OF DERMATITIS

Irritation
and allergy.

Fine cement particles, often mixed with sand, can abrade skin and cause irritant dermatitis, which usually clears with treatment but worsens with continued exposure. Skin affected feels itchy and sore, and looks red, scaly and cracked.

Allergic dermatitis is different: hexavalent chromium sensitises the skin, and once that happens any future exposure can trigger it. HSE notes some skilled tradespeople have had to change trade because of it.

Questions

Questions people ask

Why does wet cement burn?

HSE says the main cause is thought to be the alkalinity of wet cement. Burns happen when it is trapped against skin, for example in a boot or glove or under a knee.

Are gloves always the answer?

They help, but choose waterproof gloves suitable for alkalis that are long or tight at the cuff. Cement trapped inside a glove can cause a burn.

What should I do if cement gets on my skin?

HSE advises washing it off as soon as possible. Use warm water and soap or a skin cleanser, then dry the skin. If you are worried about a burn, get medical advice.

Is cement dust harmful?

Cement powder irritates the nose and throat, and cutting or drilling set concrete can produce dust containing silica, which can cause serious lung disease.

Does cement go off in the bag?

The ingredient added to reduce the risk of allergic dermatitis is effective only for a limited period, as indicated by the shelf date, so rotate bags and use them in date.

Sources

  1. HSE: Construction hazardous substances, Cement
  2. HSE Construction Information Sheet 26: Cement (PDF)
  3. HSE: Construction hazardous substances, Construction dust
  4. NHS: Contact dermatitis

Updated

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