Material
Data Safety Sheet
Section 1 – IDENTIFICATION
Product Name:
Previous MSDS:
Ready-Mix Concrete, Freshly
Mixed
This MSDS supersedes all previous versions
Unhardened Concrete
Revision
Date:
Supplier/Manufacturer:
Metro Ready Mix Concrete, Inc.
1136
(615) 255-1900
Unhardened Concrete
Prepared By:
Chemical Family:
Mark
Sullivan, Ross Allen, &
Calcium compounds
Section 2 – COMPONENTS
Hazardous Ingredients:
Total Dust
Respirable Dust
Portland Cement (CAS # 65997-15-1) –
approximately 2%-26% by weight
ACGIH
TLV
10 mg/m3
OSHA PEL
15 mg/m3
5 mg/m3
OSHA PEL
50 mppcf
(crystalline silica
<1%)
Aggregates (CAS # None) – approximately 36%-92% by weight
ACGIH
TLV
10 mg/m3
OSHA PEL
15 mg/m3
5mg/m3
Flyash (CAS # 68131-74-8) –
approximately 0%-25% by weight
ACGIH TLV
10 mg/m3
OSHA
PEL
15 mg/m3
5 mg/m3
Crystalline
Silica (CAS # 14808-60-7) – approximately 5%-13% by weight
ACGIH TLV
0.1 mg/m3
OSHA PEL
2 mg/m3
(30 mg/m3 / (13% SiO2 +2))
OSHA
PEL
0.7 mg/m3 (10 mg/m3 / (13% SiO2 +2))
OSHA PEL
13.8 mppcf (250 / (13%
SiO2 +5)) mppcf
Water (CAS # 77321-85) – approximately 6%-13% by
weight
Trace
Elements:
Ready-mix
concrete is made form materials mined from the earth. Trace amounts of naturally occurring
elements might be detected during chemical analysis of these
materials.
Additives:
Certain
additives may be incorporated in the ready-mix concrete and MSDS’s are available for such additives upon
request.
Section 3 – HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION
Emergency
Overview:
Short-term exposure to wet concrete is not likely to cause an immediate hazard. However, exposure of sufficient duration to wet concrete can cause serious, potentially irreversible tissue (skin or eye) damage in the form of chemical (caustic) burns. The same type of tissue damage can occur if wet or moist areas of the body are exposed for sufficient duration to the dry ingredients in unhardened concrete.
Routes of
Exposure:
Eye Contact:
Exposure to airborne dust
during the handling or mixing of the dry ingredients in ready-mix concrete may
cause immediate or delayed irritation or inflammation.
Eye contact by splashes of
wet concrete may cause effects ranging from moderate eye irritation to chemical
burns and blindness. Such exposures
require immediate first-aid (see Section 4) and medical attention to prevent
significant damage to the eye.
Skin Contact:
Discomfort or pain cannot be
relied upon to alert a person to a hazardous skin exposure. Consequently, the only effective means
of avoiding skin injury or illness involves minimizing skin contact,
particularly contact with wet concrete.
Exposed persons may not feel discomfort until hours after the exposure
has ended and significant injury has occurred.
Exposure during the handling
or mixing of the dry ingredients in ready-mix concrete may cause drying of the
skin with consequent mild irritation or more significant effects attributable to
aggravation of other conditions.
Exposure to wet concrete may cause more severe skin effects including
thickening, cracking, or fissuring of the skin. Prolonged exposure can cause severe skin
damage in the form of (caustic) chemical burns.
Some individuals may exhibit
an allergic response upon exposure to wet concrete. The response may appear in a variety of
forms ranging from a mild rash to severe skin ulcers. Persons already sensitized may react o
their first contact with the product.
Other persons may first experience this effect after years of contact
with wet unhardened concrete products.
Ingestion:
Although inadvertent
ingestion of small quantities of wet concrete or its dry ingredients are not
known to be harmful, accidental ingestion of larger quantities can be harmful
and requires immediate medical attention.
Inhalation:
The ingredients in ready-mix
concrete contain crystalline silica.
Exposure to these ingredients in excess of the applicable TLV or PEL (see
Section 2) may cause or aggravate other lung conditions.
Exposure to the dry
ingredients in ready-mix concrete may cause irritation to the moist mucous
membranes of the nose, throat, and upper respiratory
system.
Medical Conditions Which May
Be Aggravated by Inhalation or Dermal Exposure:
Pre-existing upper respiratory and lung diseases by
exposure to the dry ingredients.
Persons with unusual (hyper)
sensitivity to chemicals, dusts, and metallic compounds may experience adverse
reactions to wet concrete.
Carcinogenic
Potential:
Ready-mix concrete is not listed as a carcinogen by NTP, OSHA, or IARC. It may, however, contain trace amounts of substances listed as carcinogens by these organizations, including but not limited to: crystalline silica, hexavalent chromium, lead compounds, mercury compounds, nickel compounds, and possibly other chemicals.
Section 4 – FIRST AID
Eyes:
Immediately
flush eyes thoroughly with water.
Continue flushing eyes for at least 15 minutes, including under lids, to
remove all particles. Call
physician immediately.
Skin:
Wash skin
with cool water and pH-neutral soap or mild detergent intended for use on
skin. Seek medical treatment in all
cases of prolonged exposure to wet concrete, liquids from wet concrete products,
or prolonged wet skin exposure to the dry ingredients in ready-mix
concrete.
Ingestion:
Do not induce
vomiting. If conscious, have the
victim drink plenty of water and call a physician
immediately.
Inhalation of
Airborne Dust:
Remove to fresh air. Seek medical help if coughing and other symptoms do not subside. (Inhalation of gross amounts of the dry ingredients in ready-mix concrete required immediate medical attention.)
Section 5 – FIRE & EXPOLOSION DATA
Flash
Point:
None
Extinguishing Media:
Not Combustible
Lower
Explosive Limit:
None
Special Fire Fighting Procedures:
None
Upper
Explosive Limit:
None
Hazardous Combustion Products:
None
Auto Ignition
Temperature:
Not
Combustible
Unusual Fire & Explosion Hazards:
None
Section 6 – ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES
Collect dry
material using a scoop. Avoid
actions that cause dust to become airborne. Avoid inhalation of dust and contact
with skin.
Scrape up wet material and
place in an appropriate container.
Allow the wet concrete to “harden” before disposal. Do not attempt to wash wet concrete down
sewers or storm drains.
Wear appropriate personal
protection equipment as described in Section 8
Dispose of waste material
according to local, state, and federal regulations.
Section 7 – HANDLING & STORAGE
Normal
temperatures and pressures do not affect the material.
Promptly remove dusty
clothing or clothing which is wet with concrete and launder before reuse. Wash thoroughly after exposure to dust
or wet concrete mixtures.
Section 8 – EXPOSURE CONTROLS / PERSONAL PROTECTION
Eye
Protection:
When
engaged in activities where wet concrete or its dry ingredients could contact
the eye, wear safety glasses with side shields or goggles. In extremely dusty environments and
unpredictable environments, wear unvented or indirectly vented goggles to avoid
eye irritation or injury. Contact
lenses should not be worn when working around wet concrete or its dry
ingredients.
Section 8 – EXPOSURE CONTROLS / PERSONAL PROTECTION (continued)
Skin
Protection:
Prevention is essential to
avoid potentially severe skin injury.
Avoid contact with wet concrete products or its dry ingredients. If contact occurs, promptly wash
affected area with soap and water.
Where prolonged exposure to wet concrete products might occur, wear
impervious clothing and gloves to eliminate skin contact. Where required, wear boots that are
impervious to water to eliminate foot and ankle exposure.
Do
not rely on barrier creams; barrier creams should not be used in place of
gloves
Periodically wash areas
contacted by wet concrete or its ingredients with a pH neutral soap and water
and wash again at the end of the work.
If irritation occurs, immediately was the affected area and seek
treatment. If clothing becomes
saturated with wet concrete, it should be removed and replaced with clean dry
clothing.
Respiratory
Protection:
Avoid actions
that cause dust exposure to occur.
Use local or general ventilation to control exposures below applicable
exposure limits.
NIOSH approved particulate
filter respirators should be used in the context of respiratory protection
programs meeting the requirements of the OSHA respiratory protection standard
(29CFR 1910.134) to control exposures when ventilation or other controls are
inadequate. Respirator and/or filer
cartridge selection should be based on American National Standards Institute
(ANSI) Standards Z88.2 Practices for Respiratory
Protection.
Ventilation:
Use
local exhaust or general dilution ventilation to control exposure within
applicable limits.
Section 9 – PHYSICAL & CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
Appearance:
Gray
Granular Mixture
Vapor Pressure:
Not Applicable
Odor:
No
Distinct Odor
Vapor Density:
Not Applicable
Specific Gravity
(H20=1):
1.70 to 3.00
Melting Point:
Not Applicable
pH (in water) (ASTM D
1293-95):
12 to 13
Evaporation Rate:
Not Applicable
Solubility in
Water:
Slightly Soluble
Section 10 – STABILITY & REACTIVITY
Stability:
Stable
Conditions to Avoid:
Unintentional contact with
water
Incompatibility:
Wet Ready-Mix
concrete is alkaline. As such it is incompatible with acids, ammonium salts and
aluminum metal
.
Hazardous Decomposition:
Will
not spontaneously occur. Adding water results in hydration and produces
(caustic) calcium hydroxide
Hazardous Polymerization:
Will
not occur
Section 11 – TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION
NIOSH
conducted a study, “The Mortality of U.S. Portland Cement and Quarry Workers”
(March 1985) which found: “There is
no excess mortality form all causes of death, lung cancer, on-malignant
respiratory disease, or ischemic heart disease” among workers
studied.
Section 12 – ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION
Ecotoxicity: No recognized unusual
toxicity to plants or animals
Relevant Physical &
Chemical Properties: See Section 9 and
10
Section 13 – DISPOSAL
Dispose of
waste material according to local, state, and federal regulations. (Since
ready-mix concrete is stable, uncontaminated unused dry material may be saved
for future use.)
Section 14 – TRANSPORTATION DATA
Hazardous Materials Description/Proper Shipping
Name:
Ready-Mix concrete is not
hazardous under U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations.
Hazard Class:
Not Applicable
Identification Number:
Not Applicable
Required Label Text:
Not Applicable
Hazardous Substances/Reportable Quantities (RQ):
Not
Applicable
Section 15 – OTHER REGULATORY INFORMATION
Status under OSHA Hazard
Communication Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200:
Unhardened Ready-Mix concrete is considered a "hazardous
chemical" under this regulation, and should be included in the employer’s hazard
communication program.
Reportable Quantities Under the Clean Water Act, CERCLA, and EPCRA, 40 CFR 117, 302
and 355:
Unhardened Ready-Mix concrete is not Listed.
Hazard Category and
Applicability of EPCRA Hazardous Substance Inventory Reporting, 40 CFR 370:
Unhardened Ready-Mix concrete qualifies as a "hazardous
substance".
Applicability of EPCRA Toxic Chemical Release Inventory
(TRI) Reporting. 40 CFR 372:
Unhardened Ready-Mix concrete is not a TRI listed
chemical, however TRI listed constituents are present in concentrations below
the Supplier Notification De Minimus Levels.
Status Under the Toxic Substances Control Act, 40 CFR 710:
Unhardened Ready-Mix concrete and the chemicals present
in Unhardened Ready-Mix concrete are on the TSCA inventory list.
Section 15 – OTHER REGULATORY INFORMATION (Continued)
Status under the Federal
Hazardous Substances Act and Its Regulations:
Unhardened Ready-Mix concrete is a "hazardous substance"
subject to the following labeling requirements for consumer use:
WARNING:
INJURIOUS TO EYES : CAUSES SKIN IRRITATION
READ THIS WARNING BEFORE
USING.
Contains Portland Cement
Contact with
wet (unhardened concrete, mortar, wet cement, or cement mixtures) can cause skin
irritation, severe chemical burns, or serious eye damage. Avoid contact with
eyes and skin. Wear waterproof gloves, a fully buttoned long-sleeved shirt,
full-length trousers, and tight fitting eye protection when working with these
materials. If you have to stand in wet concrete, use waterproof boots that are
tight at tops and high enough to keep concrete from flowing into them. If you
are finishing concrete wear knee-pads to protect knees. Wash wet concrete,
mortar, wet cement, or cement mixtures from your skin with fresh, clean water
immediately after contact. Indirect contact through clothing can be as serious
as direct contact, so promptly rinse out wet concrete, mortar, wet cement, or
cement mixtures from clothing. Seek immediate medical attention if you have
persistent or severe discomfort. In case of eye contact, flush with plenty of
water for at least 15 minutes. Consult a physician immediately.
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF
CHILDREN.
USER
AGREES TO CONVEY THIS WARNING TO ALL PERSONS WHO MAY PURCHASE, USE OR COME IN
CONTACT WITH WET (UNHARDENED) CONCRETE, MORTAR, WET CEMENT OR CEMENT
MIXTURES.
Section 16 – OTHER INFORMATION
Other Important Information:
Ready Mix concrete should only be used by knowledgeable persons. A key to using the product safely requires the user to recognize that portland cement chemically reacts with water, and that some of the intermediate products of this reaction (that is, those present while a concrete product is "setting") pose a far more severe hazard than does portland cement itself.
While the information provided in this material safety
data sheet is believed to provide a useful summary of the hazards of unhardened
(wet) Ready-Mix concrete as it is commonly used, the sheet cannot anticipate and
provide all of the information that might be needed in every situation.
Inexperienced product users should obtain proper training before using this
product.
In
particular, the data furnished in this sheet does not address hazards that may
be posed by materials other than natural sands and gravels mixed with portland cement and flyash to
produce Ready-Mix concrete products. Users should review other relevant material
safety data sheets before working with this portland cement concrete.
Section 16 – OTHER INFORMATION (Continued)
Abbreviations:
ACGIH
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists
ANSI
American National Standards Institute
CAS
Chemical Abstract Service
CERCLA Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (Superfund)
CFR
Code of Federal Regulations
DOT
Department of Transportation
EPCRA
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986
IARC
International Agency for Research on Cancer
m3
Cubic Meter
mg
Milligram
mppcf
Million Particles per Cubic Foot
MSDS
Material Safety Data Sheet
MSHA
Mine Safety and Health Administration
NIOSH
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
NTP
National Toxicology Program
OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
PEL
Permissible Exposure Limit
RQ
Reportable Quantities
SiO2
Crystalline Silica, Quartz
TLV
Threshold Limit Values
TRI
Toxic Release Inventory
TSCA Toxic Substance Control Act
WHMIS
Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System
SELLER MAKES NO WARRANTY,
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, CONCERNING THE PRODUCT OR THE MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
THEREOF FOR ANY PURPOSE OR CONCERNING THE ACCURACY OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED
BY Metro Ready Mix Concrete, except that the product shall conform to contracted
specifications. The information provided herein was believed by Metro Ready Mix
Concrete to be accurate at the time of preparation or prepared from sources
believed to be reliable, but it is the responsibility of the user to investigate
and understand other pertinent sources of information to comply with all laws
and procedures applicable to the safe handling and use of the product and to
determine the suitability of the product for its intended use. Buyer's exclusive
remedy shall be for damages and no claim of any kind, whether as to product
delivered or for non-delivery of product, and whether based on contract, breach
of warranty, negligence, or otherwise shall be greater in amount than the
purchase price of the quantity of product in respect of which damages are
claimed. In no event shall Seller be liable for incidental or consequential
damages, whether Buyer's claim is based on contract, breach of warranty,
negligence or otherwise.