HS&E Operatives practice question: COSHH and hazardous substances (4 of 7)
B. Occupational health A free question from our original HS&E Operatives practice exam. Try it, then open the answer to see why each option is right or wrong.
You are kneeling to level a concrete slab. At break you notice wet concrete has soaked through your trousers onto your knee.
What should you do?
Choose one answer.
AA. Wash it off your skin as soon as possible
BB. Leave it until the end of the shift, as it will dry out
CC. Rub it off with a dry rag and get back to work
DD. Only worry about it if your skin starts to blister
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: A
A. Right: Right. Wet cement is strongly alkaline. If it is trapped against your skin it can quickly cause a serious burn. Wash it off straight away, then change out of the wet clothing.
B. Wrong: Wrong. A serious burn can develop quickly while the cement is trapped against your skin. It may not hurt at first, so don't wait.
C. Wrong: Wrong. Rubbing can damage the skin and leaves cement behind. Wash it off with water, and wear waterproof trousers when kneeling in wet concrete.
D. Wrong: Wrong. By the time blisters appear, the burn has already happened. Cement burns can be serious enough to need a skin graft.
Explanation
Wet cement can burn your skin and cause dermatitis. Wash it off as soon as possible, keep it out of your boots and gloves, and wear waterproof trousers when kneeling in it.