Carolina Concrete Company, Inc.
Material Safety Data
Sheet
For
Ready Mix
Concrete
October 2002
Section
I Identity
Material
Name:
Portland cement concrete
Manufacturer Name:
Carolina Concrete Company, Inc.
Address:
54 Burts Road, PO Box 389
Clinton,
SC 29325
Chemical
Name:
Not Applicable
Chemical
Family:
Portland cement product
Chemical
Formula:
Mixture cementitious material, aggregates and water
Trade Name
&
Synonyms:
Ready mix concrete; concrete
Molecular
Weight:
Not Applicable
Material
Use:
Construction materials
Section
II Hazardous Ingredients
Concrete is a mixture of inert gravel or rock, sand, portland
cement and water. It may also contain chemical admixtures, and/or flyash, and/or
granulated slag, and/or silica fume, and/or color pigment. The chemical
admixtures are present in quantities comprising less than 2% of the material.
Hazardous Ingredients
Portland cement (CAS
65997-15-1)
10 - 20%
Quartz (SiO3) (CAS
14808-60-7)
3 - 7%
Portlandite (Ca (OH)2) (CAS
1305-62-0)
2 - 4%
The hazardous ingredients in plastic (wet) concrete cannot
become airborne. However, water added to the materials reacts with some of
the ingredients to form calcium hydroxide, a corrosive chemical, which will
irritate the eyes and skin upon contact. Concrete dust from dried portland
cement concrete may also contain hazardous ingredients in sufficient
concentrations to cause skin, eye, or respiratory irritation.
Section
III Physical Data
Boiling Point (
oF.)
N/A
Vapor Pressure (mm
Hg.)
N/A
Vapor Density
(Air=1)
N/A
Solubility in
water
0.1%
pH
12 - 13
Specific Gravity (H2O=1)
1.5 - 2.9
Percent, Volatile By Volume
(%)
N/A
Evaporation
Rate
N/A
Appearance and
Odor
Gray unless color pigment has been added.
Section
IV Fire and Explosion Hazard Data
N/A
Section
V Health Hazard Data
(a)
Plastic Concrete
Toxicological Properties
Plastic concrete has an alkalinity
level of pH12 to pH13.
Route of
Entry:
Skin contact, eye contact, ingestion.
Effects of
Acute
Exposure:
Plastic concrete can cause dry skin, alkali burns, eye irritations and
burns. Ingestion my cause irritation of the throat.
Effects of
Chronic
Exposure:
Damage to the epidermis and dermis (outer layers of skin).
(b)
Hardened or Set Concrete
Toxicological Properties
In place, hardened concrete does not present a
health hazard. Sawing or other demolition techniques may result in exposure to
dust, which may contain portland cement, portlandite, quartz, and trace
admixtures. The ingredients in concrete
Section
V Health Hazard Data
dust, when in contact with water or perspiration,
may cause the same health effects as plastic concrete.
The following
information concerns dry concrete dust:
Route of
Entry:
Skin contact, eye contact, inhalation, and
ingestion.
Effects of
Acute
Exposure:
Concrete dusts can cause dry skin and skin, eye, and upper respiratory tract
irritation.
Effects of
Chronic
Exposure:
Concrete dust can cause inflammation of the tissue lining, the interior of
the nose and the cornea (white) of the eye. Hypersensitive people may develop
allergic dermatitis.
Chronic exposure to respirable dust containing quartz at levels exceeding
exposure limits has caused silicosis.
Section
VI – First Aid Measures
Wash exposed areas of the body with soap and water.
Irrigate eyes with large amounts of water. Consult a physician in cases of
severe exposure. In case of accidental ingestion, drink two or three
glasses of milk, call a physician and do not induce vomiting.
Section
VII Reactivity Data
Stability:
Product is stable
Conditions to
Avoid:
N/A
Incompatibility (Materials to
avoid):
Acids
Hazardous Decomposition
Products:
N/A
Hazardous
Polymerization:
Will not occur
Conditions to
Avoid:
N/A
Section
VIII Spill or Leak Procedures
Leak and Spill
Procedure:
Sweep and shovel into waste disposal containers. Flush with water hose for
final clean-up of floors, walkways, etc. Ready mixed concrete or flushing water
should not
be allowed to reach surface water (rivers, lakes, streams).
Waste
Disposal:
At approved landfill or waste disposal sites in accordance with all
applicable state, federal and local regulations.
Section
IX Special Protection Information
Personal
Equipment:
Use gloves, boots and clothing to prevent skin contact. Wear
safety glasses or goggles to prevent contact with eyes. Wear an approved
respirator if exposed to dust from hardened concrete when sawing or using other
demolition methods.
Engineering Controls:
Provide ventilation when sawing or using other demolition
techniques to maintain dust concentrations below exposure limits.
Section
X Special Precautions
See: Section V Health Hazard Data
Section VIII Spill and Leak Procedures
Section IX Special Protection Information
The information contained herein is based on knowledge
believed to be reliable, but Carolina Concrete Company makes no warranties,
expressed or implied, as to the accuracy or adequacy thereof. Nothing herein
excused the recipient hereof from such duties as shall be imposed by the
Occupational Safety & Health Act of 1970 and regulations issued pursuant
thereto.
