Concrete burns - Electrician Talk - Professional Electrical Contractors Forum

George Stolz · 06-17-2009, 08:55 AM

So, how is it I've come 12 years into my adult life, including seven in construction, without ever hearing that concrete can cause a chemical burn when in contact with skin?

Yesterday I finished the floor of my barn (poorly) and at one point my nephew and I dropped to our knees, trying to get it screeded away from a high spot. After about an hour and a half of work, I noticed that I was bleeding, and it was too late - my knees look like swiss cheese.

So, in case there was anyone else out there in the same boat, don't try to hose concrete off your pants while you're still in them, don't kneel in concrete, and make sure you don't have the knees out of your pants if you do. I've got to figure out how to work today without stooping, standing, walking or climbing a ladder!

480sparky · 06-17-2009, 09:04 AM

Ouch! Too bad you 'had to learn the hard way!'

I'll bet there's a forum for those who do cement and they have a good laugh every day when the ponder HOs doing their own 'crete work.

chenley · 06-17-2009, 09:07 AM

http://www.ohsonline.com/Articles/20...-in-Stone.aspx

Worked for a mason while in high school for a short while and he had told me about it my first day. Feel for ya, I've gotten it in open cuts and damn does it burn.

Black4Truck · 06-17-2009, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chenley

http://www.ohsonline.com/Articles/20...-in-Stone.aspx

Worked for a mason while in high school for a short while and he had told me about it my first day. Feel for ya, I've gotten it in open cuts and damn does it burn.

Dam.. who ever thought you could get in trouble like that and not even wearing a tool belt

InPhase277 · 06-17-2009, 12:05 PM

Yeah, concrete is strongly alkaline. It would be like rubbing lye on your skin.

Mr. Sparkle · 06-17-2009, 04:07 PM

Think about what it does to the inside of your lungs if you breath in the dust.

william1978 · 06-17-2009, 05:46 PM

It must only effect some people that way because I've had my hands and knees in concrete a ton of times and it has never effected me that way thank God.

wildleg · 06-17-2009, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by william1978

It must only effect some people that way because I've had my hands and knees in concrete a ton of times and it has never effected me that way thank God.

try standing knee deep in it for an hour. I guarantee you will get burned. Happened to me when I was a kid pouring deep footings. 3 of us went to the hospital with 2nd degree burns.

william1978 · 06-17-2009, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildleg

try standing knee deep in it for an hour. I guarantee you will get burned. Happened to me when I was a kid pouring deep footings. 3 of us went to the hospital with 2nd degree burns.

Wow. Why were you standing in it knee deep for an hour?

Dennis Alwon · 06-17-2009, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildleg

try standing knee deep in it for an hour.

If you stand knee deep in it for an hour the burns may be the least of your problems.

480sparky · 06-17-2009, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis Alwon

If you stand knee deep in it for an hour the burns may be the least of your problems.

Getting to the truck would likely be the hardest thing to do at that point!

william1978 · 06-17-2009, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis Alwon

If you stand knee deep in it for an hour the burns may be the least of your problems.

I was thinking the samething.

LawnGuyLandSparky · 06-18-2009, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by George Stolz

I've got to figure out how to work today without stooping, standing, walking or climbing a ladder!

No problem, I work this way all the time.

George Stolz · 06-18-2009, 09:58 AM

Here's a couple pictures. The white spots are the deepest. This was last night, after I'd soaked in the tub for a bit. They aren't that impressive - it's weird that something that looks so minor could hurt like that.

MDShunk · 06-18-2009, 10:21 AM

The most remarkable thing is that you have magic legs that generate quarters on demand.

Dennis Alwon · 06-18-2009, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDShunk

The most remarkable thing is that you have magic legs that generate quarters on demand.

I thought pornography wasn't allowed.

wildleg · 06-18-2009, 05:04 PM

it was a big pour, we were dumb kids, what can I say. the scars mostly went away after a couple years.

william1978 · 06-18-2009, 05:20 PM

Those burns look like they hurt.

LawnGuyLandSparky · 06-19-2009, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by George Stolz

So, how is it I've come 12 years into my adult life, including seven in construction, without ever hearing that concrete can cause a chemical burn when in contact with skin?

All this could have been avoided had you participated in a proper apprenticeship. I thought everyone knew how alkiline concrete is?

Black4Truck · 06-19-2009, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LawnGuyLandSparky

All this could have been avoided had you participated in a proper apprenticeship. I thought everyone knew how alkiline concrete is?

Does HD have apprenticeship programs for mixing concrete?