Bags of concrete mix are great to keep on hand at your home, as they allow you to fix cracks and holes in your driveway, patio or other concrete spaces. However, if you have children, you need to take steps to ensure your concrete mix doesn't pose a danger to your kids. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind:
1. Store bags of concrete in plastic tubs.
If possible, don't just store the concrete in its bags. They could rip, the dust could be released into the air, and your child could inhale it. Similarly, if it rips and your child's skin comes into contact with it, the cement mix could cause chemical skin burns.
However, a plastic tub gives the bags of concrete extra protection, and it helps to ensure that your child cannot easily access the concrete.
2. Don't create climbing hazards.
Whether you are storing the bags on concrete on their own or in plastic tubs, you need to be sure not to create a climbing hazard. Don't stack your bags of concrete haphazardly and tempt your kid to climb them and fall down. Instead, store your bags of concrete in a single layer on the floor, or place them on shelves where they cannot be scaled by a child.
3. Review concrete safety rules with your child.
Before you use the bags of concrete mix, make sure that you review all of the relevant safety rules with your child. Your child should know that he or she shouldn't touch the concrete mix with his or her bare hands. Similarly, he or she should be told not to eat around the concrete.
For example, if you are using the bag of concrete to patch a hole in your driveway and your child is eating a snack while watching you, that could be dangerous. Unfortunately, the dust from the concrete can float up onto your child's food, and if he or she ingests the concrete, it isn't good for his or her esophagus and other digestive organs.
4. Invest in eye and skin protection for your child.
If your child wants to help or even if your child is just observing, he or she needs adequate safety gear. Rather than using adult safety gear which may be ill fitting, consider investing in protective gear designed for children. In particular, your child should have work gloves and safety goggles.
He or she can wear his or her own clothes as long as they are a sturdy fabric that covers your child's arms and legs, and of course, you want to use clothes that you don't mind getting a few drops of concrete on.
For more tips on storing and using concrete around children, contact a ready mix concrete supplier.
Share17 February 2016
Concrete may seem boring to the uninitiated, but as the wife of a concrete contractor, I have learned, over the years, that it is anything but boring. Contemporary concrete can be used in a range of applications from functional sound walls to decorative koi ponds, and it can be left gray, stamped or acid stained. If you are getting ready to do a project, you have come to the right place. In this blog, I am going to post a myriad of information about concrete with an emphasis on project ideas and the different uses of concrete. By the end, I hope you find concrete as exciting as I do!
