Click here to view the article in French version.
CHROME VI: Main cause of skin allergies and other kinds of rashes
Cement is among the most widely used building materials, be it for civil engineering works or the production of prefabricated concrete. Portland clinker, fly ash, obtained through the combustion of carbon and calcium carbonate and granulated blast furnace slag are some of its main components, while calcium sulphate is used in small quantity.
Given its composition, cement is a high-risk product when it comes to skin allergies and other types of rashes. Kolos has taken measures to mitigate the risks associated with its products. It is to be noted that the whole range of products marketed by the brand is subject to European regulation, hence applying a strict limitation of the level of chrome VI they contain. This substance is known to be the main cause of many skin allergies and diseases affecting workers in the construction sector.
As a responsible corporate citizen, Kolos places great importance on the health and well-being of its clients. In light of this commitment, the cement-manufacturer is working to further decrease the rate of allergenicity of its product by reducing chrome VI to its bare minimum. By complying to the compulsory standard, which is effective in European countries, Kolos is committed to keeping this component under the 2ppm level.
How?
In view of sensitising our stakeholders, we started by putting much emphasis on the importance of wearing protective goggles as well as safety gloves and shoes while in contact with cement. However, we acknowledged that this was only a first step. Indeed, we are scaling up our efforts to further improve our products.
Kolos is committed to lowering their allergenicity rate while keeping up with our mission to sensitize workers, across the country, to the importance of taking preventive measures.
Main preventive measures to be taken:
Avoid any contact with wet cement without wearing suitable equipment (protective gloves, goggles, safety shoes and vest):
- Do not use your finger to work with concrete.
- Avoid touching masonry hand tools that have cement on them.
Establish strict hygiene measures to be followed:
- Change regularly your working clothes.
- Wash your hands with pH-neutral soap after you have touched cement.
At Kolos, our main focus is the wellbeing of our clients and of all those working on construction sites across the country. This is why we have decided to commit ourselves and champion this cause.