Safety Topics for the Cement Industry

For those who prefer to have variable schedules, work with their hands and contribute to construction projects, becoming a cement mason or similar role might be an ideal career choice. In addition to learning how to mix cement, pour it properly and chip it away, the most skilled and qualified cement workers must be acquainted with the safety issues that are predominant in their industry to protect themselves and coworkers on the job.

Tuckpointing

• The process of removing mortar between bricks with grinders is known as tuckpointing in the cement industry. A common part of the job, it can also release noxious dust, especially when working with older buildings. OSHA, or the Occupational Safety and Health Agency, recommends wearing protective mouth wear as well as utilizing local exhaust ventilation and vacuums to suck up excess dust.

Fatalities

• The Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI) compiles a yearly report of its member businesses to track different sets of information regarding the health and safety of cement workers worldwide. One important measure that it tracks carefully is the mortality rate of construction workers which, as recorded by the CSI, shows that on-the-job fatalities have decreased tremendously from almost seven per year per company in 2003 to just under three in 2008.

Mercury

• Some forms of concrete use require it to be heated in enormous kilns, a process that has been shown to emit large quantities of mercury as waste that can be hazardous if not properly disposed of. This mercury comes naturally from limestone, the primary component of cement. When heated in large quantities, it is considered to be radiological waste. This needs to be stored somewhere that it cannot leak into or be exposed to any part of the environment, especially where water is used as a town's drinking source.

Musculoskeletal Disorders

• After years of toting heavy bags of concrete coupled with constantly working in a hunched-over state, cement workers can be susceptible to developing musculoskeletal disorders that can be the cause of pain and discomfort. To help prevent these disorders from developing, cement companies should provide methods to counteract them, such as providing more frequent breaks while working, reducing the rate of repetitive movements of the worker and providing training to workers about the initial warning signs of these disorders.