Lafarge Concrete Products

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

WARNING Toxic - Harmful by inhalation. (Contains crystalline silica) Respiratory Eye Protection Use proper engineering controls, work practices, and personal protective equipment to prevent exposure to wet or dry product. Read MSDS for details. Gloves (continued) Emergency Overview: Concrete products vary in size, shape and color, depending on final use. They are not combustible or explosive. Concrete products in their intact state will not release airborne dust, but dust can be produced during cutting, drilling, grinding, chasing and other machining of the product. A single, short-term exposure to concrete dust presents little or no hazard.

Potential health effects

Eye Contact: Airborne dust may cause immediate or delayed irritation or inflammation. Eye contact with large amounts of concrete dust can cause moderate eye irritation and abrasion. Eye exposures require immediate first aid and medical attention to prevent significant damage to the eye. Skin Contact: Concrete dust may cause dry skin, discomfort, irritation and dermatitis. Dermatitis: Concrete dust, in association with sweat and friction, can lead to skin irritation and dermatitis. Skin affected by dermatitis may include symptoms such as, redness, itching, rash, scaling, and cracking. Irritant dermatitis is caused by the physical properties of concrete dust such as abrasion. Inhalation (acute): Breathing dust may cause nose, throat or lung irritation, including choking, depending on the degree of exposure. Inhalation (chronic): Risk of injury depends on duration and level of exposure. Silicosis: This product contains crystalline silica. Prolonged or repeated inhalation of respirable crystalline silica from this product can cause silicosis, a seriously disabling and fatal lung disease. See Note to Physicians in Section 4 for further information. Carcinogenicity: Concrete is not listed as a carcinogen by IARC or NTP; however, concrete contains trace amounts of crystalline silica which is classified by IARC and NTP as known human carcinogens. Autoimmune Some studies show that exposure to respirable crystalline silica (without silicosis) or Disease: that the disease silicosis may be associated with the increased incidence of several autoimmune disorders such as scleroderma (thickening of the skin), systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and diseases affecting the kidneys. Tuberculosis: Silicosis increases the risk of tuberculosis. Renal Disease: Some studies show an increased incidence of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease in workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica. Ingestion: Do not ingest concrete. Although ingestion of small quantities of concrete is not known to be harmful, large quantities can cause distress to the digestive tract. Medical Conditions Individuals with lung disease (e.g. bronchitis, emphysema, COPD, pulmonary Aggravated by Exposure: disease) can be aggravated by exposure.