Cement COSHH data sheet: hazards, exposure limit and SDS summary

Dry cement irritates the airways and eyes. Wet cement is alkaline and causes burns that are often not felt until damage is done, and chromium in cement causes allergic dermatitis. Kneeling in wet concrete is a common cause of serious burns.

Hazard data from the ECHA C&L Inventory, HSE EH40 and HSE guidance, checked 8 September 2026. Classification checked automatically against the ECHA C&L inventory on 9 September 2026. Confirm the concentration and form against the supplier data sheet for the product you use.

Identification

CAS number	65997-15-1
EC number	266-043-4
Physical form	powder
Signal word	DANGER
Pictograms	GHS05 Corrosive; GHS07 Harmful or irritant
Routes of exposure	skin, eyes, inhalation

Hazard classification

No harmonised classification exists. The hazards shown are the classification most suppliers notify to ECHA. Portland cement has no harmonised entry in the GB MCL or EU Annex VI. The classification shown is the one most suppliers notify to ECHA. Most use skin sensitiser category 1B; some use category 1.

Skin irritation, category 2
Serious eye damage, category 1
Skin sensitisation, category 1B
Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure, category 3

Hazard statements

H315 Causes skin irritation.
H318 Causes serious eye damage.
H317 May cause an allergic skin reaction.
H335 May cause respiratory irritation.

Workplace exposure limit

Reference period	ppm	mg/m³
Long term (8 hour TWA)	—	10

Inhalable dust. The respirable fraction is 4 mg/m³. Portland cement is listed by name in EH40 Table 1 at these values.

Products that contain it

Common products whose hazard data comes from this record. The concentration and form vary, so always check the product data sheet.

Blue Circle General Purpose Cement (Blue Circle (Tarmac)). Bagged Portland cement. Burns and dermatitis from wet mix; dust when opening bags.
Hanson General Purpose Cement (Hanson (Heidelberg)). Bagged Portland cement.
Blue Circle Postcrete (Blue Circle (Tarmac)). Pre-mixed post fixing concrete. Same cement hazards; dusty when poured.
Ready mixed mortar (bagged) (Various). Cement and sand pre-mixed. Sand may add silica dust when opened dry.

Common uses

Mixing mortar and concrete
Screeding and rendering
Bricklaying

First aid

Skin: wash with plenty of water, remove contaminated clothing and boots, seek medical attention for burns. Eyes: rinse for at least 15 minutes and go to A&E.

In an emergency call 999. For advice call NHS 111. Always follow section 4 of the safety data sheet for the product you have.

Storage

Dry, off the ground, bags closed. Use within the shelf life on the bag, since the chromium reducing agent expires.

Sources

ECHA C&L Inventory, CAS 65997-15-1, ECHA 100.060.021. Checked 8 September 2026.
HSE EH40/2005 Workplace exposure limits (2020 edition), Table 1. Checked 8 September 2026.
HSE Cement. Checked 8 September 2026.

We do not host or copy manufacturer safety data sheets. Ask your supplier for the current sheet for the product you use.