Issue Date: 11 July 2011. This is not a controlled document when printed.

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)

MSDS No. CA 001

Portland Cement
Section 1: Identification of the Material and Supplier
Company Details:
Cement Australia Pty Limited
ABN 75 104 053 474
12 Station Avenue Tel: 1300 CEMENT (1300 236 368)
Darra Fax: 1800 CEMENT (1800 236 368)
Queensland 4076 Website: www.cementaustralia.com.au

Manufacturing Plants
Gladstone: Landing Rd, Fisherman’s Landing, Gladstone QLD 4680
Brisbane: 77 Pamela St, Pinkenba QLD 4008
Railton: Cement Works Rd, Railton, TAS 7305

Product: Portland Cement

Other Names: General Purpose Cement
Shrinkage Limited Cement
HE (High Early) Cement
Off White Cement
Grey Cement

Use: Portland Cement is used as a binder in concrete, concrete masonry, mortar and grouts. It is also
used in the manufacture of fibre cement products, in soil stabilisation in building construction and
civil engineering projects.

Section 2: Hazards Identification

Hazardous Substance. Non-dangerous Goods
Risk Phrases Safety Phrases
R20/21/22: Harmful by inhalation, in contact with skin S22: Do not breathe dust.
and if swallowed.

R36/37/38: Irritating to eyes, respiratory system and skin. S24/25: Avoid contact with skin and eyes.
R43: May cause sensitisation by skin contact. S29: Do not empty into drains.
R66: Repeated exposure may cause skin dryness or cracking. S36/37/39: Wear suitable protective clothing, gloves and
eye/face protection.

Page 1 of 6
Portland Cement MSDS No. CA 001

Section 3: Composition/Information on Ingredients

Portland Cement consists of a crystalline mass manufactured from substances mined from the earth’s crust. It contains trace
amounts of naturally occurring, but potentially hazardous chemical entities including metals such as chromium and nickel and
crystalline silica. All significant constituents are listed below:

Chemical Entity Proportion CAS Number

Portland Cement Clinker <97% 65997-15-1
Gypsum (CaSO4 2H2O) 2-5% 10101-41-4
Limestone (CaCO3) 0-7.5% 1317-65-3
Calcium Oxide 0-3% 1305-78-8
Hexavalent Chrome (Cr VI) <20 ppm 1333-82-0
Crystalline Silica (Quartz) <1% 14808-60-7

Section 4: First Aid Measures

Swallowed: Rinse mouth and lips with water. Do not induce vomiting. Give water to drink to dilute stomach
contents. If symptoms persist, seek medical attention.
Eyes: Flush thoroughly with flowing water for 15 minutes to remove all traces. If symptoms such as irritation
or redness persist, seek medical attention. If wet cement is splashed in the eye, always treat as above,
and seek urgent medical attention.
Skin: Remove heavily contaminated clothing immediately. Wash off skin thoroughly with water.
Use a mild soap if available. Shower if necessary. Seek medical attention for persistent irritation
or burning of the skin.
Inhaled: Remove to fresh air, away from dusty area. If symptoms persist, seek medical attention.
First Aid Facilities: Eye wash station. Washing facilities with running water.
Advice to Doctor: Treat symptomatically. Wet cement burns to skin or eye may result in corrosive caustic burns.
Ingestion of significant amounts of cement dry or wet 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 cement from the skin.
Ophthalmological opinion should be sought for ocular burns..

Section 5: Fire Fighting Measures

Fire/Explosion Hazard:None
Hazchem Code: None allocated

Flammability: Not flammable

Extinguishing Media: None required

Hazards from Combustion Products: None

Special Protective Precautions

and equipment for fire fighters: None required

Section 6: Accidental Release Measures

Spills: Spills are best cleaned up by vacuum device to avoid generating airborne dust.
Recommendations on Exposure Control and Personal Protection should be followed during spill
clean-up.
Keep product out of storm water and sewer drains.
Page 2 of 6
Wetting during clean-up will cause formation of setting cement.
Portland Cement MSDS No. CA 001

Section 7: Handling and Storage

Handling: When supplied in bags these need to be handled in accordance with manual handling Regulations
and Code of Practice.

Storage: Protect from moisture to prevent hardening. Storage of cement may be in concrete silos, steel
bins, or plastic lined multi-ply paper bags.

Section 8: Exposure Controls/Personal Protection

Exposure Limits: National Occupational Health & Safety Commission (NOHSC) Australia
Occupational Exposure Standard:
Exposure to dust should be kept as low as practicable, and below the following OES.
Portland Cement: 10mg/m3 TWA (time-weighted average) as inspirable dust.
Crystalline silica (quartz): 0.1 mg/m3 TWA as respirable dust (≤ 7 microns particle equivalent
aerodynamic diameter).
Chromium VI (hexavalent): 0.05 mg/m3 - sensitiser.

Engineering Controls: All work with dry cement should be carried out in such a way as to minimise dust generation,
exposure to dust and repeated or extended skin contact. When handling dry cement, use local
mechanical ventilation or extraction in areas where dust could escape into the work environment.
For bulk deliveries, closed pumping systems are recommended. For handling of individual bags,
follow instructions below if no local exhaust ventilation is available. Local dust extraction and
collection may be used, if necessary, to control airborne dust levels. Work methods and
engineering should aim to minimise contact with wet cement onto exposed skin. Work areas
should be cleaned regularly.

Personal Protection:
Skin: Minimise contact with Portland Cement materials. When handling dry or wet cement, wet
concrete, mortar or grout, personnel should wear protective clothing and impervious footwear, and
gloves such as PVC (see Australian and New Zealand Standards AS/NZS 4501 and AS 2161). Never
kneel in wet cement, or allow extended contact of skin with wet cement.

Remove clothing which has become contaminated with wet or dry cement to avoid prolonged
contact with the skin. If cement gets into boots, remove socks and boots immediately and wash
skin thoroughly. Wash work clothes regularly. To avoid contamination of face and lips and
ingestion, wash hands before eating or smoking.

Eyes: Splash resistant Safety Glasses with side shields or safety goggles (AS/NZ 1336) or a face shield
should be worn to ensure all contact with eyes is avoided.

Respiratory: Where engineering and handling controls are not adequate to minimise exposure to total dust and
to respirable crystalline silica wear a suitable P1 or P2 particulate respirator (AS/NZS 1715 and
AS/NZS 1716). Use only respirators that bear the Australian Standards mark and are fitted and
maintained correctly. For dust levels approaching or exceeding the NES (see above) a more
effective particulate respirator as described in AS/NZS 1715 should be worn. Procedures for
effective use of respirators should be applied and supervised..

Page 3 of 6
Portland Cement MSDS No. CA 001

Section 9: Physical and Chemical Properties

Appearance: A fine powder ranging in colour from grey to off-white
Odour: No distinctive odour
Boiling/Melting Point: Melting point >1200ºC
Vapour Pressure: Not applicable
Specific Gravity: 3.0 – 3.2
Flash Point: Non applicable
Flammability Limits: Not applicable
Solubility In Water: Slight, reacts on mixing with water forming an alkaline (caustic) solution (pH >11)
Particle Size: Up to 50% of the fresh dry material may be respirable (below 10 microns)

Section 10: Stability and Reactivity

Chemical Stability: Chemically stable
Conditions to Avoid: Keep free of moisture
Incompatible Materials: None
Hazardous Decomposition Products: None
Hazardous Reactions: None

Section 11: Toxicological Information

Portland Cements are stable substances, compatible with most other building materials, will not decompose into hazardous
by-products and do not polymerise.

Short Term (Acute) Exposure

Swallowed: Unlikely under normal industrial use. Mildly abrasive and corrosive to mouth and throat if
swallowed. May cause nausea, stomach cramps and constipation.
Eyes: Irritating and corrosive to the eyes and may cause alkaline burns. Cement dust is irritating to the
eyes. Exposure to dust may aggravate existing eye irritations.
Skin: Dust is irritating and drying to the skin. Direct contact with wet cement may cause serious skin
burns. Within 12 to 48 hours (after one- to six-hour exposures) possible first, second or third
degree burns may occur. There may be no obvious pain at the time of the exposure. Chronic skin
disorders may be aggravated by exposure to dust or contact with wet cement.
Inhaled: Cement dust is irritating to the nose, throat and respiratory tract causing coughing and sneezing.
Pre-existing upper respiratory and lung diseases including asthma and bronchitis may be
aggravated.

Page 4 of 6
Portland Cement MSDS No. CA 001

Section 11: Toxicological Information (Cont’d)

Long Term (Chronic) Exposure
Eyes: Dust may cause irritation and inflammation of the cornea.

Skin: Repeated contact causes irritation and drying of the skin and can result in skin reddening and skin
rash (dermatitis). Over time this may become chronic and can also become infected. Persons who
are allergic to chromium may develop an allergic dermatitis which aggravates the irritant effects
and this combination can lead to chronic cement dermatitis and serious disability particularly
affecting the hands.

Inhaled: Repeated exposure to the dust may result in increased nasal and respiratory secretions and
coughing. Inflammation of lining tissue of the respiratory system may follow repeated exposure to
high levels of dust, with increased risk of bronchitis and pneumonia.

Repeated and prolonged exposure to dust levels which exceed the OES for crystalline silica (see
above) may occur. This can cause bronchitis, and silicosis (scarring of the lung). Long term
overexposure to respirable crystalline silica dust may increase the risk of other irreversible and
serious disorders including scleroderma (a disease affecting the connective tissue of the skin,
joints, blood vessels and internal organs).

Cement (Portland Cement) is not classified as a carcinogen by NOHSC. Of the ingredients

Hexavalent Chromium (Cr VI) is classified as a carcinogen by NOHSC. There is debate in the
medical literature concerning whether there is any risk of lung cancer arising from long term high
overexposure to respirable crystalline silica. Risk of lung cancer has not been identified from using
Portland Cements containing silica. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has
classified crystalline silica, inhaled in the form of quartz or cristobalite from occupational sources,
as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1). NOHSC has not classified crystalline silica as a carcinogen.

Section 12: Ecological Information

Ecotoxicity: Product forms an alkaline slurry when mixed with water.
Persistence and Degradability: Product is persistent and would have a low degradability.
Mobility: A low mobility would be expected in a landfill situation.

Section 13: Disposal Considerations

Portland Cement can be treated as a common waste for disposal or dumped into a landfill site, in accordance with local
authority guidelines.

Keep material out of storm water and sewer drains.

Measures should be taken to prevent dust generation during disposal, and exposure and personal precautions should be
observed (see above).

Page 5 of 6
Portland Cement MSDS No. CA 001

Section 14: Transport Information

Transportation is done in bulk or bag form by Ship, Rail and Road.
UN Number: None allocated
Proper Shipping Name: None allocated
Class and Subsidiary Risk: None allocated
Packing Group: None allocated
Special precautions for user: Avoid generating and breathing dust
Hazchem Code: None allocated

Section 15: Regulatory Information

Portland cement is not classified as Dangerous Goods.

Classified as Hazardous according to the criteria of the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) Approved
Criteria For Classifying Hazardous Substances [NOHSC:1008] 3rd Edition

Exposures by inhalation to high levels of dust may be regulated under the Hazardous Substances Regulations (State) as they are
applicable to Respirable Crystalline Silica, requiring exposure assessment, controls and health surveillance (NOHSC).

Section 16: Other Information

For further information on this product contact: Telephone: (07) 3375 0501 (Business Hours)
Facsimile: (07) 3375 0473
Emergency Contact Number: Contact Person: Technical Manager
Telephone: (07) 3375 0501 (Business Hours)
or Poisons Information Centre 13 11 26

Next Review Date for this MSDS: 31 December 2016.

Australian and New Zealand Standards:

AS 2161: Industrial Safety Gloves and Mittens (excluding electrical and medical gloves).
AS/NZ 1336: Recommended Practices for Occupational Eye Protection.
AS/NZS 1715: Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective devices.
AS/NZS 1716: Respiratory protective devices.
AS/NZS 4501: Occupational protective clothing.

Advice Note:
Cement Australia believes the information in this document to be accurate as at the date of preparation noted below, but, to the
maximum extent permitted by law, Cement Australia accepts no responsibility for any loss or damage caused by any person acting
or refraining from action because of this information.

The provision of this information should not be construed by anyone as a recommendation to use this product. In particular, no
one should use any product in violation of any patent or other intellectual proprietary rights or in breach of any statute or
regulation.

Users should rely on their own knowledge and inquiries and make their own determination as to the applicability of this
information in relation to their particular purposes and specific circumstances. Each user should read this MSDS and consider the
information in the context of how the product will be handled and used in the workplace and in conjunction with other substances
or products.

This MSDS must be reviewed before 31 December 2016. Page 6 of 6