MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET

                                                             Pre-mixed Concrete

PF Formation

ABN 62 113 814 256

1774 Wisemans Ferry Road

Maroota  NSW  2756

Australia

Telephone:        +61 2 4566 8314

Facsimile:         +61 2 4566 8355

Product Name:                                                             PF Concrete Pre-mixed concrete

Other Names:                                                               Ready-mixed concrete, grout, mortar

Manufacturer’s Product Code:                                     Not Applicable

UN Number:                                                                 None Allocated

Dangerous Goods Class & Subsidiary Risk:                 Non-Dangerous goods

Hazchem Code:                                                           N/A

Poisons Schedule Number:                                         Not Scheduled

Use:                                                                             A wide variety of building and construction applications

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This Material Data Sheet (MSDS) is issued by PF Formation, in accordance with National Occupational Health & Safety Commission (NOHSC) guidelines.  As such, the information in it must not be altered, deleted or added to.  PF Formation will issue a new MSDS when there is a change in product specifications and/or NOHSC guidelines/regulations.  PF Formation will not accept any responsibility for any changes made to its MSDS by any other person or organisation.

This product is classified as hazardous according to the criteria of the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC).

Risk Phases:               

Safety Phases:

Main Ingredients:        Name                                                               Cas                  Proportion

                                    Sand                                                                 14808-60-7        20-85%

                                    Crushed stone, Gravel or slag                              14808-60-7        20-85%

                                    Portland Cement                                                65997-15-1        10-60%

                                    Water                                                                7732-18-5          0-20%

Other Ingredients:       Name                                                               Cas                  Proportion

(may be added)             Admixtures (water reducers, set retarder or

                                              Accelerators, plasticisers)                         -                       1-10%

                                    Polystyrene balls (reduced density)                      9003-53-6          <10%

                                    Silica fume (amorphous silica)                             7699-41-4          1-10%

                                    Metallic oxide pigments (colouring)                      -                       1-10%

                                    Pozzolans                                                         -                       1-10%

                                    Blast Furnace Slag or Fly Ash                             -                       0-20%

                                    NOTE:

                                    *Cement in concrete contains traces of Chromium VI (hexavalent) which is a trace impurity in                                     Portland Cement.

                                               *Cementitious additives may contain traces of metals.      

                                    *Crystalline-silica (quartz) may be a constituent of sand, crushed stone, gravel, blast furnace                                   slag and fly ash used in any particular concrete mix.  The crystalline silica content of the final                                  product can vary from product to product.

Swallowed:                 Rinse mouth and lips with water.  DO NOT induce vomiting.  The patient should be given water to drink to dilute stomach contents and consult a doctor.

Eye:                             Flush eyes thoroughly with running water for at least 15 (fifteen) minutes leaving eyelids open and remove all traces.  Seek urgent medical attention.

Skin:                            Remove contaminated clothing immediately.  Wash affected area thoroughly with mild soap and running water.  Seek medical attention if irritation persists.

Inhaled:                       Remove patient to fresh air. Ensure all airways are clear and have a qualified person give oxygen through a face mask if breathing is difficult.   If respiratory irritation, dizziness or nausea occurs, seek immediate medical assistance.

FIRST AID FACILITIES

Eye wash station and suitable facilities available to carry out the first aid procedures outlined above.

ADVICE TO DOCTOR

Treat symptomatically.  Wet concrete burns to skin or eye may result in corrosive caustic burns.  Ingestion of significant amounts of concrete is unlikely.  Do not induce emesis or perform gastric lavage.  Neutralization with acidic agents is not advised because of increased risks of exothermic burns.  Water-mineral oil soaks may aid in removing hardened concrete from the skin.  Ophthalmological opinion should be sought for ocular burns.

FLAMMABILITY

Pre-mix concrete products are not flammable, do not support combustion of other materials, and do not cause dust explosions.

SPILLAGE

If a wet spillage occurs shovel into containers, then wash areas with water ensuring no run-off enters storm water, sewer drains and watercourses.  Contact any relevant authorities if this does occur.  Ensure all personal protection is followed during clean up. 

STORAGE

Wet pre-mixed concrete will set hard and must be placed as soon as possible.  May be stored for very short periods of time (less than twenty minutes) in self-cleansing hoppers with sides at an angle of at least 45 degrees to the horizontal. 

HANDLING

Wet concrete is a heavy material and appropriate control of handling is required when barrowing, shoveling or carrying quantities of wet concrete

EXPOSURE LIMITS

ASCC – Exposure to dry concrete dust should be kept as low as practicable and below the following NES (National Occupational Exposure Standard)

            Crystalline Silica: 0.2mg/m3 TWA (time weighted average) as respriable dust.

            Dust Not Otherwise specified: 10mg/m3 TWA as inspirable dust.

ENGINEERING CONTROLS

Avoid generating and inhaling dusts.  All work that creates concrete dust should be carried out in such a way that minimizes exposure to dust.  Provide adequate ventilation and/or local dust extraction or water spray to remove dust from breathing zones.

PERSONAL PROTECTION

Minimise contact with concrete materials.  Always wash hands before eating, drinking, smoking or using the toilet when any sign of contact has been made and wash work clothes regularly.  Never kneel in wet concrete or allow extended contact of skin with wet concrete.  When handling pre-mixed concrete ensure protective clothing is worn as follows:

Eye Protection:            must use safety glasses with side shied protection or safety goggles in accordance with                                         AS/NZ 1337, or a face shield worn.

Glove Type;                 Pre-mix, wear waterproof gloves such as PVC that comply with AS 2161.  It is

                                    recommended that a cotton glove be worn underneath to avoid sweating.

                                    Dry Product, wear leather palm, cotton-back work gloves that comply with AS 2161

Clothing:                      The use of sleeves, overalls and clean clothing should be worn daily.

Footwear:                    Waterproof safety boots high enough to prevent concrete from contacting skin

Respirator Type:          When dust is generated use a respirator (filter mask) with a Class P1,P2 or P3 filter                                                complying with AS/NZS 1715 and AS/NZS 1716             

APPEARANCE

Pre-mix concrete is a plastic mixture of water, Cementitious materials and aggregates.  The latter are usually sand and stone or gravel.  It is a mouldable generally grey mixture which will set and harden to become a stable solid.  Colour may vary from near white to any other colour

Boiling Point:                           N/A

Melting Point:                          >1200 degrees Celsius

Vapor Pressure:                       Not determined

Assumed Specific Gravity:       2.5 (water=1)

Flashpoint:                               N/A

Flammability Limits:                N/A

Solubility in Water:                  Not soluble or slight, react on mixing with water forming an alkaline (caustic) solution                                                 (pH>1)

pH:                                           7 to 13

Bulk Density:                            when wet 2.5 (t/m³)

Odour:                                     Some added ingredients used in concrete may create a smell of ammonia

Pre-mixed concrete is chemically stable and there are no Incompatible materials.  It is recommended that you keep away from water and don’t leave standing too long or the mix may set.

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

Swallowed:                 Ingestion is unlikely under normal conditions of use, however swallowing of pre-mixed concrete may result in nausea, vomiting and  abdominal discomfort and possibly increase the risk of gastro-intestinal infections. It is abrasive and highly irritant (burning) to mouth and throat.

Eye:                             If contact is made to the eyes it will result in redness, stinging and lachrymation.  Alkaline properties may produce sever alkali burns or serious eye damage.

Skin:                            Contact with skin is irritating, abrasive and drying to the skin.  May cause alkaline (caustic)                                     burns if direct contact is made with wet concrete for any length of time, leading to second or            even third degree burns.

Inhaled:                       Sprayed pre-mixed wet concrete droplets and dry concrete dust may irritant the nose, throat and respiratory tract causing coughing, sneezing and breathing difficulties.

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

Repeated contact causes irritation and drying of the skin (alkali burns) and can result in skin reddening and skin rash (dermatitis) which may become persistent.  Persons who are allergic to water soluble chromates may develop an allergic dermatitis because Chromium VI is present in Portland Cement).

Pre-mix concrete is not considered a chronic inhalation hazard.  Repeated inhalation of dust containing crystalline silica can cause bronchitis, silicosis (scarring of the lung) and may increase the risk of other serious disorders including scleroderma.

Concrete is not listed as a carcinogen by ASCC.  Risk of cancer has not been identified from using concrete.  However the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified Chromium BI(hexavalent ) and Crystalline Silica inhaled in the form of quartz or cristobalite from occupational sources, as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1)

Pre-mixed concrete forms an alkaline slurry when mixed with water.  It is persistent and would have a low degradability.  In a landfill situation a low mobility would be expected.

Pre-mixed concrete can be treated as common waste for disposal or dumped into a landfill site in accordance with local authority guidelines.  Keep away from any waterways including storm water and sewer drains

TRANSPORT

Not classified as a dangerous good, according to the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail (6^th Edition).  Not regulated for transport purposes. 

If placing concrete straight from a truck, pour vertically and never let the concrete fall more than one and a half metres to avoid excessive splashing.

CLASSIFICATION

Hazardous according to ASCC (formerly NOHSC) criteria and not classified as Dangerous Goods

HAZARD SYMBOL:

None Allocated.

POISONS SCHEDULE:

None scheduled

POISONS INFORMATION CENTRE

13 11 26

REFERENCES:

National Code of Practice for the Preparation of Material Safety Data Sheets 2^nd Edition. (NOHSC)

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

International Chemical Safety Cards

Worksafe Australia

ISSUE DATE:

24^th August 2006

DISCLAIMER

The information herein is to the best of our knowledge, correct and complete.  It describes the safety requirements for this product and should not be construed as guaranteeing specific properties.  Since methods and conditions are beyond our control we don not accept liability for any damages resulting from the use of, or reliance on, this information in inappropriate contexts.